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Dell forum: No video signal?

by: cephalization July 18, 2009 7:27 AM PDT

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No video signal?

by cephalization - 7/18/09 7:27 AM

Hello good sirs and ma'ams.

Summary
-No video signal (tried both a tv and monitor)
-Hooked laptop up to same tv and monitor and it worked fine
-ABCD Led lights are green (even when video card unplugged)
-Able to reboot/sleep computer with keyboard shortcuts
-Reseated the ram without any effect
-Booted without video card plugged in without any errors - no beeps and ABCD LED lights green (booted to windows I assume bc was able to use keyboard shortcuts to reboot the machine)
-ATI AGP video card (has no visual damage to it)

I'm using an old Dell Dimension 8300 desktop as a streaming video player for my LCD tv. Just last night it decided to hate me. It is running XP, service pack 2. I have AVG installed.

The other night it crashed while streaming netflix. The video froze with one solid row of horizontal pixels running through the video. The sound kept going, then started looping last 1/2 second of sound.

I had to hard boot. Restarted, no signal. So, I Unplugged for a few seconds, then booted fine. However, it froze again in the same way and now doesn't output any video signal.

I am guessing it is the video card, but don't have a spare one lying around. Any suggestions? Thank you.


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Link, idea

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 7/18/09 7:38 AM

In Reply to: No video signal? by cephalization

I agree that another video card is a good idea. but look at http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/index.htm and try the CMOS reset and how long since this battery?
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/battery.htm

Bob


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Tried removing the battery...

by cephalization - 7/18/09 8:02 AM

In Reply to: Link, idea by R. Proffitt Moderator

I tried unplgging the pc, removing the battery, pressing the power button, waiting a few seconds, then plugging it back in.

It beeped a few times when it booted, but no signal.

I've never replaced the battery.

Sound more like a dead video card?

Thanks for the suggestions.


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If other displays don't work.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 7/18/09 9:33 AM

In Reply to: Tried removing the battery... by cephalization

Then it's likely. I thought we'd check the old cmos battery while we are there. Resetting the bios settings is an old bench trick because I've found settings that cause your issue and the simple reset (well simple for most machines) re-enables the video.

Now the documentation does not lead me to believe there is a SECOND VIDEO CONNECTION on the machine. You would have to look.
Bob


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No second video output connection

by cephalization - 7/18/09 10:11 AM

In Reply to: If other displays don't work. by R. Proffitt Moderator

To your last point, I think you were commenting if there is another video output (like directly on the mobo). There is not unfortunately.

I guess this means I'm buying a video card. Thanks for the help, Bob!


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Then we're running out of runway.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 7/18/09 10:21 AM

In Reply to: No second video output connection by cephalization

Or road.

I just wanted to cover all bases since other video connectors do exist in some machines. We can't dismiss it just because the documentation doesn't call it out. That's why we go ahead and look.

Glad you checked.
Bob


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The video's path.

by luke-cool5 - 2/28/13 8:32 AM

In Reply to: No video signal? by cephalization

Let's look at the path:
memory
CPU
North bridge
video card

Start with a known good monitor.
Clean the memory with an eracer. Install one stick in the proper slot (check your manual).
Plug the power suppy back in ,and try it.
If there's still no video, Reset the BIOS, and try it again.
If there's still no video, Try a different video card.
On two dell T3400, I have seen this problem and found the mother board to be bad.
This problem starts with the North Bridge getting adnormally hot.
If you see this, order a mother board, you are about to loose your video.
There is a possability that the CPU is bad. Pentium 4s and old AMDs are bad about this.


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