my tip - badly connected VGA or memory modules (or faulty)

Some mainboards, while still having an onboard graphics chip and the jack at the back, have it disabled, as it's cheaper to produce the board with it and then render it useless than making a production line that leaves out the unneeded parts. So it could be a deliberate "fault".

So just get a cheap gpu and try it again.

Additonally, how's the screen connected? If it's HDMI, you might have to set up the monitor to accept the HDMi signal (I had to do that with my Benq Model), which, ironically only works if you have the monitor connected via DVI or VGA, as otherwise, the setup wouldn't come on.

when in doubt first always connect it via vga as its the least error prone
(couldnt get hdmi to work on my new machine with the monitor i have at werk when i built it there)

If it was VGA or memory not connected right it would beep though wouldn't it?#

I've not got a list of specs, as it's not my PC. I'll see if I can get them.

for vga probably not
also how many pcs even have a pc speaker these days?

When I had a similar problem, I had 1 long and 3 short beeps. That generally means RAM / VGA failure - Was the latter for me. And yes, it would beep if its not connected, or not connected properly. Tell him to remove one of the RAM sticks if he has more than one, and see if that produces anything.

Its probably the motherboard gone south. Shouldn't be a problem replacing if he got it new.

Anyway, I agree, knowing the specs would be nice.

no it should not beep and halt with no monitor connected otherwise youd have trouble using desktop motherboards as home servers which works perfectly fine

Uhm...

You should be able to hear a single short beep when the PC turns on, which just means everything is fine. Even if the monitor is not connected.

But because he gets nothing, not even "faulty" beeps, I am calling dead mobo.

Quote from Shotglass :

no it should not beep and halt with no monitor connected

common sense would dictate this, but that's not the case.

i've never owned a PC that would care whether or not a monitor was connected. keyboards, yes, but not monitors. also, a PC without onboard and video card, will beep.

Quote :

otherwise youd have trouble using desktop motherboards as home servers which works perfectly fine

?

i've had numerous PC-based routers that i've had to fish out the KVM cable for, to solve boot-time issues. after a while, i stopped running them headless, because i got tired of moving stuff around so the cable would reach.

Quote :

also how many pcs even have a pc speaker these days?

lots. they're not the old fashioned speaker speakers though, they're the piezoelectric kind now.

He may have left the reset BIOS jumper in the "reset" position
also check he has the speaker plugged into the correct "front panel" pins.
Check memory (try with single stick)
Check the extra 12v 4pin plug is installed to mobo if required.
Dead CPU can sometimes also give this error
bad display cable


Good luck.

SD.

Quote from DevilDare :

Uhm...

You should be able to hear a single short beep when the PC turns on, which just means everything is fine. Even if the monitor is not connected.

i was talking error beeps obviously

Quote from bunder9999 :

lots. they're not the old fashioned speaker speakers though, they're the piezoelectric kind now.

none of mine do
in fact i think neither of my cases even came with one

Almost certain a power cable hasn't been connected probably inside.

SparkyDaves list is pretty comprehensive so would start with that.