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andreat

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monitor can't boot up

Hi,
My computer used to work fine. Then I installed DirectX and DirectVideo (something like that) to play games. And still it worked fine. Then one day, as I was working with Winword, suddenly, the screen changes colour (a lot of rubbish colour). After rebooting, it's ok. Then as I worked 1/2 way through WinWord, the system ran into some problem with the memory and had to reboot. After that the PC alternated between the memory or screen problem so I finally gave up and shut down. Weeks of unuse later, I tried to boot up. The hard disk runs for a short while and stays quiet. The screen remains blank. No matter how many times I tried, it's the same. It is not the monitor's problem as I tried it with another laptop.

Please advise.
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arnond

first, try to fasten your cables, if it doesn't help, then
it sounds like a bad video card or RAM problems.
try to find some others to test it.
Can you boot it up from a floppy disc?
The most recent time you rebooted you said the hard disk ran for a little while and then stays quiet.  Do you hear any beeps after you turn on the system?  Like arnond said, check the cables--especially the cable connecting the motherboard and the hard disk.  Make sure all the cards are seated in the slots properly (just pushing down on all of the cards should do).  My guess is your video card is not seated properly...normally, when you boot the system you see some messages from the BIOS or hear beeps (if there is an error).
looks like one of the following problems:

1.  Bad RAM.  (try using differents simms from someone else's machine)
2.  Bad Video Card (try using someone else's card or putting your card in another machine)
3.  Remove all cards and try booting up with just video card and then proceed
with (each successful boot up) by adding each card.
4.  Reseed (re-insert) all cards and make sure they are firmly in place and are not
short circuiting the motherboard (try fiddling with different slots and positions)

Of course attempt these solutions in reverse order and you will need a friend's computer
to test the video and ram.

I have dealt with this situation millions of times during my MIS years and upgrading of my
own computer.  These are the 4 most common solutions (not the only solutions though)

CJ
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Laphroaig

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Hi,
Let me answer some of the experts' questions:
1) I cannot boot up even from floppy disks
2) When the system boots up, there's a sound of hard disk running then it's silent. No beep sound.
3) All my cables are in place
4) I did not shift my PC around so is there still a possibility of cards being not in place?

Do you know if DirectX or DirectVideo can cause this problem?
Meanwhile, I'll try out Laphroaig's suggestions.

Thanks,
Andrea