Anyone know anything about MPCs? No video! - NOW WITH VIDEO (still broken)

[javeryh]

The IT guy at work gave me one of the firm's MPCs - it is a computer and screen all in one.  He was going to throw it out because he could not get a video signal but that isn't exactly true when I brought it home.  When I power it up I clearly see the "Intel Inside" logo and then the Windows XP loading screen.  After that is done I hear a noise (the exact noise when the screen resolution isn't optimal or something) and the screen goes blank.  I think there is a video signal problem but I can't change any settings without the screen.  Any ideas???  This would be a free computer for me so I really want to get it working...

[javeryh]

OK... going into the BIOS gives me the same result (no video after a few seconds).  Does anyone know how to extend the desktop in XP with just button presses (or mouse clicks)?  I have a second monitor hooked up but no picture there either (no signal).

Thanks!!

[Dr Zero]

MPC went belly up awhile back so its tough to get parts for them I have four clientpro setting in the shed waiting for cabs LOL

Those all in one are basically a laptop mobo in a case might be able to find more by looking up the board model

I will talk to a fellow I know who bought ours when we upgraded he might know or maybe have one with a cracked screen you could use for parts.

He will be in next monday if you want to remind me 

[javeryh]

MPC went belly up awhile back so its tough to get parts for them I have four clientpro setting in the shed waiting for cabs LOL

Those all in one are basically a laptop mobo in a case might be able to find more by looking up the board model

I will talk to a fellow I know who bought ours when we upgraded he might know or maybe have one with a cracked screen you could use for parts.

He will be in next monday if you want to remind me 

Thanks for the info - do you happen to know if there is a video out on the motherboard (if I opened up the case)?  I don't need the monitor to work since this will be hopefully going into a cab with an arcade monitor.  I guess I want to know if I can decase everything and set it up as a regular computer going to a secondary monitor...   

[Dr Zero]

I think there is a video out on the bottom of the unit we had some set up as dual monitor units there also might be a S-video out.

I will ask of we have one open at work maybe I can get some pics for you.

[javeryh]

Thanks.  I just hooked up an external monitor to it and the same thing happens.  I get a few seconds of video and then the external monitor goes into power saving mode... I'm starting to think there is a motherboard problem or something.  I couldn't figure it out.  At least I'll get a hard drive out of it - it was the only thing I could remove.

[King Nerd]

Can you get into the BIOS with the External Monitor?
What about Safe Mode?

[javeryh]

I will give it a shot.  Here is a crappy video of what happens:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTdRrFV69vw[/youtube]

You can see the picture flash for a second and then cut out...

[thecheat]

Is the image actually that dark? You're probably looking at a backlight inverter failure. What you could do is put it in direct sunlight or shine a very bright flashlight across the LCD and you'll probably see the display working.

It could be bad fluorescent bulbs (maybe), bad inverter (very likely), or bad power supply (not likely).

[javeryh]

The image isn't actually that dark (it's my crappy camera - all the lights were on in the room when I shot that!).  The picture appears normally at a good brightness and then disappears.

[bkenobi]

Perhaps it's just a dust bunny on the contacts inside.  Those things cause all kinds of annoying problems.  If it happened to be on a video select jumper (for instance), a vacuum might be all you need to fix it.

I'd crack the case open and look inside either way.  Worst thing that could happen is that you make it not work...no wait?   

[BobA]

I don't see any recognizable XP booting info on the screen.   The intel inside info is probably sent by the bios when it starts its boot sequence.   Does it actually play a sound that is recognizable for an XP error?   I did not hear any sound on the video you recorded.  Maybe it is stopping before anything useful can be loaded.  A bootable external drive on USB or a thumb drive on USB might get you started if you can keep the bios screen up,   It the bios screen will not stay viewable it points to a MBoard problem of some sort as XP is out of the picture at that point.

[javeryh]

I don't see any recognizable XP booting info on the screen.   The intel inside info is probably sent by the bios when it starts its boot sequence.   Does it actually play a sound that is recognizable for an XP error?   I did not hear any sound on the video you recorded.  Maybe it is stopping before anything useful can be loaded.  A bootable external drive on USB or a thumb drive on USB might get you started if you can keep the bios screen up,   It the bios screen will not stay viewable it points to a MBoard problem of some sort as XP is out of the picture at that point.

XP does boot for a split second but isn't showing in the video because my camera only does 15 seconds.  I get the XP splash screen with the loading bar on the bottom and then the monitor goes out.  It is only displayed for 2 seconds or less but it is clearly visible ad the picture looks fine.  After much Googling I think it might be a mobo problem like you said.

[BobA]

Does your BIOS setting screen go blank  as well? This would nail it down to a MB or even a power problem.

[bkenobi]

If you unplug the HDD and start up the system, does it go to the disk error screen?  I think this is just a dead XP install based on what I've read, but if the display goes out after a certain time regardless of what's displayed, that's a hardware issue of some kind.

[thecheat]

You really need to examine the LCD to see if the image is still on despite the backlight going out, which is what I presume is happening. It should be quite visible in direct sunlight, since it is coming from one direction.

[Dr Zero]

I looked at 2 pallets of these all in ones this morning and most of them had a repair tag of no video.

The tech said there is a fellow who is buying them and told him he knew the fix he is going to check on what it is and get back with me.

He said he thought the fellow said it was a simple bad solder joint but he wanted to be sure since there are a couple of different models.