No signal issue

[hendrix1987]

Hi, I am dealing with an Acer Aspire U1521A that is approximately 3 years old or so. I left the computer on overnight and came back to it saying no signal. The fan and all of the components seem to be working (cd rom hard drive, ect)

I replaced the video card, tried using different memory in case the memory was bad, and I'm still not getting anything or any beeps to signal and error. I took the memory out just to see if it would give me any kind of error beep just to make sure it was still looking for something wrong, and it did give me a long beep in that case.


I dont know what to do next, Does this sound like motherboard failure?

[truenorth]

It would be great if there was but one thing that a finger could be pointed at.BUT unfortunately there are many issues that could result in this problem (including the major one you are concerned about). However before you get to that there are a few things that you can try.
1.When you mention that you "replaced the video card".Was it an actual replacement of an existing "card" or was it a card to replace an on-board card? In either case did you disable the other card?
2.Suggest testing the CMOS battery to see if it is still up to snuff.
3.It may be necessary to create a "bare bones" configuration to see if you can get life back in the computer.
4.My view is that it is most likely to be a computer issue rather than a monitor issue.
truenorth

[hendrix1987]

The card that came on it was integrated. I bought one that uses a PCI express slot, meets all the requirements, and is powering up because the fan is spinning on the video card.

Havent tried the cmos battery, is that something that could make it where video wouldn't kick in? Thanks for the help

[Allan]

Hold on, let's start at the beginning. After adding the new card did you disable onboard video in bios and then install the driver for the new card?

[hendrix1987]

No I couldnt, because I can't get any video to see the BIOS screen and do that. BIOS isn't coming up, nothing is. Its just a blank screen and the monitor light remains orange as opposed to green when its working.

[Allan]

I don't understand. When did you install the new video card? PLEASE - start at the beginning and tell us the whole story.

[hendrix1987]

Ok, I first had a problem when I left away from the computer, and kept getting no signal on the monitor.
 
Like normal, I just tried restarting the computer, but no signal still. So after a few attempts to restart, and the monitor continued to stay orange on the power light and say no signal, I tried reaettaching the cable. Afterwards I tried another monitor all together, and both monitors on a different PC. The monitors worked fine, and the PC still continued to not give out video.

I opened the tower to see if the fans were spinning, and if everything else seemed to be working, and it seemed to be working fine. Only thing I noticed, is a heat sink located under the fan that sits on the cpu was getting hot when I touched it. There seems to be another chip under that maybe, but i'm not sure. Its lodged in by a couple posts that have springs on them, and won't come off.

I then replaced the video card with a new one, that met all the requirments and it seemed to be working. The fan is spinning on the card and I then hooked the monitor up to that. No luck.

I then took out the memory, and tried some new memory thinking the memory could be done for. That didn't fix anything either. I also unplugged the power cord and held the on button for 30 seconds or so, and powered it back on. Still nothing.

Just a blank screen, with a no signal message on the monitor, and the power on the monitor remaining orange.

Neither the integrated, nor newly added PCI video card are working and im not sure what the heat sink that might be normal to attract that much heat, is sitting on top of. Maybe a video controller chip?

[rthompson80819]

The first thing I would have done is to try that monitor on a different computer, or a different monitor on that computer to make sure it's not a monitor problem.

[hendrix1987]

The first thing I would have done is to try that monitor on a different computer, or a different monitor on that computer to make sure it's not a monitor problem.

I did, a couple of them.

[rthompson80819]

Sorry, I see that you did from your last post, you must have hit the post button a second before I did.

[hendrix1987]

Sorry, I see that you did from your last post, you must have hit the post button a second before I did.

its ok, im sorry I didnt add it in the first post

[Allan]

I then replaced the video card with a new one, that met all the requirments and it seemed to be working. The fan is spinning on the card and I then hooked the monitor up to that. No luck.

You replaced WHAT video card with a new one? You said it's an integrated chip.

[hendrix1987]

You replaced WHAT video card with a new one? You said it's an integrated chip.

I'm sorry I mispoke. I meant I put in a new card, so it would use that instead of the integrated one.

[truenorth]

So  is the integrated card still in the computer--the answer should be YES. Then could you please elaborate why you cannot remove the "new" card and return to the attachment of the monitor to the on-board chip location (given that you appear NOT to have disabled it)? Can we assume that your reason for adding the new card was to achieve greater performance video wise as opposed to that you were experiencing problems with the on-board chip? truenorth