Greetings Cindy and List--
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Sanderson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 5:36 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] BIOS Disappears, No Video


Hi All,

My PC is fairly new (Jan), built by a local company so I don't have any
info on all hardware inside the case (I know, I need to download
Belarc).  My problem has occurred 3 times now and started about 2 months
ago.  I only have my computer on during the weekends and one weekend, it
was threatening to storm so I shut the computer down.  The next morning
it wouldn't boot.  I would hear one long beep followed by 3 short ones
and no video, monitor remains black.
----end original excerpt----------

Further to Tony, Martin, and Frank's posts, a black screen showing no
POST activity would draw me toward suspecting video adapter problems.
If your video is integrated (that is, built in to the motherboard), I
suspect
you'll either have to purchase a video card, or have the motherboard
replaced.
If, on the other hand, your video adapter is a PCI, AGP, or PCI Express
adapter in a slot of its own, you may attempt this procedure with a good
possibility of success:

1. Open the case
2. Disconnect the video cable from the card
3. Remove the screw (or whatever retains the card in place)
4. If AGP (the slot it is seated in will be brown), look for a lever of some
    kind at the opposite end from where the monitor cable was plugged in.
    Some AGP cards have a "catch" that must be released to allow the card
    to be removed.
5. Pull the adapter straight up out of the slot.
6. Using a clean pencil eraser, rub the contacts at the base of the card in
    the direction they are aligned (kind of like they used to tell you to
brush
    your teeth ... from the gum to the end, up and down).
7. Do this on both sides of the card, being careful not to touch the
contacts
    with your fingers (the least bit of oil from your skin can make contact
faulty).
8. Use an artist's brush or 'canned air' to get rid of any rubber debris.
9. Re-seat the adapter firmly in the slot, moving it up and down a couple of
times.
10. Replace the retainer screw, and re-attach the monitor cable.
11. Close the case.
Try starting the computer after doing this.

Cleaning the contacts in this manner has worked for me on many occasions.
The same procedure can be used on the memory DIMM contacts. Be certain
to touch the power supply or other metal part of the case to ground yourself
before touching the memory modules, in order to release any static charge.

HTH.

Paul A. Shippert
Library Media Specialist
Margaret Brent Middle School

                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>