X-Cannon Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 I just bought a second hand computer to give to my younger brother for school, Its an HP P4. It has on-board graphics and I cannot see anything, I've tried a PCI card which I know works and I still cant get a signal. I have reset the CMOS by taking the battery out then back in again...still nothing.So I can't see anything, therefore I can't access the BIOS.What should I do? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikex Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 Tried different pci slots?Any beeps during Post?Monitor powered up? lol just had to.Use an eraser on the contacts of the gfx card.Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Cannon Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 I have tried different PCI slots,There are no beeps on POST,Yes, Monitor is powered up and tried 2 other (just in case )The graphics card I put in (PCI) works I've tried in on a different comp.Running out of options... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garmanma Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 No post beep = no good. Did you try it out before you bought it? Maybe in the move, you knock something loose. Does the power supply fan spin? The CPU fan?Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JSKY Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 Do you get any flickering from the Hard Drive LED light? does it even flicker at all? Or does it stay on constantly?A bad stick of RAM could be causing the same problem to your display. And won't even post or beep. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Cannon Posted October 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 (edited) Its an HP there are no HDD LED lights, just one light the on/off buttonCPU fan and PSU fan both spinRam looks absolutely brand newBought it and never tried it out, guy said its been in his basement for 6 months...Has hardly been touched there...Before that he bought it refurbished (looks almost new)Update*I added a new stick of ram and nothing, then I noticed jumper pins so I decided to give that a shot and when I did it caught on FIRE! Look at picActual fire not just smokesry for dial up users for adding image directly Edited October 10, 2007 by X-Cannon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 that looks like a fan connector you jumpered, oops. That would explain your fire. Even though you damaged it, it was probably already bad. Even before you shorted it, I would have placed the highest probability on the mobo as bad. I would still talk to the guy about a refund. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JSKY Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Would that be what you would call a hot deal?Sorry for the pun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Cannon Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 So what do you guys think at this point...Is it worth narrowing down the problem or just throw the damn thing away? (No refunds) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JSKY Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 It all depends if you can find another motherboard. What does it have for hardware? Is the hardware newer stuff? How is the case, fans, cards?Can you salvage anything for spare parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Cannon Posted October 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2007 I can use basically everything, except the mobo. Should I take it to a comp shop? For an expert to look over? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted October 13, 2007 Report Share Posted October 13, 2007 Should I take it to a comp shop? For an expert to look over?Don't waste your money. Use the money saved by not bringing it to a shop to buy a new board. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikex Posted October 13, 2007 Report Share Posted October 13, 2007 Burning the board goes with the sig. lolIf the majority of the parts are in a condition to be used elsewhere just replace the board. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon1986 Posted October 13, 2007 Report Share Posted October 13, 2007 Wow! Why would you jump a motherboard fan socket? Must always read the labels next to any socket on the motherboard. Notice the "REAR_FAN1" label?As already advised, it is probably best to get another motherboard, although you will probably looking at having to do a repair install of Windows in the best case scenario. The worse case is if Windows came with the HP PC which only provides recovery CDs/partition; Windows may refuse to repair with such a major hardware component out of the hardware profile.If you do get a motherboard replacement ensure that it supports the same CPU socket type and RAM as the old one so you can recycle some of your components. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Cannon Posted October 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Wow! Why would you jump a motherboard fan socket? Must always read the labels next to any socket on the motherboard. Notice the "REAR_FAN1" label?DOH, I didn't pay any attention to that. I think I will go with the experts on this one (You guys) replace the mobo and install XP. A friend has a HP XP CD and I have a serial number for SP2 so it should all work out.P.S. I should pay no more then $50 for the mobo right...It's pretty old! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikex Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 $50 sounds like the ballpark figure I would expect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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