No video on a desktop computer?

Cause:

• Monitor failure
• Video card or onboard video device failure
• Driver conflict or improper driver installation
• Power issue
• Loose device connection

Resolution:

1. Verify the computer and monitor has power and is actually turned on.
• Not turned on? Well… turn it on. J
• No power? – Make sure power connections are in and secure. Reseat them to verify.
• Make sure their power bar is on. (If they have one.)
• If the monitor still has no power, try it directly to the wall and another outlet.
• Still no power on the monitor, RPL if in warranty and is the original monitor or Op sale a new one.
• If the tower has no power, try step 5. If still no power see No power troubleshooting.
2. Verify the connections are secure. Reseat them to verify this.
3. Remove the monitor connection from the tower, check if the monitor self test appears. (If may take a few seconds) If it appears, the monitor is fine. If it doesn’t, bad monitor!
4. Replace it if in warranty (and is the original monitor) or Op sale a new one!
5. Does the owner have picture in POST (Power on Self Test) or in the Bios? Do they lose it as soon as Windows loads? (If the computer has no POST or Bios go directly to step 7)
6. If they lose picture as soon as windows loads, boot to safe mode
• Check for multiple video adapters, if there are two, try disabling the one the user is not using. (Usually a problem with onboard video overriding a video card).
• If they are exactly the same try uninstalling one and rebooting. It might be a ghost driver.
• If the ghost driver reappears after rebooting, try disabling it like it is a device. (Because it might be.)
• If only one device is listed, uninstall the video driver. Reboot the PC and install the driver off of the driver disk.
7. If the issue repeats, uninstall the video driver again, get the user into windows normally and Doc-express them the updated driver. Give the SR# and your audix. If this issue happens even with an updated driver, you are looking at service for a potential hardware issue.
8. Do a hardware reset: Unplug the power from the wall and hold the power button in for 20 seconds. Try and boot. Check for onboard video as well as a video card. If the owner has both, try the onboard video. If it works. Check the device manager and try installing the video card properly. If it is installed properly, try disabling the onboard. Then switch it back to the video card. If the PC does not have both onboard and a video card. Proceed to the next step.
9. Open the tower and reseat the video card. (Make sure the owner has the power off and unplugged. Also make sure they touch a metal part of the computer to discharge static (IE the metal frame or power supply)
10. Still no video after reseating the card? It may be the video card or something on the motherboard.
11. Remove the video card completely and try booting. Does the motherboard beep? If it does, the motherboard is fine and you should replace the video card if in warranty. If out of warranty, op sale a new one. If the motherboard does not beep, it may be a bad motherboard or something attached to it. (Note: Not all motherboards have beep codes, check the source!)
12. If you are unsure if the video card is actually causing the problem, service may be the best option