- Nov 13, 2013
- 3
- 0
- 10,510
Hi guys,
So I've had my desktop for a few years - so not building from scratch, didn't upgrade any components recently - and over the last month or so, it had started to randomly reboot a few times a day. After looking a few forums and following guides to diagnosing the problem, I found the issue to be out of date software. Initially I thought it was just the graphics card (GeForce GTX 470) so I updated that, but a few hours later, the PC rebooted again.
Looking at the diagnostics again, the results suggested the motherboard (Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2.0)) may also need some updating - which I'd not done on this PC since buying it, so I downloaded all the files on their support page for this motherboard - possibly a mistake, I don't know, but I thought, seeing I haven't ever done any of these updates, I probably need them. Anyway, I installed all the updates, rebooted the desktop, and when it powered back up, the screen was no longer being detected.
I've since gone through loads of forums trying to work out what happened and how to fix it, but nothing has worked. Just to avoid repetition, I'll list off what I've tried with no success below:
1) Checked all cables to/from PC and monitor
2) Checked monitor has power and is switched on
3) Tried another monitor - no change so I reconnected the original monitor
4) Replaced the HDMI cable, twice!
5) Tried booting the desktop from another hard drive with an OS already installed on it
6) Cleaned out the inside of the desktop fairly thoroughly
7) Replaced the graphics card (with a GeForce GT 610) - no change so I put the original card back in
8) Checked the Power Supply Unit - 600W Corsair unit, definitely working (the PC still powers up, I get motherboard lights, fans and beeping all working fine)
9) Tried taking out some of the RAM units to see if the PSU's getting tired - no change
10) Reset the CMOS from the reset button at the back of the PC (Gigabyte happened to have one on this motherboard), when that didn't work, I took the battery out the motherboard and put it back in
11) Tried just disconnecting everything but the monitor, mouse and keyboard - still no change
12) Tried resetting the BIOS using some directions I found on http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph04760&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en#N254
I've followed what I thought were the relevant checks from this forum (http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems) but still no change.
To summarise, the desktop powers up fine - fans, lights and beeping occurs, but the monitor isn't detected, whatever I do, even resetting the CMOS didn't do anything.. One more thing, since this happened, doing a force power down by holding the power button at the front of the case has stopped working - I have to turn it off using a switch at the back of the desktop under the plug for the power.
If anyone can offer me any suggestions for this, I'd be deeply grateful. I've run out of ideas and am on the verge of just buying a Mac (heaven forbid!). Cheers guys.
So I've had my desktop for a few years - so not building from scratch, didn't upgrade any components recently - and over the last month or so, it had started to randomly reboot a few times a day. After looking a few forums and following guides to diagnosing the problem, I found the issue to be out of date software. Initially I thought it was just the graphics card (GeForce GTX 470) so I updated that, but a few hours later, the PC rebooted again.
Looking at the diagnostics again, the results suggested the motherboard (Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2.0)) may also need some updating - which I'd not done on this PC since buying it, so I downloaded all the files on their support page for this motherboard - possibly a mistake, I don't know, but I thought, seeing I haven't ever done any of these updates, I probably need them. Anyway, I installed all the updates, rebooted the desktop, and when it powered back up, the screen was no longer being detected.
I've since gone through loads of forums trying to work out what happened and how to fix it, but nothing has worked. Just to avoid repetition, I'll list off what I've tried with no success below:
1) Checked all cables to/from PC and monitor
2) Checked monitor has power and is switched on
3) Tried another monitor - no change so I reconnected the original monitor
4) Replaced the HDMI cable, twice!
5) Tried booting the desktop from another hard drive with an OS already installed on it
6) Cleaned out the inside of the desktop fairly thoroughly
7) Replaced the graphics card (with a GeForce GT 610) - no change so I put the original card back in
8) Checked the Power Supply Unit - 600W Corsair unit, definitely working (the PC still powers up, I get motherboard lights, fans and beeping all working fine)
9) Tried taking out some of the RAM units to see if the PSU's getting tired - no change
10) Reset the CMOS from the reset button at the back of the PC (Gigabyte happened to have one on this motherboard), when that didn't work, I took the battery out the motherboard and put it back in
11) Tried just disconnecting everything but the monitor, mouse and keyboard - still no change
12) Tried resetting the BIOS using some directions I found on http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph04760&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en#N254
I've followed what I thought were the relevant checks from this forum (http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems) but still no change.
To summarise, the desktop powers up fine - fans, lights and beeping occurs, but the monitor isn't detected, whatever I do, even resetting the CMOS didn't do anything.. One more thing, since this happened, doing a force power down by holding the power button at the front of the case has stopped working - I have to turn it off using a switch at the back of the desktop under the plug for the power.
If anyone can offer me any suggestions for this, I'd be deeply grateful. I've run out of ideas and am on the verge of just buying a Mac (heaven forbid!). Cheers guys.
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