Computer Won't Do Anything On Boot
 

I have a friend (living out of state, so I can't do anything hands on) who was doing just normal stuff, browsing the web, with her computer. The screen went blue. And I don't mean BSOD, just blue with no words on it. She turned off the computer, and now when she turns it on the screen is just black. Nothing at all, it doesn't even display the BIOS version and all that stuff, but the computer fans all turn on as usual. There also are no beep codes.

Anyone have an idea of what's easily checkable for someone who doesn't have much computer experience? She might have to take it in somewhere...my first thought was a RAM problem, but I figured that would come with a special beep code.

If the RAM gets loose in the socket, that can cause a computer to boot, but not post or respond to any input, so that would be worth checking. Another cause is the screen may have died, so plug in another monitor to see if it's just that.

Is her computer a laptop or a desktop?

Dead motherboard maybe?

So probably not much easily checkable stuff, I guess. I'll tell her to make sure everything is all nice and snug in there.

I don't think it's the monitor because no POST. I thought that initially too, though.

My video card did the same thing when it fried (a flash bang with smoke pouring out), the PC would turn on but nothing would come on the screen, get her to check that.

Go over to help her out and work on it long enough you'd unfortunately have to stay the night.

Other than that, I'd say pop all the RAM out and turning the computer on to see what'll happen. That's fairly simple to do so long as you've got someone on the phone telling you that it does actually require that much force to get in right.