Cmos Battery?

[Purple_Popple]

Could a dead or faulty CMOS battery cause no display on my monitor from my CPU ? It was fine a few weeks ago, although the date/time was playing up and not displaying the correct time etc...the CPU starts up fine but I get 2 beeps and nothing on monitor..or no signal displayed.

[Tuvok]

If you have your motherboard manual it may tell you what the beeps mean - because they do mean something!

I know from experience that a dead (pram = parameter ram) battery on a mac will prevent it from starting up.

[Purple_Popple]

No manual. I will buy a new battery just in case, no harm in trying a new one.

[Tuvok]

If you can't find the manual, unplug from the mains and open up the computer - you should be able to find the details on the motherboard.

Whilst its open, check all connections, and that the memory is in correctly and any boards are in correctly, and blow out the dust that will be in there as well.

Take a small paintbrush and clean the blades of the fans.

[Tuvok]

What make of computer is it - try googling the make and startup beeps - you might get lucky.

[Purple_Popple]

OK thanks Tuvok for your assistance, I dusted the fan, checked all connections/fuses etc...all ok. Will check motherboard details.

[Hymie]

I have a sheet of error beep codes for a couple of BIOS.

2 beeps means (fatal error):-

AMI BIOS - Parity error in first 64k RAM. Try re-seating the memory first. If the error persists, replace with known good chips.

AWARD BIOS – POST failure – one or more of the hardware tests has failed.

My advice would be to remove the RAM pcbs and give the boards edge connectors a clean both sides, and carefully re-seat.

My unapproved technique in cleaning edge connectors is to lick the tip of my finger and gently rub my finger back & forth over the surface until dry.

[beso]

If the PC has an add on graphic card then remove it and use the onboard video.

The most common problem is loose RAM. Don't fool around "cleaning" the edge connector. They are gold plated and any attempt to "clean" is more likely to do damage.

Simply remove the RAM and plug it back in making sure the lock seats properly.

[Purple_Popple]

It's an Acer Aspire SA90-LB7H 2007
Running Windows Vista
I have replaced the CMOS battery and it boots up fine, no beeps, keyboard functions ok, but still 'no signal' from monitor...grrrr

[Hymie]

Before giving up on the PC, try another monitor lead, try another monitor.

If the PC has VGA/DVI out, try the monitor using the alternate video output – normally PCs/graphics cards will not waste processing power outputting a signal to a redundant port.

If fitted with a graphics card – remove it, and try with the motherboard’s VGA output.