When i turn on my computer, i get a black screen on the monitor. I plugged the monitor into someone else's computer and it worked fine. I then plugged my video card into someone else's comp and it worked fine. Plugged their video card into my comp and my computer still did the same thing. So it was the v cards. I then took my ram and put it into friend's comp and it booted up fine. I'm not sure what it is. The cpu fan still spins and the harddrive light comes on, but i can't open my cdrom drive or shut the computer down with the power button. Any suggestions on what could be my problem. I basically have it narrowed down to: cpu, or motherboard

Asus A7V
Tbird 1.0 gig
256 SDRAM PC 133

try the cpu in another computer.

How did you get to this point?

Have you tried to reset your BIOS to default settings?

That the power button doesn’t work and the CD-ROM drawer won’t open suggests a power supply or MOBO problem. It might not be a bad idea to take it apart right down to the case and put it back together again. You’re almost there anyway.

I put my processor into my friends computer and it worked. So apparently it isn't my processor so that leaves my power supply and my MOBO. But you can't even see the bios come on the screen. Nothing shows on the monitor. Wouldn't the fans not work and the harddrives not spin if the power supply was shot? Also the harddrive light stays on and the cd rom won't open when i turn the computer on. I have no idea why nothing shows on the screen. I can't even get into the bios.

I want to plug another motherboard into my power supply to see what happens. Will the bios come on even if i have no memory in the slot???

You can reset the BIOS by removing the battery for a few minutes or by jumper settings on the MOBO.

problem is i can't see the bios at all??? This is probably a stupid question but do you need to have RAM inside your computer in order to access the bios?

I think you’re missing my point.

I wonder if you can’t boot because your BIOS is messed up.

Without actually getting into BIOS, most MOBOs will allow you to reset BIOS to default values by closing a particular jumper or a switch on the MOBO, or by removing the MOBO battery for a few minutes with the power cord unplugged. Then, if your previous BIOS setting were preventing you from booting, the default settings will allow it.

Thanks for all you guys' help. Badboy, i switched the MOBO to a new one and am currently waiting on DDR chip to get here b/c as i understand the bios won't come up unless you have some SDRAM inside the system. So as soon as i get that i should be off and running. If not then i may have a problem with the power supply. What do you think?

Your statements confuse me but by changing your MOBO, hopefully you’ll be able to boot. Your current MOBO still might work if you reset the BIOS to default values.

Good luck! Post back when you get things going.

Well, i reinstalled my motherboard and tried to reset the bios by taking the battery out. Outcome: NO LUCK. Still had the same problem i had before. I'm leaning to a power supply problem. Or a motherboard problem. I have another motherboard but am waiting on DDR ram to arrive b/c it doesn't use my SDRAM i had on my other motherboard. This is getting frustrating...again i appreciate all help.

Chances are its a bad power supply... I had a problem just like you where I had no boot up but the lights were on the mobo and my drives, so I didn't think it was the power supply. I changed motherboard and video cards but still had same problem. I took it to a computer shop for diagnoses for $65 and turned out to be in the power supply (which cost $45!) So buy a new one and even if it not your problem extra power supply is good to have around.

Hi.

The problem I had was the battery short switch. The book for my board was wrong. With the jumper in the 'short CMOS' position (by the book) my system boots and runs fine. Perhaps a bit of a translation error?

Rick, are you the same as Sam? Or are you just telling us about your personal experience?

Hey rick, I'm having a similar problem.
What motherboard model are you using?

I have the same problem. My computer comes up but the monitor doesn't show. Swapped the monitor so I know that the monitor isn't the issue because it works fine in another computer. I can however turn the computer on, have the hard-drive and the cd-rom come on and then pull the power supply out from the back of the computer, then wait a minute and then plug it back in and turn the computer on and then I hear the magical "beep" and the moniter flashes on and the computer works fine. It will work when the compouter "restarts" instead of shutdown. When I shutdown I have to go through the same "vo-do" again to get the monitor to work. Any suggestions will be great.

Having a very similiar problem and wanted to see what you guys thought. I got my A7V up and running, but kept having power problems. Shut down or wouldn't start, finally it just quit altogether. Had the same problem(won't start at all) when switched to a known working power supply(case). Bad board? Any thoughts?

is it not even booting anymore...is the fan still spinning?...be more specific. what exactly happens when u try to boot your computer?

email me if u would like.

My guess is that your Motherboard is bad.

In general, if you have a bad CPU, your motherboard will give you some beeps to let you know.

But, if you are getting the lights, the fans are spinning and it powers up (although it will not recognize the power down switch) but nothing it does not post and you never even get into the Bios, it is probably a bad motherboard.