I need help fixing an old computer

[chikenzgamer12]

My mom wants a computer to do small stuff nothing like gaming or anything but she has a hp pavilion SlimLine s3020n and wants to know if it can be fixed without replacing anything. The problem is that when she turns it on everything starts I think, I can hear the fan and see it spinning and all lights come on but the monitor says "no signal". Please help.

 

[Jwpanz]

Are you trying to fix it yourself or are you taking it somewhere?

 

[chikenzgamer12]

Are you trying to fix it yourself or are you taking it somewhere?

I'm trying to fix it myself but if nobody on the internet can help then i'll take it to a repair shop

 

[Jwpanz]

Well, there are various reasons why a computer would stop working. When a system powers up but nothing is displayed then my first though would be to try resetting the CMOS. The CMOS battery is located on the motherboard and should be a round, flat silver battery. Turn off our computer and unplug it. Remove the CMOS battery and let the computer sit for about a minute. Reinsert the battery and try turning it on.

 

[WildCard999]

If the monitor supports different inputs try to select a different one. If that doesn't work then the issue lies with a defective monitor, cable or VGA output on the motherboard. If there is a dedicated card in the system then the monitor needs to be connected to that and not the motherboard.

 

[shrapnel_indie]

Does the PC beep at all when it starts? If yes, how many beeps and are they long or short?

 

[aquielisunari]

Tom's does have a checklist you can go through. Some items won't be applicable to all systems.

 

[King_V]

I had a slimline, though I think it was an s3300t, that had a similar problem. Turns out it had integrated graphics, as well as an add-in video card. The monitor was plugged in to the add-in card, but, sadly, that add-in card was fried.

I pulled it and simply plugged the monitor to the on-board video output, and all was well. But, I'm not sure if yours has the on-board plus add-in arrangement mine did.

 

[chikenzgamer12]

If the monitor supports different inputs try to select a different one. If that doesn't work then the issue lies with a defective monitor, cable or VGA output on the motherboard. If there is a dedicated card in the system then the monitor needs to be connected to that and not the motherboard.

ik its not the cable or the monitor because i play with them a lot also im pretty sure i used this same computer with the same monitor and vga cable like 2 years ago

 

[chikenzgamer12]

Does the PC beep at all when it starts? If yes, how many beeps and are they long or short?

there are no beep codes

 

[chikenzgamer12]

I had a slimline, though I think it was an s3300t, that had a similar problem. Turns out it had integrated graphics, as well as an add-in video card. The monitor was plugged in to the add-in card, but, sadly, that add-in card was fried.

I pulled it and simply plugged the monitor to the on-board video output, and all was well. But, I'm not sure if yours has the on-board plus add-in arrangement mine did.

nope it doesn't

 

[chikenzgamer12]

Well, there are various reasons why a computer would stop working. When a system powers up but nothing is displayed then my first though would be to try resetting the CMOS. The CMOS battery is located on the motherboard and should be a round, flat silver battery. Turn off our computer and unplug it. Remove the CMOS battery and let the computer sit for about a minute. Reinsert the battery and try turning it on.

i just did that and the screen did nothing so i waited and after about 5 minutes the fan on the processor got louder and so did the one in the power supply

 

[King_V]

As a variation on it, I was once told to really clear the CMOS, to:

- unplug the PC
- remove the CMOS battery
- hold down the power button for 30 seconds, then release
- replace battery
- plug in the PC.


Kind of a longshot/grasping at straws, but a possibility.

 

[shrapnel_indie]

Does the PC beep at all when it starts? If yes, how many beeps and are they long or short?

there are no beep codes

Assuming that it did beep on startup in the past... (1 short beep was normal for a good POST result)... There is an issue in one or more areas: PSU (regardless of fan spin up), PC Speaker/tie in to sound card has failed, CPU, or motherboard. One way to make sure of add-on cards not being the issue is pull every last one of them (after shutting off the computer and unplugging it) out of the computer, plug back in, and power up.

 

[chikenzgamer12]

As a variation on it, I was once told to really clear the CMOS, to:

- unplug the PC
- remove the CMOS battery
- hold down the power button for 30 seconds, then release
- replace battery
- plug in the PC.


Kind of a longshot/grasping at straws, but a possibility.

Tried it and even left it on for like 10-15 mins but nothing happened