computer has no video

July 2 2016

How to troubleshoot no display on computer monitor.

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There can be a number of reasons why a desktop computer monitor is not displaying an image. Before taking your computer or monitor to your local repair shop you can try some easy troubleshooting steps below to help determine the cause of your display issue.

Please Note: We have received a large number of support requests related to this article. While we do offer FREE troubleshooting tips on our website we are unable to offer free one-on-one support. If you’re interested in paid phone/remote support feel free to contact us.

If Monitor Displays “NO SIGNAL” or “SELF TEST” – this means that your computer monitor is working properly but isn’t getting a signal from the computer. Start troubleshooting your issue by ensuring that both ends of the video cable that goes between your computer and your monitor are pushed in the whole way. Your monitor cable will look like one of the three examples below. If you have a VGA or HDMI cable be careful not to screw the adapter in place too tightly. You also want to be careful not to pull on the cable until the screws have been loosened completely from the back of the computer.

Monitor power light is off – If your monitor is not displaying a power light then you might have a problem
with your monitor. Ensure that the power adapter to the monitor is plugged in completely. Test your power outlet with another device such as a lamp to ensure the power outlet works. If you hav Monitor e another cable that matches your monitors power cable you can try using that or take your monitor to a local repair shop to see if they can test your monitor. If you have another monitor that you can plug into your computer you can test that just to rule out any potential issues with your computer.

My monitor has power but I have no display – usually this points to a video card or display driver issue. You can first check to make sure your video cable is plugged into the proper display port on the back of your computer. If you have two separate areas on your computer that have the same display adapter your computer has on-board video as well as a video card. Try plugging into the video card (usually away from other connections) first and if no-signal or self test is displayed on your monitor try the other port.

What should you do if I still have no display on my computer monitor?

If the above don’t resolve your issue you may need to take your computer to a local computer repair shop for additional troubleshooting and support. Your technician will want to see your computer tower first to ensure that the display output from your computer is working properly.

If your computer displays properly on another monitor your technician can check to ensure that your screen resolution isn’t set too high for the monitor your normally use. If the resolution is within normal ranges your monitor may need repaired or replaced. Replacing your out of warranty monitor may be the most sensible option depending upon the monitors age and specifications.

If your computer does not display properly on another monitor your technician will need to perform further diagnostics to determine if other components including motherboard, memory or power supply are contributing to the lack of display.

If your computer requires a new video card the cost of the repair will depend upon the quality of parts purchased and the video requirements that you need. If your using your computer for gaming or programs that are graphics intensive the cost of your video card will be higher. Basic video cards can cost as little as $49.99 or even less but you don’t want to sacrifice too much quality for price. The video cards that we purchase for the average gamer is around $150. Part installation fees can vary from repair shop to repair shop at Jester’s Computers we charge $15 for part installation.

June 25 2016

Desktop Power Supply Replacement

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If your Desktop Computer computer isn’t powering on you might need your power supply replaced. Before you purchase a replacement power supply or visit your local computer repair shop you can follow a few basic troubleshooting steps to confirm that the power supply is the likely cause.

First, confirm whether or not your computer is getting any power – if you can hear fans spin or beeping noises when you press the power button then your computer is getting some power. If you have power but no video the power supply could still be a cause but a video problem is more likely so you should troubleshoot no video on the computer screen first.

Next, verify that your power outlet is working properly – do yourself a favor and plug something else into the wall outlet or surge protector outlet that your computer is normally plugged into, just in that off chance that your power outlet isn’t functioning. If your power out working fine then try out the next troubleshooting step.

Finally, ensure your computer isn’t in “limbo land” – sometimes computers get stuck in a state of “not on but not really off” and just need to be completely discharged of any power. By now your computer has probably been off for a few minutes so you can reconnect it checking to make sure that the connection to your power outlet or surge protector and the connection into the computers power supply are snug.

If that fixed your computer – use this as a good opportunity to replace to either install or replace your existing surge protector. If your surge protector is more than 2 years old and doesn’t offer equipment insurance you should replace it. Surge protectors lose their effectiveness and should be replaced after your home or office receives a direct lightning strike. If you live in an area with “dirty power” and experience more frequent power outages and voltage drops or frequent thunderstorms with lightning you should replace your surge protectors yearly. If you want additional surge protection or replace your computers power supply frequently you should consider using an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) which combines surge protetion with battery backup.

If your computer still won’t power on – you should take your computer to a local computer repair shop for diagnostic and repair. If your power supply is bad and failure was caused by an electrical storm other components inside your computer could be damaged as well. If your local computer repair shop technicians are available they should be able to test standard power supplies and determine within a 15 minutes if a replacement is needed.

What to expect with a power supply replacement?

The cost and amount of time your power supply replacement depends on whether or not your computer uses a standard power supply. If you have a small computer that takes up half the amount of space or less of a standard desktop computer case then your computer likely uses a special power supply.

Cost – The cost of parts can vary depending on quality and standard or non-standard format. Our standard power supplies are kept in stock and cost $59.99 and we charge $15 for installation. Special power supplies can cost upwards of $100, can require additional troubleshooting time and may not be regularly stocked.

Time – Computer repair shops should regularly stock standard power supplies. We are happy to test your power supply and replace it while you wait (Usually 15 minutes) when parts and technicians are available. Devices required to test special power supplies may not be available and it may be necessary for your technician to order the required parts to perform additional testing. Some parts can be purchased and receive within a few days where as other may be unavailable locally and some international orders can take up to 3 weeks to arrive.

If you have a special power supply and your computer is running Windows XP or Vista or, if you have been considering purchasing a new computer, we would recommend putting the money you would invest in your existing machine into a new machine. You can visit our computer recommendations here and we build custom desktop systems as well.

If you live near Fairfield Pennsylvania and require assistance with your computer visit our contact us page to send us a message or learn more about where to find us! .