I'm in the process of building a gaming computer, but there is small problem - I'm not receiving any video when I fire up the box. Initially, I received a continuous beep, which often means a bad video card and/or displaced memory. I replaced the video card, reset the memory, and rebooted the box. Although the beeping stopped, nothing shows up on the monitor. What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions or recommendations. Thanks!
:confused:

Hello Vrobles.
You could use a copy of my Diagnostic Flowcharts.
You could also use my document on "The BIOS Setup Program".
Send me a personal message requesting them and giving an e-mail address to send them to.

Here’s one possible route through them:

START UP TEST
1. Is the PC dead? No.
2. Did POST appear to complete? No.
3. Were there any audible beeps? No.
4. The Power-On Self-Test failed to complete. [NO POST]

NO POST
1. Are the PSU voltages correct? Check them if you can. If they are not you may have a faulty PSU. Assuming they ARE ok then:
2. Disconnect all peripherals and system adaptor cards except the keyboard and video card/monitor.
3. Does the POST now run? If it doesn’t then your system board [or something on it (BIOS’s configuration settings, video card, CPU, memory)] is faulty. If it does run then:
4. Re-connect the floppy disk drive and run advanced diagnostic software from a floppy disk. Get “TuffTest-Lite” from http://www.tufftest.com/free.htm or better if you can. This is simple and basic.
5. Does the system board pass? If not then it is faulty. If it does pass then:
6. Switch of and re-connect ONE peripheral/adaptor card.
7. Does POST now run? If it doesn’t this last device connected is faulty and should be disconnected. If it does run the device should be tested using the diagnostics and if it fails is faulty and should be disconnected. If it passes it's ok and should be included.
8. Repeat from step 6 until all devices are tested, all faulty are excluded and all working are included, then re-test the system.

Miss out the diagnostic tests if you must and just see if the POST completes with/without an item.

I often wonder how a BIOS can be pre-configured so that it will successfully operate the hardware no matter what hardware you throw at it!
Perhaps if it does run at step 3 you should immediatel go into the BIOS Setup and properly configure it to successfully operate YOUR particular hardware combination.

When you say the beeping stopped, are you at least getting a POST beep? If you are not, something is not working with the CPU, motherboard or power supply. It could be that you just knocked something loose, but you will need to get at least the BIOS beep to be able to do much of anything. If you don't, post back and we can go to the next level of problem solving.

Also, it can be tricky getting the video card installed properly, it usually needs to click twice to be properly seated...

I'm not receiving a POST beep. Additionally, I failed to mention that during installation I bent one of the pins on the CPU (Duh!), which I know can cause a CPU to malfunction. Since you mentioned that minus a POST beep often indicates a CPU, motherboard, and/or power supply problem. Is there a way to "test" the CPU? I guess after checking the power supply, I should concentrate on replacing the CPU. Your thoughts...

Vrobles:(

Additionally, I failed to mention that during installation I bent one of the pins on the CPU (Duh!), which I know can cause a CPU to malfunction.

I think you just answered your own question....

The only way I know to test the CPU and motherboard is to swap them with a known good compatible mobo and CPU. Try your CPU in that mobo and try that CPU in your mobo. If both work, you have to look elsewhere for the problem. If you don't have access to compatible systems, you may have to take it somewhere and pay to have it tested.