BleepingComputer.com: Computer doesnt do anything when i turn it on

hello,

When i turn on my computer the fan starts blowing on high and nothing is showing on the screen. What can i do to figure out what the issue is. i know the screen works because when i turn it on its shows "no signal".

thanks in advance

laptop, or desktop?

its a desktop.

Desktop model or specs? What changes before this happen? Do you see any response from the numlock led light on keyboard(press/depress)and hard drive seek blinking?

Its a sony vaio...the only changes were the hard drive about 3 years ago, usb keyboard and mouse. No changes were made to the computer prior to this happening. There is no response from the numlock button. can you help me with HARD DRIVE SEEK blinking...dont know what that means


MODEL
PCV-RS420
PROCESSOR
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.80C GHz† with
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
CACHE MEMORY
512KB Integrated On-Die Level 2
FRONT SIDE BUS SPEED
800MHz
STANDARD RAM
512MB PC-2700 333MHz DDR (expandable to
2.0GB)
HARD DRIVE3
120GB††3 7200rpm Ultra/ATA-100 Hard Drive
DVD±RW / CD-RW DRIVE***
DVD±RW
-RW (4X max. write / 2X max. rewrite / 2X max. read)
+RW (4X max. write / 2.4X max. rewrite / 2.4X max. read)
CD-RW (16X max. write / 10X max. rewrite / 32X max. read)
CD-ROM
40X max. CD-ROM read / 16X max. CD-RW
read
FLOPPY DISK DRIVE
3.5" 1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive
VIDEO & GRAPHICS
ATI Radeon™ 9200
64MB Video Memory (128-bit DDR)
VGA-out / DVI-Out (DVI output:1280x1024x60Hz
max.) / TV-Out
AGP 8X 3D Graphics Hardware Acceleration

Can you give a brief history going to the present problem along with the computer model? How many RAM modules are installed? The hard drive seek is a way that there is a successful POST, booting such as on other hardware installed like optical or floppy drive varying on BIOS settings. The led light indicator would prove this.

oem desktop pc user here also. there are two components that are pretty much guaranteed to go awry with this type of hardware application. first things first, chances are your power supply that came with the unit is negligibly underpowered. i would recommend listening to POST beeps for an indication that the mobo can give you. POST beep indicator patterns can be googled. a nice power supply that i purchased for my sony vaio desktop is the thermaltake 430w. not bad for $40 and all the plug-in extensions you could dream of ...another thing to consider with a new PSU purchase is volts. all the watts in the world is useless without the voltage to jam those watts through the circuit.. seeing as your fan is blasting high speed on startup, that is going on during the POST (power -on self-test). another sure thing that will go wrong is your video card (i.e. gpu). if the gpu is faulty, your pc might be doing multiple looped boot processes with no display or disarrayed pattern display showing on your monitor. if you do decide to go the power supply solution route, make sure you document all connections your existing power supply is configured to before you dismount the existing PSU (power supply unit) and install your replacement PSU. also, check the back panel on your PC for an extra port for your monitor to plug into. that would be your provided "onboard" video. if your gpu is at fault, use this auxilliary port to connect your monitor AFTER you dismount your existing gpu from the mobo.

I see different plugs on the back of the tower....which cable would i be using since it isnt the same? Also i tried listening for beeps and havent heard any.

Can you post a screenshot? The plugs usually is match or mounted from the back so there is little room for error when attaching these connectors. Just make sure they are properly seated.