Me and My Friend are building a computer for my girlfriend and when we put all the pieces together and started it up everything worked(Fans, HD Booted, Floppy, CD DVD Roms,LEDS) The only thing that won't seem to work is the monitor. We first Tried plugging it into the video card that we put in then we tried the onboard Graphics. We've tried other monitors and were unable to have it receive a signal.
If you have any troubleshooting tips id greatly appreciate them.
*We are also unsure of the prossessor(Would that have anything to do with it?)
Thanks
Blazed

Do you hear any beeps when the PC boots up? If so, check the graphics card to make sure it's seated properly.

If you get no beeps, the next thing I would do is to reseat the RAM to make sure that is in properly.

After that, next point of call for me would be the motherboard or processor. Is the processor seated properly. It is possible you grounded the motherboard to the case. Did you separate the mobo and the case using the standoffs and the used the little washers (normally red) on the screws you screwed the mobo down with?

A number of mobo's nowadays come with some kind of diagnostic tool with 4 lights on. Using a combination of these lights, it can tell you what's wrong the PC is trying to do. Don't suppose you have something like that?

The Prossessor was my guess. At first we DID have a 3 beep post test, but we fixed that with new ram, when I get the Computer back ill check to see if the mobo got grounded somewhere. WE'll probably replace the prossessor in the coming days.

No, sadly I don't have a Diagnostic Tool, Im sure if I look around I could find one at a local computer repair store. But, I have been asking around and I'm getting conflicting opinions. Someone was saying that the prossessor would have nothing to do with the Monitor not working and other people are saying it could have something to do with it. Im getting a lot of It's the Graphics card, but like I said before I tried the onboard graphics and have used other graphics cards. Ive tried different monitors and still nothing. So if anyone else has any opinions please post them up here.
Thanks
Blazed

Try removing everything except the processor (& fan) and the memory. Sometimes when an IDE cable is on the wrong way round, it will stop the machine doing anything!

Also plug your monitor into the onboard socket & remove graphics card!

So I tried what you told me to do. I unplugged everything but the PSU the prossessor and the prossessor fan. Hooked the monitor to the onboard port and still nothing. The monitor does flash a little bit when I turn the computer on but that's about it. An new thing I just noticed is that the PSU makes a really high pitch noise when I turn it on as well. Any Idea if that has to do with it?

You need to have the memory in as well!

A PSU shouldn't make a high pitched noise so It may well be faulty. Do you have another one you can swap for testing purposes?

The only other thing I can suggest is to reset the cmos on the motherboard, there should be a page in the mobo manual to do this (usually short two pins with a jumper and replace back to original position).

You say that you're unsure of the cpu - does this mean whether it works or what speed it is? If you have the wrong cpu for the board forget it. Try to find out the details of the chip and check the manual for any bus speed or multiplier settings you have to make on the motherboard.

If this doesn't work it's back to the shop!

Ram was in it. Um the Prossessor came with the mobo, it's the correct pin-set. There is no manual for this mobo, It was taking outa of a working computer so I assumed it should have worked. Can you give me a general idea on how to reset the CMOS? Because I've seriously tried everything I can think of and I'm not really a newbie to building computers, I built the one I'm using right now and it works great.

If you can identify the mobo you should be able to download a manual - search for a program called Aida - this is quite good at identifying components. If not look on the mobo for any jumpers labeled cmos. There's usually 3 pins 1 & 2 are usually shorted & 3 remains open. To reset your cmos just move the jumper to 2 & 3 for a few seconds and then return to 1 & 2.


Have you tried swapping the psu also?

I have no other PSU to swap it out with :( Imma look around to find one thought because knowing my luck its probably the PSU causing the problem