Athlon PC Desktop Won't display, troubleshoot

[hastyle]

Athlon PC, Boot but won't display, troubleshoot

Hey guys im trying to help my buddy fix his athlon desktop, Its bootings into windows ( i can hear the sounds) but theres nothing displaying on the monitor, i tried my own monitor, same problem. I tested his videocard in my pc works fine. Any idea what it could be? Ive never ran into anything like this before. Usually its the monitor, but ive tested 2 workings ones. thanks.


specs

amd (not sure which one)
gigabyte ga-m55plus
Generic Corsair memory
BFG geforce 7800.
win7 x86

 

[NooNoo]

Do you know what PSU he has? It's possible that the PSU isn't kicking out enough power for the gfx card, especially as it is a particularly beefy card he has.

 

[Dwarf]

Are you getting a display at all? You mention that you have no display from within Windows (which you assume is working, since you can hear the sounds), but are you getting a display within the BIOS/POST and/or the sign-on message from the card itself? Do you hear any beeps from the system as it is powered on (other than the single OK beep)?

 

[hastyle]

Hey Guys thanks for the reply, PSU is an Antec True Power Trio 430 watt. No im not getting any display in bios/post, I dont hear any beeps in the begining, i just let it sit for a few minutes, and i hear the windows 7 login sound.

 

[alphanumeric]

Does that motherboard have onboard video? If yes, does it work? You may have to remove the add-in card and reset the BIOS to defaults with the motherboard jumper. I think I would reset the BIOS to defaults regardless. Just make sure you do it with the power off and the PC unplugged from the wall to avoid damaging your motherboard. Also make sure to put the jumper back in the original position before you power up again.

 

[hastyle]

Here is the manual. I think i reseted the CMos properly, I put a jumper in and then turned it on and turned it off, then took it out. I tried the VGA onboard videocard after, it works i got into the bios. plugged the geforce card back in, and tried the DVI no luck. PCI-E slot burnt out or something?

http://www.manualowl.com/m/Gigabyte/GA-M55plus-S3G/Manual/207753http://www.sysopt.com/features/mboard/article.php/12027_3644226_2

 

[Britton30]

Hopefully you took the CMOS reset jumper off before powering up, it will fry the motherboard if left on. Power has to be off to reset it.


While using the onboard VGA did you disable onboard graphics? I have a no display issue with my Athlon socket 939 too. I need to pull the power cable out after powering up once or twice to get my display back. I have only onboard VGA. you might try it, waiting long enough that Windows is booted fully.

 

[hastyle]

Wow, I left the jump in and turned it on then turned it off right away then took out the jumper off. I thought it had to boot up for a second to reset. still booted up, thank god.

Why would i disable onboard graphics if i'm using the onboard card? to see if there a conflict between the onboard and the geforce card? Not sure what u mean by your last 3 sentences.

Hopefully you took the CMOS reset jumper off before powering up, it will fry the motherboard if left on. Power has to be off to reset it.


While using the onboard VGA did you disable onboard graphics? I have a no display issue with my Athlon socket 939 too. I need to pull the power cable out after powering up once or twice to get my display back. I have only onboard VGA. you might try it, waiting long enough that Windows is booted fully.

 

[alphanumeric]

In the old days you had to disable the onboard graphics in order to use an add on card. You had to tell the motherboard that you added a video card and not to use the onboard anymore. Its pretty well automatic these days but you still might have to change a setting in the BIOS. My BIOS has an option to set what card gets initialized first. I have it set to PCIe, PCI, Onboard. It will first look for a PCIe video card. If it doesn't find one it will look for a PCI Video card etc. By default its set to Onboard, PCIe, PCI. If you have a similar setting you may have to change it to PCIe.

EDIT: You were really lucky you didn't fry your motherboard while reseting the BIOS with the jumper.

 

[hastyle]

Hey, in the bios the onboard GPU doesnt have a disable, only has 2 options, Always enable & enable if no ext PEG.

Manual link.
http://www.manualowl.com/m/Gigabyte/GA-M55plus-S3G/Manual/207753

In the old days you had to disable the onboard graphics in order to use an add on card. You had to tell the motherboard that you added a video card and not to use the onboard anymore. Its pretty well automatic these days but you still might have to change a setting in the BIOS. My BIOS has an option to set what card gets initialized first. I have it set to PCIe, PCI, Onboard. It will first look for a PCIe video card. If it doesn't find one it will look for a PCI Video card etc. By default its set to Onboard, PCIe, PCI. If you have a similar setting you may have to change it to PCIe.

EDIT: You were really lucky you didn't fry your motherboard while reseting the BIOS with the jumper.

 

[alphanumeric]

Set it to "enable if no ext PEG" and see what happens.

 

[hastyle]

yeah that was the default setting. couldnt get it working with the geforece card. think i might just have to admit defeat! lol

Set it to "enable if no ext PEG" and see what happens.

 

[alphanumeric]

It sounds like the BIOS is not detecting that card, and it just defaults to the onboard. If there is a newer BIOS available for that motherboard you could try updating it. Other than that I don't know what to tell you. If you do decide to flash the BIOS read the instructions very carefully before hand and make sure you understand them. Print them out if you have to. If you do it incorrectly you could turn the motherboard into a big paper weight.

 

[hastyle]

ok thanks for the help everyone.

 

[Britton30]

Sorry for the confusion, alpha covered what I meant. PEG is short for PCI express graphics.

I was explaining I have an Athlon system with onboard graphics too, it is all I use on that machine, no discreet card. IT won't display anything if I power off and then on. I have to power on, wait a length of time, pull the power cable and hit the power button, then my display comes back.

 

[hastyle]

There is a bios update , description: Disable PCI prefetch

Think i should give it a shot?


GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM2 - GA-M55plus-S3G (rev. 1.0)

Sorry for the confusion, alpha covered what I meant. PEG is short for PCI express graphics.

I was explaining I have an Athlon system with onboard graphics too, it is all I use on that machine, no discreet card. IT won't display anything if I power off and then on. I have to power on, wait a length of time, pull the power cable and hit the power button, then my display comes back.

 

[Britton30]

With this issue I would try it, but save a copy of your current BIOS in case. Follow the flash instructions carefully.
Which BIOS is installed now?

 

[hastyle]

Um, not sure hwo to check the Bios version, I'll run it by my friend and see what he wants to do and i'll make sure i read the manual before doing it.

thanks guys.

With this issue I would try it, but save a copy of your current BIOS in case. Follow the flash instructions carefully.
Which BIOS is installed now?

 

[Britton30]

A couple of ways to find out your BIOS version.

1. When restarting if you can get a display it will be listed on one of the screens before Windows starts.
2. Download Speccy - System Information - Free Download let it read the system then click motherboard and will show the version of BIOS.

 

[alphanumeric]

Windows 7 displays it on the System Information screen. Type System Information into the start menu search box to find it. BIOS Version/Date will be part way down the page.

EDIT: There may be other updates fixes included in previous BIOS updates not listed for that update. You only need to Flash to the latest one but it includes any and all updates in any previous BIOS releases. Its cumulative as you go to higher versions.