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ATTN: Techies. Need some Computer help. No video.

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XJF

Member
So I was trying to format a Flash Drive that recently stopped working. Every time I'd try to access/format the device Windows Explorer would freeze. I read somewhere that I might be able to format it in Safe Mode. I restarted computer and frantically mashed F8 to get into Safe Mode, after a few tries with no success I did some googling and found out that the method to get into SM in Windows 8/8.1 has been changed. Tried to hold SHIFT while restarting computer and that didn't work. Ended up using the "RUN' command (win+r) to get to MSCONFIG. Under the BOOT settings I checked SAFE MODE and NETWORKING. I noticed there was a button that said "Make Boot Settings Permanent" and I left that box UNchecked. After applying, computer restarted to Blue Screen with Advanced Troubleshooting menu which eventually led me to another Blue Screen titled Windows Startup Settings. The only button on this screen was the "restart" button. After pressing the button I was supposed to be sent to the familiar "Advanced Boot Options" screen.

Computer restarted however nothing popped up on my monitor. After a few minutes I shut down computer via long-pressing power button and restarted. Still nothing on monitor. Rebooted one more time with speakers turned up to see if I could hear Start-up chime. Nothing. Computer DOES get power, lights on PC come on, but no video/signal. No beeping of any kind by tower.

Computer:
HP ENVY 700-060

Symptoms:
- No video signal through any video-out port.
USB keyboard no longer getting power after about 10 restarts (Caps Lock and Num Lock lights no longer cycle ON/OFF)

Steps I've taken to resolve:
- Gone over all outside wiring, everything IS plugged in correctly.
- Checked all inside wiring. Everything is still intact.
- Unplugged/Plugged. Pressed power button while unplugged to drain all power and even removed and replaced the CMOS battery.
- Turned off/turned on.
- Tried F11 during what would be boot sequence to get to HP recovery menu. Still nothing.
- Downloaded and burned the Kaspersky Recovery Disc on my laptop and put in Affected Computers Disc Drive to see if that would somehow work.
- Tried switching output wire to other DVI-out to in case Safe Mode only allowed video-out through a specific port.

Any Thoughts, Gaffers?
 

oneran

Member
Have you tried actually clearing the cmos? there is normally a jumper on the motherboard near the battery. I can't really think of any thing else unless you have a spare/can borrow another vga card.

But it sounds as if you have serious hardware problems how old is the system and is it still under warranty? If it still is I would just backup my data and let hp figure it out.
 

Falcs

Banned
So let me see if I'm following correctly:

1. You changed those settings in msconfig for safe boot.
2. Restarted into this screen:
650x381ximage34.png.pagespeed.ic.J3Dk0QcKYa.png


3. You then went to this screen:
w8sm8.png


4. Clicked Restart.

5. System Failure.

Is that right? Did I miss any steps at all?

EDIT: Re-read your OP. Sounds like a hardware issue if you're not even getting the BIOS POST to show on the monitor. The Windows safemode stuff just seems like coincidential timing.
 

XJF

Member
Have you tried actually clearing the cmos? there is normally a jumper on the motherboard near the battery. I can't really think of any thing else unless you have a spare/can borrow another vga card.

But it sounds as if you have serious hardware problems how old is the system and is it still under warranty? If it still is I would just backup my data and let hp figure it out.
I thought removing and replacing the CMOS battery accomplishes the same thing as the jumper?
I got it from Amazon back in February. I assume it's still under the manufacturers warranty. If I can't figure it out in the next couple days I may have it sent out. Just trying to exhaust all options first.

So let me see if I'm following correctly:

1. You changed those settings in msconfig for safe boot.
2. Restarted into this screen
3. You then went to this screen:
4. Clicked Restart.
5. System Failure.

Is that right? Did I miss any steps at all?

EDIT: Re-read your OP. Sounds like a hardware issue if you're not even getting the BIOS POST to show on the monitor. The Windows safemode stuff just seems like coincidential timing.

Pretty much. You think it might just be an issue with the Graphics card or something? I can get one from a friend and switch it in to see if that's the problem.
 

oneran

Member
I thought removing and replacing the CMOS battery accomplishes the same thing as the jumper?

Not always there could be a bank of capacitors still feeding it, it's worth a try like you said try to exhaust all variables.
 
I'm assuming your computer has a separate graphics card in addition to an integrated card, correct?

Try going through one of the onboard connections if that's true. I've seen it happen a few times with W8 desktops. Not sure why, as that's controlled by the BIOS, but Windows 8's weird.
 

XJF

Member
Not always there could be a bank of capacitors still feeding it, it's worth a try like you said try to exhaust all variables.

Opened it back up. Saw section inside marked "CLR CMOS" with three pins, two of them were connected with green cap. Removed cap for 60 seconds. Reapplied. Hooked up computer and turned it on. Did not work.

Keep the ideas coming, folks. Really don't want to have to send off this computer. Already waiting for my new TV from SONY to arrive Thursday. Stupid radial banding

I'm assuming your computer has a separate graphics card in addition to an integrated card, correct?

Try going through one of the onboard connections if that's true. I've seen it happen a few times with W8 desktops. Not sure why, as that's controlled by the BIOS, but Windows 8's weird.

Not entirely sure. What do you mean by "on board connections"?

Time for bed. Gotta get up for work in under 6 hours. I'll continue trying after work. I appreciate the effort so far, GAF.
 

oneran

Member
Opened it back up. Saw section inside marked "CLR CMOS" with three pins, two of them were connected with green cap. Removed cap for 60 seconds. Reapplied. Hooked up computer and turned it on. Did not work.

Keep the ideas coming, folks. Really don't want to have to send off this computer. Already waiting for my new TV from SONY to arrive Thursday. Stupid radial banding



Not entirely sure. What do you mean by "on board connections"?

Time for bed. Gotta get up for work in under 6 hours. I'll continue trying after work. I appreciate the effort so far, GAF.

You may have to cover the other pin with the jumper to properly reset the bios.(Just flip the jumper to the other side for 30 secs)

You should be using integrated graphics according to specs on the system unless you added one.

Anyway goodnight!
 

Druz

Member
Opened it back up. Saw section inside marked "CLR CMOS" with three pins, two of them were connected with green cap. Removed cap for 60 seconds. Reapplied. Hooked up computer and turned it on. Did not work.

Keep the ideas coming, folks. Really don't want to have to send off this computer. Already waiting for my new TV from SONY to arrive Thursday. Stupid radial banding



Not entirely sure. What do you mean by "on board connections"?

Time for bed. Gotta get up for work in under 6 hours. I'll continue trying after work. I appreciate the effort so far, GAF.

He means use the video input coming directly out of your motherboard instead of your video card. If the two are separate, you might be able to use it to see if your video card is really an issue.

THing is, you say you're no longer getting power to your keyboard. Pretty confusing issue honestly especially considering the events leading up to it. You don't get ANY access to a bios screen?
 

XJF

Member
You may have to cover the other pin with the jumper to properly reset the bios.(Just flip the jumper to the other side for 30 secs)

You should be using integrated graphics according to specs on the system unless you added one.

Anyway goodnight!
Just got home from work. Tried This just now. Still nothing. I mentioned my USB keyboard wasn't getting power. If I plug it into the USB on my PS4 the lights on it work. I tried putting a Flash Drive into the USB slot I typically have it plugged in and the lights on the Flash Drive light up as usual, so for some reason the Computer is singling out the Keyboard.

He means use the video input coming directly out of your motherboard instead of your video card. If the two are separate, you might be able to use it to see if your video card is really an issue.

THing is, you say you're no longer getting power to your keyboard. Pretty confusing issue honestly especially considering the events leading up to it. You don't get ANY access to a bios screen?
When my keyboard was working on my computer I tried starting up mashing a different button each time, including F8, Shift+F8, and F10. On my computer Windows 8 is installed on a 128GB SSD. By the time I turn on my 50" BRAVIA that it's hooked up to it's always already at the Sign In Screen. But as just mentioned, I repeatedly hit the buttons during startup that *Should* send me to Recovery/BIOS screens. Getting no video from computer to my screen.

As for direct video input from MB, I don't see any. The only video-out ports I see are the two DVI-out ports on the rear of the machine. I've included pot-shots of rig in case I'm just overlooking it.

Pics

Rear of Machine
http://imgur.com/Vj29tJZ

Inside Machine
http://i.imgur.com/LS0iRNQ.jpg
 

oneran

Member
Just got home from work. Tried This just now. Still nothing. I mentioned my USB keyboard wasn't getting power. If I plug it into the USB on my PS4 the lights on it work. I tried putting a Flash Drive into the USB slot I typically have it plugged in and the lights on the Flash Drive light up as usual, so for some reason the Computer is singling out the Keyboard

You may have to have battery unplugged when resting the bios but other than that I am pretty much all out of ideas. It may be time for a call to Hp unless anyone else has any ideas.

*Shot in the dark: Have you tried disconnecting all the sata ports from the motherboard and just try booting into bios, I have had bad drives stop a motherboard from posting in the past.
 
You could always try disconnecting everything from the PC (including the CMOS battery), leaving it sit for about a half hour, then reconnect and try again. When I say disconnect everything, I mean remove all power from the PC, including the 20+4 (or 24) pin connector.
 

XJF

Member
You may have to have battery unplugged when resting the bios but other than that I am pretty much all out of ideas. It may be time for a call to Hp unless anyone else has any ideas.

*Shot in the dark: Have you tried disconnecting all the sata ports from the motherboard and just try booting into bios, I have had bad drives stop a motherboard from posting in the past.

You could always try disconnecting everything from the PC (including the CMOS battery), leaving it sit for about a half hour, then reconnect and try again. When I say disconnect everything, I mean remove all power from the PC, including the 20+4 (or 24) pin connector.

Went and tried both of these last night. Neither worked. Sorry for delay, went to Halestorm concert Monday night and spent most of yesterday recovering.
I appreciate all the help guys. I'm meeting a buddy of mine in a few days who has a ton of spare computer parts because he upgrades is rig constantly. Gonna see if it's anything I can easily change out. If I don't have any luck I'll just cave and send it out to HP. Hopefully they have good customer service.

Thanks again, Gaffers. :)
 
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