Won't start up.

I don't know if this is hardware or software related. I'm posting this for my son. He bought a used pc a few weeks ago, and I really don't know anything about it. He said it was working fine, then he called me last night and said that it won't start up. When he turns it on it beeps, but nothing comes on the screen except the signal you get when the monitor is turned on without the pc, not even a black screen (hope that's clear). Any thoughts or suggestions, you could make me a hero with my son (for a day anyway). Thanks

 

I would tell him to unplug pc, pull side door off, reseat the memory, release the clips that hold it down, and take it out and put back in. Hope this works for ya. ed

 

OK thanks tunered I'll try that. I guess I'll have to go to his place and do it for him since he knows nothing about them. I told him to try removing the battery and reinstalling it (for some reason that has worked on mine a couple of times) but he couldn't get it out.
What's wrong with this picture, I thought the young guys were suppose to be helping us old farts with these new fangled machines?

 

Beep codes are important.

Does it....

Beep.....beep....beep....beep. etc?

That is indeed memory.'

Knowing the exact beep, is helpful, and the motherboard brand and model.

Sometimes, the beep can be:

beep...beep.beep...beep.beep...beep. etc.

 

A decent guide on beep codes:

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

 

lol thats very very true, thanks for the info but to broke ) :

 

You guys are great, I'll talk to him tomorrow and see what beep code he's getting, and maybe we'll get it figured out. I'll keep you posted. Thanks

 

Re: Big Problem

I made a mistake last night so sorry, what my real problem is I unpluged my computer a week ago and the next morning it would not startup so I had a friend of a friend come over I told him all I needed was a copy of Xp start up disk he said he could not do that but he would do it. Now I'am not the administrator and he has me locked out of lots of things everything I download I can't open because I'am not the admin. He is charging me to much money that I don't have right now Tell me what I can do about my computer....................Thanks BIG TIME Bonnie

 

Hi. A couple of things to try, here. With all power off, disconnect & reconnect the video cable (the one between the back of the pc and the monitor). Might also try reseating the video card (again, with power down). Good night and good luck.

 

Thanks for that info but I don't know know how to reseat the video card.

 

Basically, you power down, open the case, remove the card, then put it back in the same way it came out, close the case and see what you get when you power back up.

 

Also, although it is a bit unlikely that the video cable is bad, you might replace it.

 

Boy are'nt you a sweetheart, Thanks I'll try that. But I don't know if that will work he puposely locked his paaword so I xan not lodge in as yhe administrator. I downloaded some programs from the Major but I can't run them unless I'am the administrator. I also made 6 backup disks to run if I uninstall this version of Xp. Do they all have to be formated before I can put anything on the floppys?

 

Thanks everybody, apparently the battery trick worked, even though he never got it all the way out, maybe wiggling it was enough. I called him today and asked him to try starting it so I could hear the beep code, and it started. It gave a message that the CMOS was set to default, and seems to be working fine now, so thanks everyone, I appreciate your help.

tbjtalley, you might want to start your own thread with a title better describing your problem and then explain it as you did here, you may get more help, since the problem I'm having (was having) is quite a bit different than yours. Good luck

 

I don't know if Iexplained wrong but thank you very much !

 

I don't know if I explained it wrong but thank you very much !