No signal to monitor on reconstructed PC

[Fire]

Hey, so I'm trying to cobble together a computer from parts that my friend sent me: nF4 "Lan Party" mother board, GeForce 7800, some generic RAM and I forget what kind of CPU, with my HD/case, etc. As far as I know, everything is compatible because this is essentially the system my buddy used until a few months ago. There was no visible evidence of damage during transit, everything was packaged in static-free materials and I believe I have installed things correctly, however when I power up the system, the fans start running and the lights come on, but there is no signal to the monitor.

I tried fiddling with the cables, took the DVI-AVG adapter off and put it back on, tried a different monitor (an old CTR model), still no dice. After that, I unplugged everything and moved the GeForce to the second video card slot. The first time I powered up after that, there was no signal to either monitor. The second time, I got BIOS to appear on both. I was overjoyed--until I realized I'd forgotten to hook up the CD-Rom and couldn't install Windows. Whoops.

Now, after installing the CD-Rom (and changing nothing else), I can't get anything to show up on either monitor. I've tried moving the video card back to the first slot (then back again, and so forth) and gotten my hands on plain DVI cable in case the problem was with the adapter, but so far nothing. I've thought to switch video cards to check if the 7800 was faulty but the only other ones I have don't fit in this new motherboard. Likewise, the 7800 won't fit on my old motherboard for testing either.

Having gotten it to work once, I'm hoping against hope that I'm missing something obvious and that the problem isn't with the mobo or the video card, but I'm thinking that's the case. I realize this may be a little esoteric for JUB, but before I take it in to the computer center, I figured I'd ask to see if you have any ideas.

Thanks.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

it sounds like the video card is not seated all the way into the slot causing only an intermittent signal (or a just once signal). or it could be the cable from the monitor to the video card. assuming you had to giggle the case a bit while putting in the cd/dvd drive i'd say it's likey the card came unseated a bit again.

at any rate it sounds like a lose connection to me either the card or the cable.

 

[Fire]

Hey, thanks for replying.

at any rate it sounds like a lose connection to me either the card or the cable.

This may still be the case, but I've just firmly reseated the card several times with no effect, and it seems to be in the slot(s) as far as it will go each time. I've done the same with all the cables.

Make sure the video card is seated in all the way, there should be just one beep.

I'm not getting any beeps. I didn't realize until you said this. What does that mean?

 

[Corny]

so does it work again if you unplug the cd rom?

 

[Fire]

so does it work again if you unplug the cd rom?

I just unplugged it from the motherboard and the power supply and tried again but there was no change.

 

[Corny]

ok, so it shouldn't be a blown fuse.

is the power supply "big" enough for the graphics card?

does the machine run with ONLY
motherboard + videocard + ram
installed?

 

[Fire]

ok, so it shouldn't be a blown fuse.

is the power supply "big" enough for the graphics card?

It may not be. From what I'm reading, the recommended is 350 watts, this power supply is only 300.

does the machine run with ONLY
motherboard + videocard + ram
installed?

Ok, I tried this and I got one long beep and then a short beep when I booted up, but the monitor still doesn't work. There have been no beeps when booting up since then.

 

[Corny]

Ok, I tried this and I got one long beep and then a short beep when I booted up, but the monitor still doesn't work.

what kind of bios do you have? could you see that when it power up that one time?

one long, one short would be mainboard error on ami and award bios.

 

[Fire]

what kind of bios do you have? could you see that when it power up that one time?

one long, one short would be mainboard error on ami and award bios.

I don't remember to be honest, but from the information I'm finding on the internet it's Award.