hi i have put together my own pc but when i switch it on all the fans start running and everything works but i have no picture come up on the screen. if you want a more technical breakdown i will do it but just wondered if any one can answer straight away. also cd drawer does not open?????

is the monitor plugged in?

i would need more info, as for the cd drive, again is the power plugged in on the mb?

I hate to sound pedantic but are you sure the monitor is plugged in properly?

Check the monitor connections mate, it might be the cause of the lack of picture.

does it make any beeping noises when you turn it on?

Press the caps lock and num lock keys on the keyboard, do the keyboard lights go on and off? If they do then the basic system is working, if they don't you have bigger problems than just no video!

the graphics card may not be seated correctly in the AGP slot... take it out and re-insert it... this has happened to me before...

course, last time this happened my graphics card had died... but I doubt this is the case if it beeps when it boots, mine wouldn't even POST :(

Originally posted by xafier
the graphics card may not be seated correctly in the AGP slot... take it out and re-insert it... this has happened to me before...

That's happened to me a few times too. You really need to press the vid card down hard in to the AGP slot.

Originally posted by xafier
the graphics card may not be seated correctly in the AGP slot... take it out and re-insert it... this has happened to me before...

course, last time this happened my graphics card had died... but I doubt this is the case if it beeps when it boots, mine wouldn't even POST :(

failed graphics card should cause a post failure and a beep code to indicate the fault.

hi no it makes no noise when i plug it all in. further info below:
here is a massive breakdown of what I did see if there is anything I missed out
Got the case which is a mercades style case
changed the back grill with the one I got with the mother board
put the rivets into the PC case and attached the Motherboard which is a AsusK8 Como
as found here http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1699
once that was in I worked from inside the PC
Installed the processor triangle to triange and put the lock down to lock it into place
looking at the picture I put it in the bottom slot
I then placed the Heatsink over it and attached it into place (Already has heatsink paste to it)
and attached the power to the relevent place
I then put in the 1 stick of Ram in the top slot of the Banks again looking at the picture
its the one thats furthest to the right
I then attached all the front leads to the board along with Audio and USB all of which are along the left side
in this order looking at it from the top
attached is a Jpeg

once this was done I the attached the 120GB barracuda Hard drive to the master on the IDE cable the one at the top point
the the lighton 52speed CD-RW DVD combo to the slave all jumpers set present and correct
I the installed the two fans they were already on the case just had to install the power
I then put in the power to the mother board which is a long one the biggest from the ATX
after that I then inserted the Graphics card screwed it in and attached it usung the slot jumper like available
here it is http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/action/r/http://www.hisdigital.com/newimages/products/J78-01B_1157_500.jpg
put the case back together and attached the TFT flatscreen to the 15 DB pin which is the olny way to connect
I may look for a 15 pin to DVI converter and see if this makes a difference am assuming not but low budget cards and all
other than that I have done nothing else
Have I missed anything out
it seems odd about the CD drive not opening

if there is no beeping and you have done everything u detailed then i cant see what the problem is.

is power supply ok?

and does it matter what bay the ram goes in? (assuming not due to no beeps!)

I would suggest start with the basics:

1) Are you SURE there is power to the computer? Test this either with a multimeter or see if the CPU fan spins round.

2) Ensure that there are no short curcuits - i have fried a motherboard before when one of my case screws touched the mainboard when i did it up

3) Ensure there is power and and IDE cable to the CD ROM

4) Try the CD in another PC?

5) Test the graphics card with a multimeter or seat it in another slot?

6) Listen for the POST beep?

7) Run the back of you hand over the monitor screen with everything switched on - if you feel static then the graphics card is working but there is nothing to display (The SYPTE IT Manager tought me that one!)

Thats all i can think of right now....
:suspect:

yeah i am assuming the power supply is ok because all the fans start when switched on. am starting to think it could be a faulty part as i cannot understand why it does not beep. any idea why it will not post?????

help ????
if i ever get it going it should be a good pc but probably be outdated by that time LOL (have to laugh really crying is the only other option)

in case you are wondering the processer is a amd athlon 64 socket 754

memory is in the right port for the 754 according to the manual.

if there are no beeps at all it would suggest a dead motherboard.
(assuming you have connected the internal speaker correctly).

The cd drive not opening is suspicious though, that should work just from the 12v supply. Which might suggest that you have a damaged power supply only supplying the 5v line (which feeds fans), try a voltmeter across the power supply to the cd drive.

Originally posted by Cyclone
if there are no beeps at all it would suggest a dead motherboard.
(assuming you have connected the internal speaker correctly).

The cd drive not opening is suspicious though, that should work just from the 12v supply. Which might suggest that you have a damaged power supply only supplying the 5v line (which feeds fans), try a voltmeter across the power supply to the cd drive.
I was just about to say that! :suspect:

KEYBOARD LIGHTS?

Well, do they work when you press the caps and num lock keys?? Easiest way to make sure the system board / ram / processor are working.

no caps lock etc do not light up. i am starting to think maybe motherboard is knackered but need to check power supply is ok with multimeter first. Any idea what it could be if its not a faulty part???

You cant easily test an ATX Power supply with a multimeter, anyway, if the fans spin it is more likely to be somthing else.
Does it beep with no momory in? Run it iminimum config first, take everything out of it including the Graphics card. you want to try it with just the motherboard, processor and RAM, then plug a keyboard in and see if you can get any activity from the keyboard lights.

Assuming all the power is correct and the cables are in the right place, I was wondering whether it might be the graphics card - If it's a dual head, then possibly the vga output, which you're using might be the secondary monitor, and the dvi primary monitor. Try using the DVI plug. It's a long shot!

Also open the case, turn on the pc (be carefull not to get electricuted!) and see if there are any led's on. There's usually an LED indicating power.

Try the "clear CMOS" jumper on the mobo, look in the manual if you can't find it...

the fact that the cd drive won't open is still suggesting 12v supply problem to me.

can you here the hard drives spinning up?

testing the power supply with a voltmeter should be straight forward.

Find a spare power connector, whack voltmeter across pins, check reading.

Originally posted by Cyclone
the fact that the cd drive won't open is still suggesting 12v supply problem to me...

Would the fans spin up if it was?

Oh, & if you want to test a PSU with a multi-meter you'll have to convince it that it's switched on first.

steev will i not be able to see if there is correct voltage going to motherboard/cd drive etc with a multimeter i was thinking it would be possible to see if it is getting anything?

Try the CMOS jumper first.

I've had no PSU's go on me in the way they're describing.

On the other hand, I've had at least 1/2 dozen mobos that do what you say it's doing until you clear the CMOS...

**edit

Also with that particular motherboard there may be jumpers to specify which processor slot you are using, though can't see any in the manual. Also, it'd better not be a 3.3v AGP card, though if it was hopefully it shouldn't fit, the 1.5v ones are notched differently.

With Steev on this one, I have had motherboards with the CMOS clear jumper set incorrectly from new. Fans will spin but not much else!! Also, if its a new P4 or Athlon 64 system you will need to connect the small 4pin ATX power connector on the system board as well, and if it's an old PSU it may not have one!

ok will try cmos jumper tonight - thanks for all your help so far

lets hope this saga is not like rocky films and roll on and on getting worse each time

Here you go, things to do list for tonight :P in the order I'd try (extra swearing can be added for effect)

1. Clear CMOS jumper (check position correct, also clear it)

2. Check 12V PSU connecter (4 pin square one neeeeeeeeeek suggested)

3. Try booting without graphics card. If everything else is OK (& PC speaker connected) it should beep a few times to tell you it's missing a graphics card. If it does this chances are the graphics card is either 3.3V or dead (or both in that order)

4. Check if there's a jumper to specify CPU slot (had a look in the manual for you & can't see one...)

5. Swear profusely, invoke spirit/daemon/deity of choice.

6. Borrow a multimeter

If you still have problems, drop it by our shop in hillsborough. We won't charge you much and we'll do what we can in our special anti-static room.
We're just on langsett rd behind the barracks.

cmos jumper cleared- bob's your uncle pc up and running
thank you to everyone for the helpful advice

spot on

Sorry Didnt read all the posts ooops!! No need to reply now