My computer won't go on at all. When I turn it on I hear a noise that it's on but the green light doesn't come

Question

I get an error message on the desktop screen that says no connection. I've tried unplugging it from the outlet and nothing. I was advised from someone at your co. last week to restore my computer, which I did and ever since then, it hasn't worked. When I push the button in for about (20) seconds to turn it off and back on it still doesn't work. My desktop screen doesn't come on either. My CD compartment on the 'hard drive computer" doesn't come out either when I press the button. Usually I get a solid green light around the circle part on the computer when it gets turned on, but I have a solid brown/tan light instead. I can't do absolutely nothing.

Answer 1

It sounds very much like your hard drive has died. I suggest you take it to a PC store to see if they can retrieve any vital information that you might have on there if possible.

Answer 2

Based solely on your description it sounds like your CD-Rom's power circuit is shorted causing a system fault.

More than likely the config. of your computer is with a Western Digital drive that when hooked up with cable select or a master slave configuration will halt the system should that second drive not be found.

The "orange" light you described sound like the hard disk access light. It is designed to come on whenever the mainboard attempts to access either the hard disk or an ide or SATA device such as a CD or DVD rom.

As your CD rom drive does not respond to the access door button being pushed there is a good indication it's tied to the issue, especially since the access light stays on when the machine is powered up.

[(*note * the "hard drive" is a physical disk INSIDE the system, not the name for the case in which all components are stored. I'm pointing this out only because in your question, you used the term "hard drive computer," which technically doesn't exist.
A hard drive is a drive, and the computer or CPU is a chip mounted to the mainboard inside the case. Understanding the following diagnostic description requires that you understand what the correct terms refer to.)]


The easiest way to find out for sure if the CD-ROM is the issue would be to open the case, remove the cables to the CD-ROM and check that the hard disk is set to single drive then attempt to restart. (on a western Digital brand drive usually this is done by removing all jumpers, on Maxtor J50 must be set, other drives vary)
If this is indeed the issue then you are most likely looking at a replacement Rom drive.
If your issue is not resolved I would then unhook the hard disk itself and see if the machine will complete post.

It is very important to note that these steps require a certain amount of technical expertise, and if you are uncomfortable with performing them, you can easily cause more damage than good.

As a final note, most current power control formats only require holding the power button down for 4 to 4.5 seconds to perform a hard shutdown. If you find that you are having to do so for 20, then the problem could be with either your mainboard or power supply (or even both) which would mimick symptoms of a bad drive.

Answer 3

I am 100% positive this is your problem, and it is definetly not your hard drive, it is a cheaper fix. You have a bad power supply. The only way that you will not get video, and the cd rom door will not open, is if you have a bad power supply. The reason you hear your computer running, is that your power supply puts out different voltages. Your fan and cd rom light, run on one that your power supply is still putting out, most likely 5v (can't remember exactly which they run on), but it has stopped putting out another one, most likely your 12v. So now your cd rom light will work because it runs on 5v, but isn't getting the power to open the door or run the computers video card which run on 12v. When you boot your computer, the first things you see, are not coming from your hard drive. They are coming from a chip on your mother board called your bios. Your bios runs what is called your POST. This is a program that checks to see what size your hard drive is, the amount of RAM you have, and so on. After all of that it then turns the system over to your hard drive, to boot into windows, or whatever operating system you are using. Your hard drive is not used at all until post is over, which you will see happening as it checks your computers hardware. Since you are not even seeing that, it means that your video card is not turning on. The only thing that your video card and your cd rom share, is your power supply. Thus, meaning your power supply is bad. They usually only last about 2 years, and aren't that expensive. But just remember, when the power supply goes, it may take other things with it, like my old one did. It fried my keyboard, mouse (which melted on the bottom) and video card. So after you replace it, you then have to make sure it didn't destroy other things. But like I said the only way to get all of your symptoms, is a bad power supply.

Answer 4

If it is making a noise that sounds like corn popping, your hard-drive needs replaced. It's relatively easy to do. You just dismantle the tower, and look for the box(about 3"x5"), unhook the wires, and take it to a local Wal-Mart. They can show you the proper replacement. Just hook it back up, reboot, and run the disc that comes with it. After that run the re-installation disc that came with your computer software package.

Answer 5

ok, im kinda confused on what you saying but here i go, check to make sure monitor is in the computer secure! also power supply might be going bad, if you hit the power button and nothing happens (fans not running) replace the power supply (cheap and easy) also what kind of restore did you do? are you sure you dident delete you operating system?

Answer 6

I would definately take it in to a computer place, I would doubt the people at Wallmart will have any idea what to do, just talking from previous experience. (They are not very knowledgeable) Now going to Best buy or circuit city may be a better option to get some "free advice"

Answer 7

it may be your VGA crad