I removed my video card and now my monitor isn't getting a signal

Had been having some problems that my more computer savvy friends had come to the conclusion was most likely a video card issue (EVGA GeForce 7900 GT).

To fix a seperate issue, I had recently formatted the Hard Drive, installed vista and then upgraded to 7 online, but the problem was every time I went to play WoW the screen would turn into a completely unrecognizable mess. Was looking around online for some possible solutions, somebody suggested cleaning out the graphics card, so I pulled it out and cleaned out the small amount of dust that had accumulated around the fan. Put it back into the appropriate sized slot on the Mobo (MSI) and reattached the power cord from the power supply, plugged in the monitor and started it up. Unfortunately, when I turned it on my monitor simply read "No Signal Input". Tried restarting and all that good stuff, but nothing doing. Did some searching around online and saw that a static shock can cause serious problems for a video card and realized I hadn't been overly cautious of that when removing/cleaning the hardware. Headed down to the local computer store and picked up a Radeon HD 4850, figured if the card was done I wouldn't mind an upgrade anyways. Installed it in the same fashion, started up and still nothing. I'm hoping this isn't a bigger issue like the MoBo being broken, but I really have no idea. It's possible I could've just completely missed something basic about what you have to do when you remove a piece of hardware from the computer. Any advice/guidance would be appreciated.

 

Make sure the card is seated right, look at it carefully to make sure it is level in the slot.

 

hey there

Have you tried another monitor, its possible the monitor doesnt like the video card as its running at too high a refresh rate, or similar issue.

Can you please advise the other helpful geeks, what sort of monitor you have - like name and model number. Also type / version of motherboard, you have a pretty commonly used graphics card 7900 series and theres a good chance someone else may have run into a similar issue.

I have had some experience with l.c.d screens when turning them off then back on that the signal just doenst happen, so get one from storage and put old one aside for testing and maybe two or three days later finally get to it and its been fine, whats up with L.C.D's the old crt was either you got the scrolling rolling lines sos the refresh rate was usually an issue but the l.cd's seem to be a bit more wishy washy... noted on Korean pro video gaming t.v they still have the older C.R.T monitors... hmmm wonder why

Yeah anyway let my fellow geeks know what type, make and model of monitor / screen you are using, ensure the fittings are screwed in firmly at both ends - to video card and to monitor... I know you probably have done so anyway, but there maybe a short in the data cable from the the monitor... so give this a gentle bend up down left and rightish if its an l.c.d screen may need to hold it in place for three or little longer seconds.

Also ensure if this graphics card has an internal extra power supply connection that its actually providing power, take one from the dvdrom or cdrom and connect this after verifying that this device has power by simply pressing the eject button on the cd/dvdrom. Then try this power feed on the graphics card, it maybe the power connection to this the cable itself got fractured when the old card was removed, check the pci slot for dust or anything which may short the graphics card expansion slot, if all this doesnt work look at manual, or you may see an option on the motherboard for resetting the CMOS battery... just incase the bios got a little confused.

check under the motherboard for dust or hair that maybe shorting the motherboard.

Had a random issue years ago with a graphics card before I was a little more geek savy and had a monitor that had to be turned on and then the p.c power connected then the p.c powered on, but that was a very early P3 class c.p.u type mobo.

As an after thought some lcd screens have a little adapter similar to a laptop converter type check the connection there. The only other thought is you may have static shocked your motherboard or some component of it.

Good luck L8r guy

 

Double-checked, it's in there pretty snug and level.

Also, forgot to mention, I'm pretty confident it's getting power because the fan is spinning.

 

I actually don't have a backup monitor unfortunately, currently working on the GF's laptop. Any other means of testing this?

Sure can.
-Monitor is a CHIMEI CMV 221D 22" LCD Monitor
-MoBo is definitely from MSI, but not sure where I can find the type/version of it due to the fact that I can't turn it on to check, would that info be located anywhere on it? I noticed on there is says Model MS 7250, is that any help?

Got them on pretty good and tight, and moved around the cable itself, sadly no response from the monitor.

Power feed is good when connected to the DVDrom, connected it to the Graphics card, no change.

PCI slot appears to be clean, didn't see such an option on the MoBo, but then again, I didn't really know where to look.

 

1. If the graphics card was not receiving secondary power, it would beep constantly.

2. What kind of cable are you using to connect the computer to the screen? If you cannot tell, what shape are the connectors? Are they long or short? Are they D shaped or more rectangular?

3. Does the computer have more than one graphics connection?

 

No beeping of any kind, so I think we're good on that front.

I think it's a DVI cable

Do you mean a second PCI slot that the graphics card can fit into? If so then yes it does, tried seating the new card into the other slot, but no change when I turned it back on.

 

On point 3, I mean a separate connection for the video cable, like is there one built into the motherboard, or does the graphics card have two connectors?

 

The graphics card does have two spots in which to insert the DVI cable, I did try it plugged into both of them. Neither had an effect unfortunately.

 

Do you have access to another computer in which you can test the graphics card?

When you start the computer up do you hear any beeps? If so, how many of them are there and what rhythm are they in?

 

The only other computer I have at hand is my girlfriend's laptop, so unfortunately I don't. On your second question, there is really no beeping of any kind when I start it up.

 

This may be a bad sign. Have you heard any beeps in the past?

 

Since this thread has been continuing, I would just want to add, I wouldn't completely rule out the monitor as the possible culprit.

There are many threads about that Chimei monitor having a problem with losing the DVI input signal from Vista and needing a reboot to fix the problem. I realize that you are restarting the computer and thus this should not apply to your case but it shows that that monitor may not always be able to display all input that goes through the DVI connection. If you don't have a VGA cable I think it would be worth the trouble of borrowing a monitor (preferably CRT--though you may need a DVI/VGA adapter available if the card doesn't have a VGA connector) for a few hours just to rule out a display problem which would be easier to repair than a MB problem.

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The other thing is take a look at the whole motherboard for anything that looks like it may have been disconnected inadvertently when you were moving the video card. Could you have knocked a near by connection loose?

 

Look in the socket make sure no pins got bent!

 

graphics card slots do not have accessible pins, so the likelihood of any of these becoming bent is slim.

 

Not the card that has been already checked that, but the jacks in the back where the cable plugs in!!!!!

 

Good point. You are correct. I apologise for my misunderstanding of your point.

 

Do you have another video card to check too see if it's the monitor or video card?

 

The OP has already tested with an nVIDIA 7900 GT and an ATI Radeon HD4850

 

There are only two things the cable or the monitor!

 

Or the motherboard

 

Yup could have cracked one of the ribbons on the bottom of the board when the card was put back in!

 

I assume that you removed any and all drivers when switching from the old video card to the new video card.

Are you overclocking?

Have you tried a different game?

What about screen resolution?

 

Personally I cannot see how any of these points can affect this case as the OP has already stated that the problem occurred with an old card which he swapped for a new one, which did not fix the problem of nothing displaying on the monitor at any point, even before the OS loaded, thus ruling out overclocking, as the OP would not have has a chance to do it. And games do not factor in to the problem at this point as the OP has no way of seeing to log in to the computer, much less fire up a game.

 

He said he removed it cleaned things up and reinstalled, it had worked prior to removal, he has since tried other cards to no avail!

 

That is exactly what I am saying.

 

Well if he only removed a working card then had an issue I am not sure where you are going with this! He tried other cards after the good removed card failed upon reinstall!!

 

I am currently going with "it may well be a motherboard fault, but we cannot at this stage be sure of that"

The first post you referenced recently was in response to theefool's last post in this thread. I was merely pointing out why I believe the questions are of little value to the investigation. This does not mean that they are wrong or useless, but that I believe that they have little relevance to the topic at hand.