Not getting any output from video card or onboard- is my motherboard dead?

Question

Probably a lost cause, but I thought I'd ask before I start replacing hardware.

I have a desktop that's been boxed up for a while, and when I set it back up I wasn't getting any video output. I pulled out the PCIE card and cleared the CMOS, then it started working fine with the onboard GPU. I assumed the card was bad, since I had problems with that model in the past. Then after a day or two the system locked up and I had to do a hard shutdown. Now I'm not getting any video from the onboard either. I cleared CMOS again, tried with and without the card in place, nothing. When I power up the CPU fan spins, but I don't see any other signs of life. The hard drive access light doesn't seem to come on either, which makes me think that this is not just a video problem, but I'm not sure what BIOS does if it can't detect any video device.

EDIT: Interesting development. At Xantec's suggestion I disconnected everything, which worked. I then started reassembling it piece by piece, and I now have everything back together- even the video card and other peripherals that were not attached before- and it's working fine. I'm typing from it right now. I have no idea what the problem could have been, but since I didn't narrow it down to anything I'm afraid it will just happen again.

Answer 1

Any lights on in the motherboard? This is probably either a failing motherboard or failing power supply (I wouldn't throw that video card out yet!). I suspect it is a failing power supply as it couldn't power the card by itself, then when you took some load off of it, it eventually couldn't provide enough power to the motherboard. Newer motherboards won't power on without sufficient power, but older ones might still power whatever they can.

I would hook a volt meter up to one of the power supply's rails and see what you get.

Answer 2

May be your main board got a short circuit inside.In most cases when we do a clean re installation of hardware, these issues will get solved.

At sometimes residual voltage will also cause this issue. to bypass residual voltage you have to hold the power button on CPU cabin for a minute and during this process do not plug the power cable to wall socket.

Another cause will be your power supply, when you install video card, ensure that you have installed a power supply with enough watts to power up the whole system.

Answer 3

I've had this happen a few times, and in most cases, there was a thin build-up of dust along the contacts to the motherboard, which short-circuited the card or motherboard. This happens more frequently with video cards that have fans, and the amount of dust is often difficult to see, unless you look carefully.

The same problem happens to RAM and other cards (less frequently).

It's likely that while removing the components and setting them aside to remove others, you dislodged the dust, removing the short-circuit. Your system should be okay, this rarely causes permanent damage, but it's good to use a can of compressed air to clean your system every few months.

Answer 4

I have had the problem of power-supplies not generating enough power in the start-pulse to start the computer. They way of solving that was to remove the cables and rearrange them in the power-supply. It is entirely possible that is similar to your situation.