PC Doctor January 19, 2018

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Dear PC Doctor:

I turned on my computer today and the screen stayed black. The machine let out a beeping sound. Then, I got a message that the monitor couldn’t find the computer. Can you help?

Signed,

Beeeep

Dear Beeeep:

The first thing you can try is to check all your cables. Is everything connected to everything else? Are you plugged into a power source? If everything is connected but the computer and monitor still cannot find one another, try a new cable. If they still can’t connect but you are sure you have power, there are a few things you can check. Is the computer’s fan running? (You should be able to hear it.) If you do not hear the fan and the power light on the computer is not on, the problem could be the computer, not the display.

If the computer is beeping, it could be a card, cable, memory module, or processor inside the computer that’s loose. If you are feeling brave and/or handy, the HP support website has instructions for removing your computer’s cover and re-seating the connections inside, and seeing if that solves your problem. If you are not comfortable with this, it may be time to visit your local computer repair shop.

You didn’t mention what kind of computer you have or how many beeps you are hearing. Did you know that the beeps can be a code telling you something about your computer’s well-being? Turn the computer off and then on again. Listen for the beeps. How many are there? Look up your computer’s make and model (on another device) and see what that number of beeps signifies for your machine. For example, I am working today on an HP Pavilion g7-131 laptop. I did an internet search for beep codes for this model and found a chart , “HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - BIOS Beep Codes” which explains the meaning of 9 different beep codes. Lower on the page is a troubleshooting guide for resolving some of those issues.

I hope this helps!

Until next time,

Happy Computing!

PC Doctor