no output on my monitor

[yanski101]

hi folks wondering if anyone can help me? just built a pc for the first time ever last night, problem is their's nothing outputting on my monitor. tried my laptop with the monitor and it displays fine, so must be the computer.

When i switch the pc on all the fans come on (graphics, motherboard) but no l.e.d's on the case are working??? could that be the problem?

any suggestions would be very much appreciated, thanks.

[mjc]

Break it back down...start with minimal components installed, just the CPU, heatsink/fan...make sure the header wires, LED wires, etc are properly connected...power on. It should beep saying there is no RAM...power down, add 1 stick...repeat. It should now beep that there is no video...continue adding one thing at a time.

[alternate]

I have a related question. My 2003? laptop is connected to a 19" widescreen recent monitor. The image of windows booting displays when windows boots. However, once windows loads up, only the background image that i have on my desktop shows on a centered rectangular subset of the 19"-monitor's display. The start menu does not show up; nothing but my background image shows up, no programs. Meanwhile, the screen on my laptop displays everything normally.

Does this mean that my laptop's video card is lacking? Or can I do something with my settings?

[mjc]

Alternate...please start your own thread; provide full details, please.