BLACK screen of death!!!

[kholdblades]

Sorry about the title, just saw alot of BSOD threads, and I guess it was just my attempt at a bad pun.

Anyways, jokes aside, the problem is pretty serious; I'll try to explain it to the best of my abilities, although it's a pretty weird one:

It all started yesterday, while I was watching some videos on my computer when I started to feel a little sleepy. Deciding I was too sleepy to concentrate, I decided to put the computer in sleep-mode so I could pick up where I left off, before going to sleep myself. 6.5 hours later I woke up, and tried to turn it on by pressing a key on my keyboard... no response
tried shaking and clicking my mouse... no response
checked the VGA and tried again... no response
power button... no response.
So I gave up and hard reset the computer, but when I tried to turn it on again (now here is the weird part) it would turn on... put it wouldn't do anything. The fans, the lights, cd-drive, graphics card-fan... all worked (or were at least getting electricity) yet no bios or loading screen or anything for that matter.

Long story short... I've tried pretty much everything, and I know that's a cliched statement-- but I've literally disassembled everything till it was just the Motherboard, Graphics card, and PSU. And I've tried hooking it up to a different monitor, and I'm sure it's not the monitors since both work when hooked up to a different computer. I've even tried reseting the BIOS manually; no avail.

Looking through the net, there aren't many other problems like it. The closest I was able to find was this one: Link
Although, even after reading it, and trying everything. The problem still persists... I just hope it's nothing unrepairable. When I was using it yesterday, everything worked perfectly, hell I even ran and played Crysis (on med. settings albeit) without any lag/fps drop.

So yea... any help, would be much appreciated
^^ Thank You.

 

[usasma]

If you can't see the POST, it's probably a hardware problem.
Check the coolers (both CPU and video) to see if they are adequately powered, that their fans are working, and that there's nothing clogging the coolers.

The most likely component causing this type of problem is the video card - so try another video card. DON'T buy one unless you can return it for a full refund. We're just throwing parts at the problem until we can figure out what it is.

 

[kholdblades]

If you can't see the POST, it's probably a hardware problem.
Check the coolers (both CPU and video) to see if they are adequately powered, that their fans are working, and that there's nothing clogging the coolers.

The fan on the video card, and the CPU fan seem to work. At least as far as I can tell.

The most likely component causing this type of problem is the video card - so try another video card. DON'T buy one unless you can return it for a full refund. We're just throwing parts at the problem until we can figure out what it is.

As much as I'd like to, I'm afraid I don't have a spare video card. Despite having 2 other computers, and a laptop... all their cards are integrated.
I did try running the graphics card on a different computer, but alas... it doesn't have enough power.

Edit: Just had an idea; should I try replacing an old computer's PSU, and then try the graphics card on it?

 

[usasma]

If the fan didn't work you'd see it. You can also sometimes tell my trying to spin the fan with your finger (without power in the system). If it doesn't spin easily, then it's probably dying.

You either need a way to test the card in another system - or another card to test in your system.
Another PSU might work - but that may/may not be the problem with that system.

I suggest purchasing a video card from a place that'll let you return it (most major retailers in the US will do this). That way you can get your money back if that isn't the problem..

 

[kholdblades]

If the fan didn't work you'd see it. You can also sometimes tell my trying to spin the fan with your finger (without power in the system). If it doesn't spin easily, then it's probably dying.

You either need a way to test the card in another system - or another card to test in your system.
Another PSU might work - but that may/may not be the problem with that system.

I suggest purchasing a video card from a place that'll let you return it (most major retailers in the US will do this). That way you can get your money back if that isn't the problem..

I'll try replacing the PSU's, and then trying the graphics card. If it doesn't work with the other computer... I'll install the PSU back on my computer, buy a cheap (returnable) graphics card, and test it then-- to make sure it's not the PSU.

 

[kholdblades]

K... I moved my PSU to a different computer, and it worked fine. When I tried to do the same with my graphics card, it stopped working... as in not just the monitor, but it appeared as if it was in sleep mode (exactly the same as with my computer).

Does it mean it's the graphics card? ><'

 

[usasma]

Most likely. Now it's time to try another, known good graphics card.
Although (IMO) it's most likely the card that's at fault, still don't purchase one unless you can return it for a full refund.

Good Luck!