Desktop HDMI/USB no longer working
November 17, 2022 8:15 PM Subscribe
My desktop computer was working fine today until I stepped away. Came back and it had stopped working properly. I'll list troubleshooting steps I've tried, but would love to get some more eyes on this to see if I missed anything.
The only thing that changed since it was working properly, was I was told it was dusted on the top with a cloth. I don't see any visible pieces of dust but suppose that could be the heart of the issue.
Things I've tried:
-Resetting the CMOS, removing the battery for 20 minutes and putting it back in.
-Reseating the RAM
-Swapping the RAM from both slots 2/4 to 4/2 and trying them in 1/3
-Running with only 1 stick of ram, each tried separately.
-Changing the power strip
-Blowing the mobo and interior with canned air
-Moving the hdmi cable off the video card to the built in port
I figure at this point it's likely a mother board issue, maybe a short, maybe it's busted. I'd love more things to try though or an ability to get something out of it if possible. Any thoughts?
The only thing that changed since it was working properly, was I was told it was dusted on the top with a cloth. I don't see any visible pieces of dust but suppose that could be the heart of the issue.
Things I've tried:
-Resetting the CMOS, removing the battery for 20 minutes and putting it back in.
-Reseating the RAM
-Swapping the RAM from both slots 2/4 to 4/2 and trying them in 1/3
-Running with only 1 stick of ram, each tried separately.
-Changing the power strip
-Blowing the mobo and interior with canned air
-Moving the hdmi cable off the video card to the built in port
I figure at this point it's likely a mother board issue, maybe a short, maybe it's busted. I'd love more things to try though or an ability to get something out of it if possible. Any thoughts?
Response by poster: There's no output through the HDMI or USB. The monitor gets no signal and my keyboard and mouse don't either.
posted by Carillon at 12:12 AM on November 18, 2022
posted by Carillon at 12:12 AM on November 18, 2022
Sounds like the computer is off.
Does the power LED turn on when you press the power button?
Does the PSU have an on/off switch separate from the main power button?
Is the computer plugged into a power strip that's turned off?
posted by zekesonxx at 12:15 AM on November 18, 2022
Does the power LED turn on when you press the power button?
Does the PSU have an on/off switch separate from the main power button?
Is the computer plugged into a power strip that's turned off?
posted by zekesonxx at 12:15 AM on November 18, 2022
Response by poster: It's not, it turns on and the fans spin. There are less in the ram and the board which light up when it's on.
posted by Carillon at 12:36 AM on November 18, 2022
posted by Carillon at 12:36 AM on November 18, 2022
Alright. How long does it stay on when you turn it on? So it's off, you press the power button, it turns on. Does it turn off a few seconds later? Or will it stay on indefinitely (2+ minutes)?
Is this a custom built computer, or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt, what's the model? If it's a custom computer, what's the main parts in it (CPU, mobo, RAM, GPU, PSU, SSD/HDD)?
posted by zekesonxx at 12:40 AM on November 18, 2022
Is this a custom built computer, or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt, what's the model? If it's a custom computer, what's the main parts in it (CPU, mobo, RAM, GPU, PSU, SSD/HDD)?
posted by zekesonxx at 12:40 AM on November 18, 2022
My guess would be that "I was told it was dusted on the top with a cloth" is a big understatement. And besides, who would be dusting off your computer during the day? And why?
Hard to blame someone for not wanting to admit they broke your computer, though.
I suppose desktops don’t have accelerometers like tablets and phones do, but it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Just because I’ve gone this far down the path: are you absolutely sure it’s the same computer that was sitting on your desk when you left?
posted by jamjam at 12:55 AM on November 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
Hard to blame someone for not wanting to admit they broke your computer, though.
I suppose desktops don’t have accelerometers like tablets and phones do, but it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Just because I’ve gone this far down the path: are you absolutely sure it’s the same computer that was sitting on your desk when you left?
posted by jamjam at 12:55 AM on November 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
On a machine that is say 2+ years old, my experience is that the power supply fails more often than anything. And often the symptoms are just as you describe - working perfectly one minute, dead as a doornail the next.
But it could be several other things as well. A really simple thing to try is replacing the CMOS battery altogether.
Usually for me when it reaches this stage, it is computer repair shop time, however. They can usually diagnose problems like this a lot quicker than you can.
posted by flug at 1:33 AM on November 18, 2022
But it could be several other things as well. A really simple thing to try is replacing the CMOS battery altogether.
Usually for me when it reaches this stage, it is computer repair shop time, however. They can usually diagnose problems like this a lot quicker than you can.
posted by flug at 1:33 AM on November 18, 2022
When you start it up, take a look at the lights on your motherboard. Are there any that have a red light next to them, like in this image? Those are POST lights and may indicate an issue if any of them remain on. As zekesonxx mentioned, it would be really helpful to know your motherboard model, link to full computer specs if it was a prebuilt, etc.
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:11 AM on November 18, 2022
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:11 AM on November 18, 2022
Get a new CMOS battery. Yup, that is what I have to do right now. When all of a sudden my monitor forgets how to come on, it is that, about every three years. But this beast, I have to take out the video card to change it.
posted by Oyéah at 7:17 PM on November 18, 2022
posted by Oyéah at 7:17 PM on November 18, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zekesonxx at 12:08 AM on November 18, 2022