No signal input message 3

[mercie]

I hope someone can help me because this has never happened before and I've got no idea what to do. I tried to turn on one of our computers today and nothing - there was absolutely no sound coming from it (no fans, no HD start up, nothing - the lights by the power button were quickly blinking on and off and the monitor displayed a No Signal Input message. I made sure that everything was well connected but still nothing (yesterday it worked just fine). After about 15 minutes of this coma, a "knocking-like" sound came from the speakers and the computer kicked on just fine. Now I'm afraid to turn it off for fear it might never come on again. Can anyone venture a guess as to what might have caused this ... and what I should go about replacing immediately? Thanks!

 

[dakota81]

I would guess the power supply needs to be replaced. A "knocking like" sound out of the speakers upon power up is normal even in fine working computers, so don't worry over that aspect.

 

[smah]

The blinking light might indicate that the computer was not actually off - just in hibernation. Did it go through a normal startup or did it come back directly to the desktop?

 

[mercie]

Thanks for your replies. When it finally started it actually went through the whole start up process not directly to desktop and no, in wasn't in hibernation. The LED lights (by the power on button, by the disk drive and on the keyboard) were blinking in a really odd way, I've never had it blink like that before. Also, the knocking sound from the speakers was definitely not a normal sound. I've had this computer several years and this was a totally new experience, a very loud knocking which kept intensifying then it sudenly stopped and that's when the computer started. I haven't dared turn it off and it's still working just fine. I suppose I'll have to turn it off eventually but I'm just afraid that if I don't figure out what's wrong it may never start again.

 

[Mulga]

I go with dakota on this, power supply is on the way out. Help us to help you, please post back and tell us if this helped.
All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door.

 

[Grenage]

I would have said hibernation mode aswell, but if your positive it wasn't that, go with the power supply.

Still, a strange way to play up.

 

[mercie]

Thanks for your input guys. I guess I'm going to go with the concensus that the power supply is probably croaking. I still haven't dared to turn it off and so far so good! My question now is - how complicated is replacing the power supply (and what's involved in doing so)? I've replaced HD's, fans and cards and I'm not afraid to work on the insides - I just don't want to end up with a paperweight! If it helps this is an HP Pavilion (not in warranty). Thanks again to all of you for your help.

 

[Grenage]

Changing the Power Supply shoudln't be a tough job, although sometimes some case designs can give you a bit of trouble.

If you take some notes as to which way the power connecters plus into the motherboard and devices (although most of these only go in 1 way now) you sholdn't go far wrong.

If you have a large case just make sure you get a Power Supply with long enough leads, for some reason some manufacturers like to save a couple of pence by making the them far too short.

And finally on the back of the Supply there is often a 240/115 switch for voltage, just make sure this is on the correct setting for your area.

 

[mercie]

Grenage, thanks for your help. I'll try replacing the PS this weekend.