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Computer Turns on but no Display on the Monitor

One of the most common problems The IT Fella comes across is computers turning on but no display on the monitor.  This often happens to high end gaming machines with a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit or GPU.  If this is happening to you follow the below troubleshooting steps to determine the cause.

  1. Check all cables to ensure everything is connected securely, especially the monitor cable.  This could be a VGA, HDMI or DVI Cable.  For VGA and DVI cables, take the cables out at both ends to make sure none of the delicate Pins are damaged.
  2. If you hear your fans fire up in the computer; power is obviously not an issue.  If not, check to make sure your plug fuse is intact or try using a different power cable.  Some Power Supply Units have kill switches, check to make sure that hasn’t accidentally been switched off.

If your computer turns on and you still have no display on the monitor, read below for more advanced steps.

No Signal Check Cable

If your monitor is reporting “No Signal – Check Cable” when you turn your computer on, read below to troubleshoot and diagnose the issue.

Once you have checked the basic steps above it’s time to start more advanced techniques.  If you are not comfortable handling computer components and are worried about damaging these delicate parts, please contact The IT Fella.  A Diagnostics to identify the problem starts at £30 for regular consumer computers.  Or £50 for more advanced Gaming Computers.

If you are happy to continue yourself, Switch the computer off, disconnect the Power Cable and read on.

  1. The first step is to remove any peripheral components connected to the computer.  If you have a dedicated GPU, remove it.  If you have multiple sticks of Memory (RAM) remove them, leaving one memory module in Bank 1A.
  2. disconnect all connections to SATA Drives like the CD-ROM and any Hard Disk or Solid State Drives that you have.  Remove M.2 SSD’s from their mounts.
  3. Make sure the monitor is connected to the main motherboards display output.  If you have options, try using a different cable type.  For example if you normally use HDMI, switch to VGA, DVI or DisplayPort if possible.
  4. If your computer turns on but has no display output, switch it off again and remove the power cable.  Remove the memory module you inserted into Bank 1A and swap it for one of the other modules.  Switch on again.
  5. Repeat Step 4 until you have exhausted all Memory Modules that were removed.

My Monitor problem is Resolved!

Throughout this process you should at least see some kind of output, even if it is an error message that “No Operating System was found”.

If by removing all of the components you see that the monitor shows a picture it could be that one of the components you removed is faulty.

  1. Start by reinstalling all of the RAM Modules.  Power on the machine once they are reinstalled.  If you still get a picture, then the Memory modules are fine.
  2. Switch the computer off again and reinstall the Hard Drives, SATA Connections and M.2 SSD (if applicable).  Test again.
  3. If we still have success, it’s likely that you dedicated GPU has failed.  Of course, if you don’t have one then it must have been cable / port issue.  I would like to think that this was discovered before getting this far though.
  4. Reinstall your GPU and reconnect the monitor to it.  Switch the computer back on, do you get a display output?  If yes, then it could have been a loose connection of one of the components.  Sometimes, by reseating everything it reconnects lost contacts.

I Still Have No Display on the Monitor

If after all of these steps you still have no display on the monitor, you could try one last step which is to reset something called the CMOS on your Motherboard.  This removes all customised settings from the BIOS and resets the board back to factory defaults.  This process usually involves short-circuiting two pins with a Jumper.  The process varies with each board and manufacturer.  It’s best to Google your exact Motherboard followed by the words “CMOS Reset”.  Make sure you follow the guide precisely as you may inadvertently damage the Motherboard if it hasn’t already failed.

Conclusion

If of course, throughout this entire process your computer turns on but has no display on the monitor, it is likely your Motherboard has failed.  It’s always best to source a like for like with a Motherboard, especially if you have an Intel Processor.  Intel change their Chipsets every second Generation of Processor.  So if you have an older board, your existing processor will not work in newer boards.  If you have an AMD Processor, check the Series of Processor you have it may be compatible with newer boards.  Of course, if you do have to buy a new motherboard, check to make sure your existing components are also compatible.  There is usually a list of approved components available on the manufacturers website.

Alternatively, contact the vendor you are looking to purchase the Motherboard from.  The IT Fella prefers to source computer equipment from either eBuyer or CCL Online.  They have specialists on hand to support you throughout your buying process.

If you need any help with any of these steps, contact The IT Fella to sort it all out for you.  We come to you, pickup your faulty computer and deliver it back to you when it has been fixed.