Failed connection to PC Monitor

[#1]

Quote from: community

I am using another PC to send and receive these post messages........

Sorry you may have misunderstood.
By POST I mean the Power On Self Test messages displayed on screen at startup (white lettering on a black screen).
With a hard drive failure you would still get most of these messages so if you are not then it would suggest a problem elsewhere.

[#2]

Indeed, if the HD had failed the BIOS would still start up and eventually give you an error message. The "not connected" message is being generated by the monitor itself, so the fact that nothing appears with either graphics set would suggest either the BIOS or the motherboard is dead.
Assuming you have another PC that can take IDE hard drives you can take the HD out of the old one, set it as a slave and fit it to the newer one. That should allow you to recover any data you need.

[#3]

Quote from: Denzil

either the BIOS or the motherboard is dead.....

If some component like the BIOS or the motherboard were dead..is there a method of confirming this?
Can it be the battery on the motherboard?
BTW, I also notice that the floppy is not working...significant????
cheers

[#4]

The repair shop method would be a swap out with a known good 'un.... an option not available to you no doubt.
Any suggestions guys?!!!

[#5]

You didnt mention you are using 2 graphic cards. What happens if you just use the one does it work ok then?
You could use the onboard and see if it works without the other card.
If you have 2 screens then it can be a software problem within windows not knowing which is the first screen.
Even if the HD is bust you will get a screen out put.
If that doesnt work try clearing the cmos.

[#6]

If your anywhere near the Boston, Sleaford or Lincoln areas let me know and I can arrange to have a look at it for you.
Free of course!
To be honest if you have no lights, beeps or anything it sounds pretty dead.

[#7]

You should get a POST / beeps without any hard disk connected at all.

[#8]

Quote from: axisofevil

You should get a POST / beeps without any hard disk connected at all.

If that is the case then you have just about confirmed that my motherboard is dead
It seems that I will have attended two funerals in one week 
Firstly I said goodbye to SP2 and now to my no.2 PC
R.I.P.
My grateful thanks to all who have given me their time on these problems.
This forum is great.

[#9]

You need working memory.
Try just one stick in the first slot (try all permutations).
If you don't know which the first slot is try one stick (all permutations) in each slot in turn.
Make sure it is seated properly.
Take appropriate anti-static precautions.
I touch the metal case if it's plugged in; otherwise try touching a  nearby radiator - metal cold water pipes always have excellent earths.

[#10]

Thanks Jeremy for your further help.
I have already tried the permutations u suggest and ensured firm seating and now since your warning always de-static myself.
However, I have decided to throw in the towel on it and use this troublesome 2nd PC as a proverbial 'doorstop'
thanks again

[#11]

To All you fine gents who wanted to help me on this one, let it be now known that............
I found that some internal cable had wrapped itself against the CPU fan :-[.......which was then not working :'(.........which probably cooked the CPU :'(......which probably was the reason why the whole shebang was dead!
Thanks for your efforts.