Help setting up old pc

[Homeincrisis]

I'm having a clearout and need to get the data off two old pcs (one from 2006, one older but not sure how much. Maybe 04)
I have hooked up power (and they seem to turn on) and the blue "headed" cable that go from screen to computer tower. But there is no picture on the screen. I've tried both computer towers. I've plugged the screen into my laptop and the screen and cable work...
The power button on screen is orange when connected to either pc

So why won't the screen show what the computer is doing?

[peggyundercrackers]

just buy an external caddy like the one in the link below for the drives in the towers then you can use the drives like an external USB drive in your laptop to get the data off. they shouldn't be more than about £10 from most computer shops.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-IDE-Hard-Disk-Drive-HDD-Data-Caddy-to-USB-2-0-External-Enclosure-Case-/231487785273?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35e5bf4939

[Homeincrisis]

Just been reading about that. Is it idiot proof?! Looks simple enough but I'd rather pay £100 and rescue stuff than spend £20 and screw it up!

[trackrBird]

Look at the back of the PC. Is there more than one port which matches your screen cable connector?

If you've got a graphics card installed, for instance, the PC may be set up to receive the display data from there, not from the motherboard port.

[Homeincrisis]

Not another one the same size?

I never had a problem setting them up before so I think its probably the pcs aren't booting up properly.

I've placed an order for the case thing and will give it a go.

Thanks for your help :)

[trackrBird]

If you can hear the PC running, and the PC power light is on, but the screen power light is orange, it does suggest the screen isn't talking to the computer even though you're booted up.

If you have any other cable that will fit your screen and your PC, you could try that. For example, is there a DVI port there

nvidia.s3.amazonaws.com/hdmidvi.jpg

Or even VGA:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/VGA_port.jpg

If you have a cable that will connect up to either of these, you might strike lucky.

If you've a deafening silence or no power light on either PC, that does suggest both PCs have had it.

[Homeincrisis]

Thanks trackr

I was using VGA cable and i plugged it into new(er) laptop and it worked but plugged it into the pc and it doesn't work.
I don't have cables/ports for the others.
One pc made an odd beeping on start up which I read is something to do with morherboards and BIOS, but it's all a foreign language!
Other sounded like it was starting up normally and reading a disc i inserted.

Ordered a thing to transfer data out like Peggy suggested so fingers crossed! Should be here in a few days.

[trackrBird]

Ah yes - beeping is not a good sign!
Have fun with the caddy. In my view, every home should have one :-)