PC Powers up but monitor won't display anything

[djiddish98]

This problem has recently taken hold of 3 computers in my house! The PC will get appropriate power (CD-Rom opens, sounds like hard drives are spinning), but the monitor only shows an orange light. One PC will have a green light till the computer turns on, and then turn orange or blinking green on another monitor. (So it seems like the monitor is also getting power).

What's interesting is that the 3rd PC happened while I was trying to fix one of the others. I carried the then working PC upstairs, and plugged it into the same surge protector the other one used to be in. Now the 3rd one refuses to display anything, even on it's original working power source.

I might add that I live in an old house with generally bad electrical wiring, although there are other PCs in the house and on the floor (Gateways and Dells) that run fine. The 3 in question are all home made.


My guess is that it's a power issue with all these computers. A lot of the components are new and the video cards don't look like their fried (although could be). The only thing is we've tried switching around power sources and it still won't fix the problem.

I've tried re-seating the components and removing all non-essential items for booting ,but still nothing. I'm STUMPED!

Thanks for reading, all responses will be appreciated. I can try and give specs for all the computers if necessary.

[djiddish98]

Just got one of the computers working....needed a new power supply. Hopefully the others will fix the same way.

[Coulter]

I've had a problem very similar to this in the past as well. I imagine there are several different reasons that could cause this to happen, but here's how I fixed mine:


Firstly, I noticed that re-seating the video card would fix the problem temporarily, but the problem would reoccur often when I would move my case around or jostle it or something.

As I would reseat the video card, I noticed that screwing the thumb-screw into the case would tug on the end of the video card slightly, enough so to barely pull out the last remaining set of gold teeth or whatever. Since I noticed this, I no longer screw in the thumbscrew for my agp card, and rather just let the card kinda dangle freely. Problem hasn't happened since then. This may not be the solution to your problem, but good luck in figuring it out!