No video to monitor

[RodBrewer]

Compaq Presario CQ3220AN Desktop PC

No video to monitor or any monitor for that matter, already attempted many troubleshooting options, all to no avail.

Was running fine until attempted to record video with webcam, the video took up all the HDD memory and while video was

compressing the screen glitched and windows became unreponsive, being that I could not clear the glitched screen.

Following a hard reset, the video feed is no longer showing up on any monitor, both the orginal and another newer monitor.

Perhaps the mother board is busted, it's intergrated with the video card, which doesn't help.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[mdklassen]

Your computer: https://support.hp.com/nz-en/document/c01963378

>  the video feed is no longer showing up on any monitor, both the orginal and another newer monitor.

> Perhaps the motherboard is busted, it's intergrated with the video card, which doesn't help.

Since your computer is a "desktop", the motherboard is designed to allow for an add-in (PCI or PCI-E) video-card to be used, and the motherboard will automatically bypass the integrated video circuitry, in favour of the added video-card.

Even a very "low-end" PCI video-card should allow the computer to show the initial "splash" screen as soon as you power-on. If you don't get any "video" in this configuration, then it could be the power-supply that "blew", or, as you guessed, a failure of the motherboard.

Inspect the capacitors on the motherboard -- any ones with domed" (not dead-flat) tops, or brown-rust leaking out the top, are symptoms of a failure.

[RodBrewer]

Thanks for the reply. All the capacitors seem fine. Perhaps installing a new video card is the way to go. If it still doesn't show anything on the display, I imagine replacing the motherboard might be required. In that case. perhaps I can pull whatever files off the HDD if need be by conneting to another computer.

The problem I forsee with trying another video card might be the power supply. I can pick up a second hand Radeon 7750 for cheap, then would need a 400 watt PSU, replacing my computers current 250 watt PSU. I imagine that might then fix the lack of video, unless of course it's the MOB, in which case might just replace computer.

What if I bought the same model computer second hand and swapped HDD?

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

> Perhaps installing a new video card is the way to go.

Try to find a "pre-owned" $5 (US) PCI video-card to "experiment" to see if disabling the onboard video bypasses the problem.  If it does, then a "better" PCI or PCI-E video-card can be purchased. You're correct about a "high-end" video-card possibly requiring a "high-end" power-supply.

> In that case. perhaps I can pull whatever files off the HDD if need be by connecting to another computer.

Yes, that has always worked for me.  You'll just have to allow Windows on that other computer to change access-control-lists for each folder under the 'x:\Users' folder, to grant permission to all the files/folders, where 'x:' is the drive-letter assigned to your current disk-drive.

> What if I bought the same model computer second hand and swapped HDD?

That will work.  Costs more than the $5 for the "experimental" video-card.  🙂

Windows may notice the changes in hardware, and make you redo the "activation" of your copy of Windows.

[savvy2]

Its a dead PC,  not specific yet,,,  after all 2 montors failed.

it's a desktop, why panic,  most can be fixed

not once did you say VGA cable nor where it is plugged in, and matters big time that.

as you know desktops can be fitted out with vast video card options, new and for the live of the PC.

so what is there? we cant see in the case or the rear , it must be stated by you. first.

why assume the most expensive parts is bad, first? why????

The intergrated video chip sure can be turned off unlike posts here to the contraray,, wow.

in fact newer HP PC turn it off automatically in BIOS, (via) when hit sees the PCI slot now with a new video card

sounds to me (seems) the old  chip was overheated by video usage? 

my card has fan, GTX-650 card, that must blow air , if not it too overheats fast and fails.

so are all fans working, even the one inside PSU is first. look there first, in all cases, then at the others CPU and optional CPU fans??????????? always first, check for bad fans, and signs of overheating...

im reading your support page now for you and it DID come as an option, VGA,.DMI and HDMI , options day one

back in yeare 2011..

lets stop and do full diagnosis now, DEAD DT.

1: power on

2: all fans run.  PSU fan, CPU and if PCI-e slot has nice express card, video card, top ones have a FAN.

3: all fans must blow, in all PC made, and must blow on heat sinks, if lint blocks all that , as is normal there 6 years old then that needs to be cleaned out. now. 

4: DVD drive eject works, does it, if not power is bad.

5: Next is BIOS screens,  push the BIOS  hot key, F10 or ESC as  it told  you to do for 6 long years, is BIOS dead, all above ok then move the VGA jack (is it VGA) to a new VGA card. in the top express slot.

I now bet you BIOS works and so does the external screen.

if not the PSU may be bad.

here is you PC , im reading your service manual, now,  not very good , doing many languages,,

see this guy, he bought THIS PC with the upgraded video card, 

page 25

see the 2 red arrows, below.?  one is onboard video and on the right is addin card video.  test both.

to test both remove the card, and test onboard, if that fails put card back and test its VGA jack. (DVI, etc)

[savvy2]

odd how the hp offical pages lack a full product  spec, ,

but that top slot is a x16 express slot 

use any cheap x1 and above express video card there, as  a test.

why not tell the helper the x16 slot is empty first.

or that the fans all works and that , PSU fun works and the DVD tray ejects.

power is first on all electonics,  checked first.

ah the links is missing on the main page

found it with SITE searches.

bingo, the real PC. 

https://support.hp.com/nz-en/document/c01963378

Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430

that slot is good for any 75watt video card or less,  says the maker. so find  cheap one to test this.

my guess is PSU dead, but, i can see it , hear it or do the tests for you..

the x16 can run any X1 to x16 card, only limits are HP bios rules , if it does, work. on all cards.  the foot note there on it is missing, sadly

a the least we pop in a dirt cheep (potted plant cheap) video express card, just to see if the BIOS screens work

as they must.

i keep a box of old  video cards in the attic, just for events like this,,  cost nothing to me, they have boxs full of cards at the goodwill store for like $1 a card.  why no snatch a few and keep them on hand, for NEXT time.

like boy scout be ready or pay big bucks at squadgeek(sic)

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_sop=15&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=5&_udhi=&_nkw=video+ca...

or upgrade. it.  go for broke,  new PSU maybe as the book on new card tell you, the 75watt rule needs aux power from  more watts PSU.  Express slow power rules (ask can do)

nor new, $7 whole bucks to test the PC for Dead or not..

x16 card, dirt cheap and no PSU max needed ever.

https://www.newegg.com/Desktop-Graphics-Cards/SubCategory/ID-48?Order=PRICE

if not gaming ($60+ games)

and not running CAD/CAM or Al Gore weather simulators,  you dont need a $300 video card.

[RodBrewer]

Hello again, I picked up a second hand Compaq Presario CQ3220AN Desktop PC, same PC as my old one. It boots fine, bit slow, either wise fine. My last query again was, would it be feasible to just swap HDD from my old computer to the one I just purchased?

My old computer just stopped working after attempting to compress a large video file, leaving next to no memory on the C:/ drive, though I think it was a larger issue which caused my old computer to stop working/displaying video. 

I will swap over the HDD and see how it goes working with the second hand computer I bought. 

Perhaps once I swap the HDD's I should boot into Windows safe mode and attempt a system restore point before I attempted to compress such a large video file, for no other reason than stopping whatever killed my old PC.

Thanks again for all your help.

[mdklassen]

> would it be feasible to just swap HDD from my old computer to the one I just purchased?

Yes.  The only issue will be that Windows may detect the "changed" hard-drive (different MAC-address on the network card, different RAM, et cetera) and may ask to you to repeat the "activation" of your Windows license.

No problem.  Just use Microsoft' automated telephone system to proceed with the activation.

[savvy2]

you now have 2 same PC. ( what stops you from finding it now?>) (all parts at hand there)??

so what's wrong with doing all tests to see why?

lack of video (feed ) has many causes. (not just the chip for it)

Goal 1 , just BIOS screens up, OK we dont need a OS yet to fix this at ALL.

you didnt try both ways,  onboard and PCI video cards????

1. The  other cards yet, for video. (why not do that first ,? after all maybe the old video chip overheated and was damaged)
2. try other PSU?
3. try one stick of ram 1 at a time, see of ram has issues>
4. see ANY  fans are dead. PSU/CPU or GPU if fitted?
5. see if CD drives ejects,?
6. see if PC works with no CD/DVD drive, and no HDD, ?  (things in pC can short out power and more)
7. last swap mobo.

that is mostly it, on DT.

if BIOS works then we get he HDD working last.

all this is a serial process....

once BIOS works we run HDD tests. off  KNOPPIX, boot CD or Stick.  next, HDD do fail.

fooling with a bad HDD is pain,  run the SMART Tests, see if both HDD are good. not just one.

both..... after all those are old HDD and most old HDD are bad. (damaged) ( reality is a beach)

the non recoverable , sector errors is what you LOOK FOR.

then with a good HDD we load windows or linux or what ever you want.