Need computer help again

[Charlie Dearing]

I'll start by saying I am on my brother's computer.  Mine started out "blue screening" everytime i rebooted even after system restore.  My brother and I opened up the computer and cleaned the heck out of it, without bumping anything.  Took off the cd/dvd drive (hasnt been working) and plugged it back in....  Unseated ram and put those back in....cleaned fan, cleaned processor heat sink (however it's spelled)...plugged everything back in where it's suppose to go and tower turns on, but monitor stays black...with the little yellow light on to show it has power.  PLEASE somebody help me.  My computer is my only link to all of you and has all my work on it.  Unless I respond in this thread saying it's back, please direct all responses to my brother's email address:  cliffhangertx@embarqmail.com   His name is Cliff and he understands tech talk more than me.  Also if you want to call, ask for him because I know nothing about computers.  You can call at any hour  254-386-5346.  If you email him, make the subject line "Your brother's computer".  Please help me.  I can't afford to go out and get it fixed, or parts, or even having it looked at. 
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND HERE, AS I HAVE NO WAY TO LOOK AT RESPONSES.  Thanks in advance

[Charlie Dearing]

I CAN ONLY GET ON MY BROTHER'S COMPUTER WHEN HE'S NOT ON IT (WHICH IS RARE) SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO EMAIL LIKE THE FIRST MESSAGE SAID.  ONE EMAIL RECEIVED AND MY RESPONSE BELOW IT. 

From: Jean Pierre Filion
To: cliffhangertx@embarqmail.com
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2010 9:07 PM
Subject: Your Brother's Computer

It looks to me that it could be the power supply of the monitor going. It's strong enough to power it but not enough to have the monitor working.
The other possibility is your video card.
First, test your computer with another monitor, if it still not working then change your video card. If this is still not working then the third option is your power supply of the computer.
Hope this help
JP

This is Charlie.....my brother took off the processor/heat sink to clean it....he noticed some of the many tiny pins that are on it that go into the mother board  were bent a little.  He isn't a techie but thinks the pins keep bending when he tries to plug it in to the mother board.  Could this be causing it?  Or is it one of the things you said?   I don't have any parts or money to replace ones that may be bad..or any to test with. I then noticed the lighted power button on the tower was yellow, instead of the usual green. 
PLEASE ALL RESPOND TO MENTIONED EMAIL ADDRESS cliffhangertx@embarqmail.com

[Charlie Dearing]

I am on a computer with 256 ram....dinosaur, but i'm on. Anybody have
any memory sticks laying around? DDR PC2700,DDR PC3200 with a maximum of
1GB per slot? (2 slots).   I am on a Dell Dimension 2400   (The computer with the problems is a Dell Dimension C521).
Lord, I need a MIDOL !

[towdude3]

Wish i could help. I saved up for (and bought) a 250 gig hdd just to find out my system will only take a 100 gig. Trying to re-install xp. been about 2 hours now and still going. I got the patterns you sent however i did not get a bill (now i know why). I won't forget you, just send a bill when you can so i can pay you. Thanks for the great patterns and good luck. Mike

[GrayBeard]

Charlie! Sorry to hear this computer information.

IF you have bent pins on the processor you have a very significant problem. Those things are so tiny and they must be in the EXACT position they were manufactured with to properly mate to the Motherboard Socket. If they are not seating correctly you will not be able to get the machine to do anything at all. Email me 'off group' and very carefully describe all the things that happened and exactly what you have done. My GEEK friends and I will try to evaluate your problem(s) and will get back ASAP. In your email give me a phone no. where I can reach you or leave messages and if you wish also your address since we may have parts available in our collections to assist.

We have even been known to assemble a whole working computer from odds and ends  for someone in need.

~~~GrayBeard~~~

[Russ C]

Too late now but you should never remove the processor. Clean fan and fins with air while they are in socket. I had more people mess up the processor that way when I worked for a computer company. Hopefully you can get it working.
That kind of ram (DDR PC2700,DDR PC3200) might be hard to find. 

[GrayBeard]

In my experience most of the RAM used in Dell computers is 'proprietary'!

Especially so if it is an older Dell model.

~~~GrayBeard~~~

[thumbs]

Charlie-- I have a Dell   that I upgrade to 2gb and have 2-512 mb sticks of memory. they are pc3200 with a 400 mhz--I think they will work in yours and I'll mail them to you--someone should use them  just send me your address to raabbott98@mchsi.com and I'll get them to you---Richard aka thumbs

[Charlie Dearing]

We don't have "air" so we used toothbrushes and a vacume (I know i didnt spell that right).  Our intentions were good lol.  I am a smoker and live in a dusty environment and this computer is years old.  Definitely needed cleaning.  Our intentions were good and we really did try to be careful. 
The emails sent to me and my brother have not been ignored by the way.  he is working on a diagram thingie and then will be responding to ya'll.  I trust everyone so my address is:
Charles Dearing
920 S. Dempster # 10
Hamilton, Texas 76531 
Thanks again to all of you trying to help.  It means more than I can relay in words.  I dang near had to go to the hospital last night from reaching my breaking point! Deeeeeep breaths!

[Charlie Dearing]

Oh crap!  I didn't see that the off topic coffee shop had been opened. Sorry folks.

[thumbs]

Charlie, I'll drop those memory sticks in the mail Tuesday morning--Hope they work--if not at least we tried--Richard aka thumbs

[thumbs]

Charlie--mailed the memory today--should be there by the week end--I hope--Richard aka thumbs