How to tell video card is not working?

[kyle1234567890]

I am putting together a computer and am almost done except I get no video. I borrowed this video card from a different computer and put it in mine to set it up and get no video signal. Could the video card be fried from static or something?

[mjc]

did it work in the other computer? Does it still work there?

Is the clear CMOS jumper, on the one you are building, in the clear or run position?

Have you tried a minimal boot (CPU, RAM and video)?

[kyle1234567890]

The video card worked fine in the other computer and the CMOS jumper is also in the normal position. I also tried the video card doing a minimal boot(only had RAM, Hard Drive, floppy, and Video Card)

[Budfred]

Also, are you getting a POST beep or series of beeps. It should be able to POST without the video at least to the beep. If you are not getting that, you probably have another problem. Please let us know as many details as possible and what troubleshooting you have done...

Edit:

You posted while I was typing.... A minimal boot is with NO drives. Just one stick RAM, keyboard, video, motherboard, CPU, power supply and make sure the case speaker is hooked up.

[kyle1234567890]

I havent gotten any beeps when I start up the computer but I know the speaker works because before I installed the ram it would make long beeps indicating the ram wasn't installed. I am not going to be back at my house unti Monday so when I get back I will try a minimal boot and inform you with what happens.

[BigBlue66]

Also try reseating the video card. I assume this is an AGP video card? If so, sometimes they need an inordinate amount of firm downward pressure to be seated securely and correctly.

[kyle1234567890]

Sorry for not being more specific earlier, but the video card is actually a PCI card that is from about '96. Evan if the card wasnt seated completely in the slot, wouldn't there still be a POST beep?

[BigBlue66]

No, the one beep at post generally means that the system has found the video display and all is well with it.

Hmmm, PCI eh? Well let's see. Does the board have onboard video by any chance?

I think I would try clearing CMOS as one of the first things to try. This is accomplished by unplugging the PSU from the power source. Push the power button on the front of the computer ON to dispel any residual power. Then, short the Clear CMOS header on pins 2 and 3 for a minute or so. Then, replace the shunt on pins 1 and 2, or the Normal position, and replug the power source in and try to boot. Let us know how that goes.

Does the motherboard have an AGP slot? Do you have an AGP video card you could try? Borrow one from a friend?

Do you have the HSF on the CPU plugged into the 3-pin header on the motherboard?

Guess you should let us know some more details about the components you're working with, such as motherboard, CPU, RAM, HSF, etc.

Good luck.

[kyle1234567890]

Here is the specs about the system:
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+
Motherboard: FIC AU13
Video card: PCI (dont know the brand-doesnt say)
Power Supply: Raidmax 350 watt
Hard Drive: Western Digital 80g 7200 rpm

My mobo does have an 8x AGP slot but i dont know of anyone with an agp card and my board doesnt have onboard video either. I am not going to get back to working on my PC until Monday so when I get back ill try your advice to clear the CMOS to see if that helps. And, yes the HSF is plugged into the 3 pin header on the board and ii turns on just fine so obviously the motherboard isnt bad. The HSF that I am using is just the one that came retail packaged with the CPU.
When I get back on monday, I will post with the results of the many things suggested to try. Thanks.

[kyle1234567890]

I got back home this morning and tried many of the things suggested here. The things I tried were doing were reseating the video card and RAM, doing a minimal boot, booting outside of the case on a piece of cardboard, and I tried listening to the sound to see if anything came out like a message or something and nothing happened. The last thing that I think I could do is try reseating the CPU and that might solve the problem and maybe some POST beeps could happen. If all else fails then I must buy new parts which I am trying to avoid :(

[Budfred]

If you get no POST beeps testing outside the case with a minimal congig and the case speaker hooked up you have 3 likely possibilities.

1. Bad power supply - simplest and cheapest - check by trying another PS.
2. Bad motherboard
3. Bad CPU

The only way I know to check 2 and 3 is to swap them out with a known good system and see which works and which doesn't. This is assuming you got all the pieces connected up properly of course. Two of the most important are to check the CMOS Clear jumper and to make sure the HSF is plugged into the motherboard.

[kyle1234567890]

I just tried taking out my video card to see if there would be some type of post beep and there was. The beep was a long-short-short which is supposed to mean that the video card is not recognized so I am assuming that is a good sign because the mobo can recognize that the card is missing. A little later I'm gonna stop by my friends house and see if they have a spare video card available. Ill post back later.

[Budfred]

That is good news. You should have gotten the beeps with the video card in, but whatever works, works.... :)

[Inka]

sounds like a poorly video card to me :(
Hopefully a new one will work, good luck finding one!