Computer doesn't recognize monitor, mouse or keyboard..HELP!

My daughter's computer (second hand and built by the seller) all of a sudden, has no monitor signal no keyboard or mouse. We're at an impass and can't figure out what is wrong. Can you help? I've been reading the threads and can't find anything that will help me. Not too good with the guts of the machine if you know what I mean. Need pics!
Thanks
Bev

 

Greetings, blkittygirl...

Does anything at all happen when you turn on the computer - any lights, sounds, beeps, anything?

 

Hi Bev, it reads like a power problem somewhere, do you have another monitor, keyboard and mouse you can test with?

I take it you can hear the computer powering up and see lights on, is the hard drive light flashing during boot?

Mouse and keyboard are USB or PS2 (little round connectors)?

 

When I turn it on it lights up and sounds like it's powering on. However the monitor says "no signal" and then in the upper corner it says "analogue" then "digital".

I brought it home here and used my monitor and keyboard and mouse on it and the same thing happened. Mouse and keyboard are usb. It's running on Windows XP. Don't know much about the amount of HDD or anything like that cuz it was down when I got it.
Bev

 

And the keyboard/mouse light up?

It's beginning to look like the graphics card/chip might be at fault or loose, has the machine been moved, dropped, kicked recently?

Does it have a separate graphics card - if it's a tower, the monitor will connect to the graphics card about halfway down or lower, with the plug horizontal?

What happens if you press the on/off button once about 3 minutes after boot up - watch the lights and listen?

 

The keyboard and mouse don't light up and work. Nothing happens after I press the on/off button. No sounds, no blinking lights or anything.

The plug must be for a separate graphics card cuz the plug in horizontal.
Bev

 

Ah, so the computer's not reaching POST, the first part of the boot process.

Just had a quick look for some user friendly pages to walk you through this, none found as yet.

Here's a brief rundown of the first stage of troubleshooting this without rolling up your sleeves and going for the internals:

 

Thanks Satrow, I'll do all that you've asked, but not till tomorrow. It is 12:01am Thursday and I'm off to bed. I'll try everything tomorrow and post the results.
Bev

 

Tried all your suggestions and nothing. When everything is unplugged and I plug in my monitor it just says Acer and then no signal and the light turns to orange.
Bev

 

Hi, Bev...

Is the monitor an Acer, and the orange light is on the monitor? Just trying to see if it's getting anything at all from the computer or if the 'Acer' is just the generic monitor splash screen...

 

Ya the monitor is an Acer and it is showing the splash screen then no signal and then the orange light on the monitor shows. Nothing on the monitor at all. Feel like having a primal scream...lol
Bev

 

Go ahead - primal screams can be cathartic...

Do a Google for "How to Replace a Computer Power Supply". You'll find many articles and videos - browse through them, see if you feel comfortable performing something like that.

Not necessarily telling you to replace the supply, but it's looking like a bad PSU - just want to get your opinion upon your readiness to perform such a task if need be...