Trevor,
For starters, if you're
certain the clicking noise you're hearing when you turn your computer on is coming from the hard drive then that hard drive has physically crashed and is dead and gone. Is this computer a Dell? If not do you know what make and model the motherboard in the system is? Did all these problems occur immediately after an electrical storm where you live? Does the computer you're using to post to this forum belong to you? If it does I'd try swapping parts between it and the seemingly dead system. Self test the monitor by unplugging it from the video card and turning it on. If it's functioning you should get a box somewhere on the screen with different colors displayed in it or a message with 'check signal cable' or something similar. If the monitor checks out then swap the keyboard, mouse and video card. I suspect your keyboard and mouse are functional. If you can get video with another video card in the malfunctioning computer then at least you'll know the AGP slot is OK. Regaining video should be your first priority. After all, even if resetting the CMOS battery does have some effect you won't be able to tell if you can't see anything on the screen.
Ok, yes i have thought that the hard drive had crashed. It is a packard bell with a 166 MhZ pentium I. My dad was on the computer when it happened. He doesn't do anything crazy; he's an EXTREMELY conservative man so he doesnt screw around with anything. He said it just made a few clicking noises from the hard drive then it just went blank. I'm not too sure if there is keyboard response b/c when i press CAPS the light does not apear on the keyboard. Yes, the computer im using is our new Dell, and i dont think swapping parts would be the most intelegent choice of action. Now perhaps, gettin the monitor working could be a start. The_Namek, Plz describe what actions must be made to do this. B/c right now the monitor will turn on but is absolutely black.
Trevor,
Now that I know a little more about the problematic computer it's clear that swapping parts between them (internal parts, that is) isn't an option. The gap in technology is far too vast. Given that the Packard Bell has a Pentium I processor, the video in that computer is probably either integrated or an ISA card, the latter of which is an obsolete technology. I imagine it's safe to say that the computer is no longer covered under warranty either.
Since you asked how to get the monitor working I take it you didn't run the self test like I specified in my last post. You can also try attaching the Packard Bell's monitor to your Dell to see if it displays video. If it does then the monitor is fine and the Packard Bell will need a new motherboard if the video is integrated or a new video card if it's not. Plugging the Packard Bell's keyboard into the Dell will tell you whether it's working or not as well. If the keyboard functions normally when attached to the Dell then you're looking at replacing the Packard Bell's hard drive and video card or motherboard to get it working again.
The_Namek
2 Intern
•
2.8K Posts
0
October 29th, 2002 03:00
For starters, if you're certain the clicking noise you're hearing when you turn your computer on is coming from the hard drive then that hard drive has physically crashed and is dead and gone. Is this computer a Dell? If not do you know what make and model the motherboard in the system is? Did all these problems occur immediately after an electrical storm where you live? Does the computer you're using to post to this forum belong to you? If it does I'd try swapping parts between it and the seemingly dead system. Self test the monitor by unplugging it from the video card and turning it on. If it's functioning you should get a box somewhere on the screen with different colors displayed in it or a message with 'check signal cable' or something similar. If the monitor checks out then swap the keyboard, mouse and video card. I suspect your keyboard and mouse are functional. If you can get video with another video card in the malfunctioning computer then at least you'll know the AGP slot is OK. Regaining video should be your first priority. After all, even if resetting the CMOS battery does have some effect you won't be able to tell if you can't see anything on the screen.
I think that's enough to begin with.
Trevor Schmidt
2 Posts
0
October 29th, 2002 20:00
Ok, yes i have thought that the hard drive had crashed. It is a packard bell with a 166 MhZ pentium I. My dad was on the computer when it happened. He doesn't do anything crazy; he's an EXTREMELY conservative man so he doesnt screw around with anything. He said it just made a few clicking noises from the hard drive then it just went blank. I'm not too sure if there is keyboard response b/c when i press CAPS the light does not apear on the keyboard. Yes, the computer im using is our new Dell, and i dont think swapping parts would be the most intelegent choice of action. Now perhaps, gettin the monitor working could be a start. The_Namek, Plz describe what actions must be made to do this. B/c right now the monitor will turn on but is absolutely black.
The_Namek
2 Intern
•
2.8K Posts
0
October 29th, 2002 23:00
Now that I know a little more about the problematic computer it's clear that swapping parts between them (internal parts, that is) isn't an option. The gap in technology is far too vast. Given that the Packard Bell has a Pentium I processor, the video in that computer is probably either integrated or an ISA card, the latter of which is an obsolete technology. I imagine it's safe to say that the computer is no longer covered under warranty either.
Since you asked how to get the monitor working I take it you didn't run the self test like I specified in my last post. You can also try attaching the Packard Bell's monitor to your Dell to see if it displays video. If it does then the monitor is fine and the Packard Bell will need a new motherboard if the video is integrated or a new video card if it's not. Plugging the Packard Bell's keyboard into the Dell will tell you whether it's working or not as well. If the keyboard functions normally when attached to the Dell then you're looking at replacing the Packard Bell's hard drive and video card or motherboard to get it working again.
Ziwpiz
432 Posts
0
October 30th, 2002 10:00
Here is a link to get help on your Packard Bell. Since support in the USA was discontinued by Bell this place took ouer.
They have a forum and also live tech support.
Best place for help with Pac-Bell. You can also find drivers, patches and up-date for all PB stuff.
Hope this helps you.
http://www.priorityonesupport.com/
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