computer will not boot at all; blank screen when turned on(solved)

[broncoluvr74]

Well, I seem to have a major problem. My sons asus eee will not start up. It is a dual boot; xp and pclos. Bios was set to check usb then the hd. It worked great for a week. But when I turned it on today something changed. The screen lights up for a millisecond, then goes blank. You can hear the hard drive scan, or if I put in a boot zip drive it lights up, but nothing ever happens! Never goes to bios, or the boot screen, just a blank screen. Not even a sound.  The only thing I can effect is the wifi card. Pushing the wifi on /off toggles the wifi light. So, something is going on in there. Any clues?

[T6]

since it is a eee and you can't open it and change much parts all i can ask is if it is still under warranty?

if the answer is no, i would remove the hard disk, put it on a external usb hard disk enclosure and back up files

sometimes the ram modules can fail and create this situation with no bios access but this is very uncommon this days, if you can access the ram modules and clean/reseat them, that could help, try to remove the battery and work connected to the wall while doing all that

[broncoluvr74]

I did remove/clean research the ram. Battery is internal; have to take it apart to get to it. I just found a reset button,  you are supposed to push it for 10 seconds with the battery removed. So, I am going to let the battery die then try that. It probably resets the cmos ( like a jumper)

[CaptainSarcastic]

Check the USB ports.  I've seen behavior like what you describe result from a short occurring in a damaged USB port.  In at least one case I had to go in with a probe and manually separate the connectors in the broken USB port in order to ensure they were not making contact, after which the machine ran perfectly normal.

[T6]

reset bios by pressing that button, doesn't work afik

i assume that you are outside the warranty

so you could open it and change things

what exact model is it? there should be a video of how to open it and do things with it on youtube

[broncoluvr74]

Usb ports are ok. It is an asus mk90h(disney release). I have not found too many issue about it on the web. I am afraid that surgery may be required.
Well, the reset button did not work. It was worth a shot! Next stop is computer shop. And a trip to the asus forums.......

[T6]

computer shop to replace the unit?

[broncoluvr74]

Well, problem is fixed. I plugged the computer into a monitor ( had to buy a cable!) Anyways, we had a picture. So, I reset bios, then the computer screen came on. Apparently that worked, because it is doing fine right now. I have a happy 5 yr old. Fwiw, he is happier to have linux back more than anything else!