PC Died

KGB_Garal

<div class="IPBDescription">Help please!</div>So I was vacuuming near my computer tonight and I noticed the monitor give the "no signal" message and go into stand by mode. My computer still appeared the be on however after I finished vacuuming I tried to get the monitor to display and couldn't. When I reboot the computer I no longer get the usual motherboard beep as it's booting up, and nothing will display on the screen. So what gives? I had to replace my video card a few months back (probably about 4), and I replaced it with a cheap Nvidia card from Best Buy. At the moment I am suspecting that it is the video card that got fried or something. Any ideas? I don't have another video card that I can try and there is no on-board.

Pipi

To me it looks like a classic video card problem.

I do not remember well but the boot's beep mean something when it doesn't beeps or beeps twice, look in your MB's manual.

I had a really similar problem once but it was the whole MB which blew up somehow.. !

Kouji_San

The beeping, or on some motherboards they also use lights are indeed similar to morse code, which can be found in your mobomanual

One thing to check first is that perhaps you knocked out the power supply cable for the video card, or perhaps a power connection to one of the fans (cpu fan is suspect)

Talesin

The POST (power-on self-test) beepcodes tell you if the computer is having a problem. One short is the usual 'all clear' code. Different patterns can indicate bad RAM, a dead CPU, and other failure states. In this case, the problem is preventing the POST from running at all; a badly failed component (if not the motherboard itself). Normal troubleshooting if you're experienced with working on computers is to remove the expansion cards (labelling as to what goes in which slot) including the video card, and try again. If still no beepcode, remove the RAM. Still no code, test the PSU. Still no code, remove the CPU. Still no code, buy a new motherboard.

It's unlikely but possible that you fried the machine with static electricity; it only takes 20v to destroy some components, and over 2,000v to feel the static 'zap' when you touch something metal. Unlikely as the vacuum should be grounded to discharge the static it builds up in the beater roller or brush bar, and the computer chassis should be grounded as well, if properly put together and the electric systems of your house are run properly.

Just to make certain, you've turned everything off completely, unplugged it, then plugged everything back in again to make sure it's all seated correctly? Made sure the power switch on the back of the PSU (if so equipped) didn't get bumped to 'off' while vacuuming? There are a number of other things you can do, but if you don't know what you're doing, they can cause a lot more harm than good.

Cereal_KillR

How close to the PC were you vacuuming? Did you touch/knock down the case with your vacuum?

I'm still thinking we should get a bit more info on your PC:
-Case make and model (mostly: is it made of metal, or is it acrylic or something. Does it have large holes of non-metal)
-What's your PSU?
-What's your graphic card, your screen.
-How old is your PC generally, most notably, is your motherboard's battery still operational (not probable if your computer was operational at vacuum time when it turned itself off). Stupid question, but it has amazingly solved two of my three unexplained computer failures

-Anything and everything there is to know about your PC.
-How much spare parts do you have at your disposal.

Temphage

Vacuum may have knocked out your PSU somehow. In my old house in Chicago it wasn't uncommon for the vacuum cleaner in certain rooms to cause all the breakers to trip randomly.