Need a sanity check

Building a new system for the first time in a while and I need a sanity check. I am putting together an Asus P4PE/GE Mobo with a P4 478pin 3.0G Northwood Processor with 1 stick.

My goal was to power this up with just a Mobo/CPU/RAM and hopefully get a prompt stating no OS available. I forgot that the ASUS Mobo doesn't have onboard vid so I had to put in a vid card.

I can power the rig up, no posts, no beeps and no video out :cry My question is... I should be able to do what I am trying and not need the HD to to at least get a prmpt asking for an OS ? I know all of the components are functional as they were all recently pulled from good rigs and/or ordered, so if what I am trying is possible then I think I have a compadibility issue or out of date bios on the mobo.

Thoughts ???

 

You can do what you are attempting, should be able to get to bios, if everything is working right. I would try clearing cmos first. unplug power, remove battery from mb, wait a few min. try again. ed

 

Finally something easy and worked. Thanks Ed !! Just hope the rest of the build goes as smooth.