Computer Hope
Software => Computer programming => Topic started by: Notgoodwithcomps on August 07, 2009, 04:22:37 PM
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Alright so a while back my computer started to act up, it wouldn't display anything when i turned it on but when i didn't touch it for while the screen would come up but it would be weird colored and distorted but as soon as i moved the mouse it would go away again. After while of i got tired of this problem and i managed to get to the screen where you can completely reset your computer by pressing F11 or whatever when it was turning on. That fixed the problem but after i reinstalled my graphic card (a Nvidia 7300GT) the problem started up again. So i came to the conclusion that this was the problem and reset my computer again. At one point of messing around with my computer i ended up selecting one of the things that comes up when the computer starts up like "press F8 or F11" im pretty sure i clicked F8 but i cant be sure. I ended up at this screen that had a bunch of different settings (i cant remember what they all were exactly because this was a while ago). I went to something to do with video settings and im pretty sure i changed something to do with BIOS settings thinking maybe this would fix the problem(i was proven wrong of course). As soon as i accepted the changes the screen went black and ever since then nothing will display on the screen when i turn the computer on or anything. So really the problem is the fact that i messed up these settings or whatever, the whole deal with the graphic card is just what led up to the problem. I would really like to know how to fix this problem without taking it to get fixed or something drastic like that if possible as i'm not very tech savvy. My computer is a Gateway and it is Windows XP Home Edition. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Try resetting your display drivers in safe mode. Tap F8 repeatedly after cold booting the computer to get to safe mode.
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Try resetting your display drivers in safe mode. Tap F8 repeatedly after cold booting the computer to get to safe mode.
Cold booting?
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Cold booting?
Yes, as opposed to warm or soft booting. It's after the power has been turned off for a while....
What are kids learning today?
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Ok i tried that but nothing happens and my tower makes quite loud beepeing noises
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Can you count the beeps, they actually mean something to some of us :)
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Well i think the beeps go with how many times i press F8, i know what you mean like those beeps thats like some sort of code ill never understand but ill give it a go.
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Ya it definitely just beeps however many time i click F8 i just tried it out.
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The system also uses what are called 'System Beeps', these can indicate what piece of hardware is failed/failing.
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Try it once pressing the F8 button 5 times, then try with 3.
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Alright i tried that but nothing happened, it didn't beep or anything. I'm fairly sure it only starts the beeping after i've repeatedly hit for like 5-10 seconds then it beeps whenever i hit it.
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I was just rereading your original post, did you disable the onboard video in the BIOS?
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Umm well let me think i remember when i changed whatever i did there were different things i could have changed it to. There was the original and maybe 2 or 3 other options? So ya i guess there is a good chance i could have done that because it did have to do with video and bios. I really cant remember what everything said though because this was months ago. I wish i could give more information, but if i did do that is there a chance to fix it?
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Go into the BIOS and take a look at what it is set to for graphics. Tell us what it says.
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Well thats the thing i don't know how to get back into that because nothing comes up to tell me when to click whatever it is to get into the bios. If to get into it you click F8 it wont come up because i've tried repeatedly clicking F8 from start since i don't know the correct time to click it up but then all that beeping starts and nothing comes up.
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Depending on the motherboard that you are using it could be either the F2 key or the Del key.
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I tried both and neither worked. Oh and i made an error on my first message with the question. It's a Windows XP Media Center Edition not Home Edition. That probably won't help at all but i thought id let you know.
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If neither of the keys allowed you into the BIOS then you are using something propietary. We need the manufacturer and model.
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Ok its a.....
Gateway GT5012H Personal Computer
Windows XP Media Center editon 2005
Hopefully thats what you ment.
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It's exactly what I meant.
Try the F1 key.
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Ugh still nothing but i have noticed that when im pressing these other buttons and not F8 it beeps four times then stops if that means anything.
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Four beeps is usually a system timer error. Other than checking what your devices look like, which it doesn't sound like you can do, I would have to suggest a new mother board.
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Ah so is that something i'll have to buy?
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Somebody else may have more insight on this, but yes, you need a new motherboard.
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Alright well at least i know not to mess around with it myself anymore. Thanks for your help its much appreciated.
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No problem man, but before you spend any money, let's see what some other members suggest.
Motherboard upgrades can be very expensive when you take ram and other factors into account.
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Sounds good, I didn't honestly think a something as small as what i did could have such a big impact but computers are complicated. But ya we'll have to see.
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don't hold the button down right as you turn it on- the beeps are likely a keyboard error, where it thinks your keyboard has a stuck key (due to you holding it down).
wait a few seconds after the boot-up- until you see something on the screen. Most PCs will display something to the effect of "press Del to enter setup"
However, from the sounds of things you also have no display. does your motherboard have on-board graphics? the setting you toggled may have changed the preferred display device to the on-board graphics as opposed to your nvidia card, which I presume your monitor is connected to.
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by on board graphics do you mean did it come with an already built in graphic card type of thing
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Yes, by onboard we mean integrated.
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No it doesn't, all i know is that i changed something and whatever it is you said i may have changed sounds right. If thats possible without on-board graphics
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if your monitor is plugged into your video card plug it into your onboard graphics port...
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oh dear god it worked, i dont know how i didnt think of that, but hey im only 16 lol but what if i want to try my graphic card agian?
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oh dear god it worked, i dont know how i didnt think of that, but hey im only 16 lol but what if i want to try my graphic card agian?
now you should be able to get back into the bios, and toggle back the option you changed. then you can plug the monitor back into your video card... and of course install the drivers and whatnot.
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Your a life saver buddy thanks alot!
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if your monitor is plugged into your video card plug it into your onboard graphics port...
Good catch buddy.
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Yup boys just messed it up again i think because when i went to the bios settings i just changed it to auto and now that one wont work either?!! ???
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Auto decides for itself- if there is a video card it uses that, otherwise it uses on-board.
try both. remember to power off before pluggin/unplugging the monitor.
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Auto decides for itself- if there is a video card it uses that, otherwise it uses on-board.
try both. remember to power off before pluggin/unplugging the monitor.
Yep, that's 100% accurate.
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Gah! i must have just messed up the bios settings for the other one because neither one works now, ive tried them both a bunch of times noww
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Something must be working for you to be able to see the BIOS?
Which card are you plugged into?
Which one do you want to use?
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alright when it was plugged into the video card it didnt work, so i changed it to the on board graphics and it did work but when i changed the bios settings while plugged into the on board graphics the screen went black just like when i changed them on the other one. sorry if thats confusing
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Connect the monitor to the card you are trying to use. See what you have there.
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That's exactly what i did twice and still nothing.
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If it makes any difference the card isn't installed, should i put the installation disc in and try?
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Yes, you will need drivers to make the card function.
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Thats not working either, the disc goes in and it sounds as if its being read and starting up but still a blank black screen....
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You may have to do that while connected to the integrated graphics adapter.
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Thats what i did first and then did the other one.
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Soo....it started to work again.....i dont know why....thanks for the help guys you got me through it lol most stressful thing since exams.
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Not a problem, it was obviously the drivers and the BIOS.
If you need anything else, come back anytime.