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No hardware will display.

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First post, by Retrobuilder

Posted on 2024-09-18, 00:40

Retrobuilder Offline

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Rank: Newbie
Posts: 17
Joined: 2020-11-03, 07:04

Hello everyone, I was coming on here to ask for help with my retro system because it doesn't display anymore. The main system I use for retro gaming is a Gigabyte GA-6vtxe with the following:
-Pentium III 1.4ghz
-512mb pc133 Ram
-Aureal Audigy Vortex
-ISA Soundcard (I forgot the model)
-Multiple video cards from 1998-2000 (Most often a Voodoo though)
-40gb PATA Hard drive
-2x PATA DVD drives
-3.5 Floppy drive
-ARESGAME 650w modern PSU

In the past I had used this system very often for retro gaming, and when I stopped using it over a year ago it was still working perfectly fine. Yesterday when I tried to use it again though, it just wouldn't display. Now, I didn't have the PSU plugged in that entire time, so I assume it couldn't have damaged the parts.

In the past I did at one point encounter the same problem with the PC not displaying, but I found the solution which was that I had it plugged into a power hub instead of directly into the wall, so it likely wasn't getting enough power, but I tried that same solution this time and it didn't work, and I tried multiple outlets that worked on other PCs too. I tried a different power cable and that didn't work, I checked if it was the monitor by trying a different working monitor but the same result, I tried a different VGA cable, but still nothing. I tried different RAM slots with different RAM sticks, and even a brand new packaged 2x256mb of PC133 Ram, I tried different PSUs, I obviously tried different Video cards, I tried completely different Motherboards that have also worked In the past, I tried different Pentium IIIs, and I even tried different frequency configurations on the GA-6vtxe to see if that worked, but still nothing.

One thing to note is that with one of the motherboards which is a Compaq 82815E, the fans wouldn't activate fully, and would actually only turn on for a split second before stopping, and there was a green light constantly on below the RAM. I tried to find a manual online for that motherboard, but I couldn't, so I don't know what that could mean.

So what could possibly be the problem? How could all of the parts I used before not work anymore? If someone could please get back to me with a possible solution, it would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Reply 1 of 3, by BitWrangler

Posted on 2024-09-18, 02:24

BitWrangler Offline

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Posts: 8348
Joined: 2017-10-11, 00:55
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Try a full, unplug from AC power cycle of the monitor, sometimes they get wedged in sleep.... then also perform an anti-bogosity adjustment, by moistening thumb and planting it across all pins in the VGA cable to monitor.... there's some funny static hangup shit goes on there too sometimes... take a breath, assemble a working barebones configuration with deliberation, being 100% certain in what you are doing, sometimes this stuff just plays on your doubts and acts up, gotta psych it out, I am the sysadmin, all powerful in matters computing, if I say you work, you WORK.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 2 of 3, by Horun

Posted on 2024-09-18, 03:37

Horun Offline

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Retrobuilder wrote on 2024-09-18, 00:40:

One thing to note is that with one of the motherboards which is a Compaq 82815E, the fans wouldn't activate fully, and would actually only turn on for a split second before stopping, and there was a green light constantly on below the RAM. I tried to find a manual online for that motherboard, but I couldn't, so I don't know what that could mean.

So what could possibly be the problem? How could all of the parts I used before not work anymore? If someone could please get back to me with a possible solution, it would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

That is common with certain boards when powered off a long time. The cpu fan spins a second and stops, have a IBM Netvista that does that and takes a double "turn on" sometimes.
so try again and this time do not unplug/flip any switches on the PSU but wait after the fan spins briefly for about 10 seconds and then hit the computer power on button again...
Also if the battery is weak some boards try but refuse to boot at all... make sure coin cell is new and has not been sitting for years...

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 3 of 3, by Retrobuilder

Posted on 2024-09-18, 04:05

Retrobuilder Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 17
Joined: 2020-11-03, 07:04

Horun wrote on 2024-09-18, 03:37:
That is common with certain boards when powered off a long time. The cpu fan spins a second and stops, have a IBM Netvista that […]
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Retrobuilder wrote on 2024-09-18, 00:40:

One thing to note is that with one of the motherboards which is a Compaq 82815E, the fans wouldn't activate fully, and would actually only turn on for a split second before stopping, and there was a green light constantly on below the RAM. I tried to find a manual online for that motherboard, but I couldn't, so I don't know what that could mean.

So what could possibly be the problem? How could all of the parts I used before not work anymore? If someone could please get back to me with a possible solution, it would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

That is common with certain boards when powered off a long time. The cpu fan spins a second and stops, have a IBM Netvista that does that and takes a double "turn on" sometimes.
so try again and this time do not unplug/flip any switches on the PSU but wait after the fan spins briefly for about 10 seconds and then hit the computer power on button again...
Also if the battery is weak some boards try but refuse to boot at all... make sure coin cell is new and has not been sitting for years...

So I tried both solutions that you guys listed, and I can't believe I am saying this as a PC guy but I completely forgot about resetting the BIOS of the computer, which I did by replacing the battery like you said and it worked, but I didn't do it on the Compaq board, I did it on the Gigabyte board. I just put in a new battery and it started working again. Replacing the battery was something I did a few years back to fix one of the other boards not displaying, but I forgot about it until you mentioned that, so thanks.

Thanks for your help guys. 😀

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