Fixing my old PC, simple fix?

[Epical]

So I just migrated computers, and in doing so I swapped my video cards to my new PC from my old one, as well as put in my old sound card in the new one, otherwise everything stayed the same. The new PC was set up flawlessly without a hitch. The old PC however, starts up just fine, and then after three or so seconds the thinking lights and optical drive lights go off at the same time, and at no point during startup does the monitor get a picture. All the fans are still spinning though.

I thought it was a dying PSU, so I changed it out, and the same thing happens. At this point I'm thinking dead mobo/HDD/CPU? I'm not sure about the HDD because I would at least get a POST screen image if it was dead. Can parts just die like that without any signs of wearing down before the change? Any pointers?

EDIT: I guess it might be beneficial to add that just before I migrated computers, I restarted my old one one day, and it shut off. When I pressed the power button it never got power. I shut off the PSU and turned it back on and that fixed the problem. Other than that I've had no problems.

[Tajin]

Have you tried to reset the CMOS or putting it together piece by piece?

[Epical]

Nope, haven't reset the CMOS yet. Also haven't completely disassembled it and reassembled it... is that necessary if nothing has changed except for a video card?

[Tajin]

If the optical drive is doing fuzzy things when you switched only the v/card a piece by piece is the fastest way to see where its fuckign up.

Or a CMOS reset.

[volcanicweather]

Nope, haven't reset the CMOS yet. Also haven't completely disassembled it and reassembled it... is that necessary if nothing has changed except for a video card?

It shouldn't be. If I had to guess, your video card may be running at a higher voltage than allowed by the motherboard and, worse case scenario, you may have shorted your board altogether.

If it's worth your time, you may want to swap video cards again so the original video card is with its original PC and see if you can edit any BIOS settings to allow a card with a higher voltage to run on the board.

Just a thought.

[Tajin]

Oh also you could try to unplug everything and dust-off the RAM modules, its probably just that screwing things up.

[Caiyuo]

What is the old PC's video adapter plugging into now? Onboard video? Maybe check the BIOS to see if there's something relevant there since it's used a video card up until now.

[Epical]

If the optical drive is doing fuzzy things when you switched only the v/card a piece by piece is the fastest way to see where its fuckign up.

Or a CMOS reset.

It isn't doing fuzzy things really, I just see it's operation light turn off at the same time as the main HDD's. If I press the eject button it still works...

It shouldn't be. If I had to guess, your video card may be running at a higher voltage than allowed by the motherboard and, worse case scenario, you may have shorted your board altogether.

If it's worth your time, you may want to swap video cards again so the original video card is with its original PC and see if you can edit any BIOS settings to allow a card with a higher voltage to run on the board.

Just a thought.

This card used to be on the old computer for about 2 years, so it definitely is compatible, and it much less of a power hog than the one just swapped out.

What is the old PC's video adapter plugging into now? Onboard video? Maybe check the BIOS to see if there's something relevant there since it's used a video card up until now.

The old PC is hooked up the old video card. The video card is 100% fine since it was just working when I had it in the new PC. There is no onboard video with my mobo.

Perplexing...

[Kryssan]

Check to make sure in your swap operations you didn't accidently short the motherboard. Verify all cards are seated properly. Also seeing as this is a boot issue try pulling your RAM, booting with each one separately, and seeing if one of the modules is bad.


Barring that I would just try booting it up after unplugging a device, one at a time. Either you find the culprit or you isolate it to the motherboard. That's when I'd start doing troubleshooting with the MB. Seeing as replacing it is going to replace the computer, leave it for last after you have ruled everything else out.