New motherboard, video/monitor help needed

[Demento19]

This is my first pc build, so bear with me.

I just installed an ASUS A8V Deluxe MB w/ an Athlon 64 processor, and when i boot the computer, all lights, fans and drives seem to go on, except the monitor doesnt pick up an signal from the pc. I didnt look at the Monitor plug (The monitor port on the MB is a male port!) when i bought the mb, as i was planning on running my monitor on a Radeon 9600 128mb Se AGP. The MB manual says only a 1.5v AGP vidcard can be run, and the gold plug shown in the manual for a 1.5v looks different from the gold plug on my card.

In order to make sure my problem wasnt just with the video card, i took my dads Radeon 9200 PCI and plugged it in, thinking a PCI card would solve the problems. The monitor still did not get a signal. I then tested a second monitor, to make sure it wasnt my monitor that was the problem. So my question is what is going wrong, ive tested both vid card and the monitors, and im lost as to what the problem is.


Im using a 80gb HD from an older computer, since i need all the data still in the HD. Will having data on the HD from the start cause problems? AND, since i had XP installed on the computer that had the HD, will that OS automatically transfer onto this new pc? This is my first build, so i know very little.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. If you need any other specs or info to diagnose, ill be happy to provide it.

 

[Fern]

Hi Demento19 and Welcome to the Forums!

Since this is your first build, you might wanna check out mechBgon's site for first time builder's and review what you have done. LINK

I strongly recommend setting up the mobo on a phonebook (or something similar) and installing only CPU (with heatsink + fan), ram and gfx card. Of course hook up the psu, mouse, KB and monitor.

Power it up and make sure it will boot into the POST screen/BIOS. I usually then hook up a floppy (or cd etc) and run memtest86+ overnight to make sure the ram is performing properely. No need to go through the OS install with crappy ram that will foul an install.

Only after passing memtest do I install the mobo etc in the case. I hate putting in, then taking out, then putting in etc, if some part is faulty or I need to bench test.

I didnt look at the Monitor plug (The monitor port on the MB is a male port!) when i bought the mb, as i was planning on running my monitor on a Radeon 9600 128mb

I didn't think this mobo had onboard gfx? So, there is no "monitor port" on the mobo.

Other general questions:

-The mobo is mounted on the brass standoffs, right?

-The 4 pin 12 volt ATX connector is attached to the mobo, right?

-You're sure the 9600 card is fully seated, pushed down far enough that the clip thingy popped up and locked onto the back of the card, right?

The MB manual says only a 1.5v AGP vidcard can be run, and the gold plug shown in the manual for a 1.5v looks different from the gold plug on my card.

I think your 9600 card will be fine. It's prolly an 0.80 volt agp x8 card. If not then it will be an older 1.5v card.

Im using a 80gb HD from an older computer, since i need all the data still in the HD. Will having data on the HD from the start cause problems? AND, since i had XP installed on the computer that had the HD, will that OS automatically transfer onto this new pc?

You may experience some problems here. The HDD, with the old install from a previous PC, will have the chipset/mobo drivers from the old mobo (um, motherboard). Hence, you may experience driver conflicts.

However, winXP (which I don't use) and it's PnP capabilities should be able to handle it. I always prefer myself to do a fresh install. See this Anandtech Article on how to change mobo's without a reinstall. Scroll down to the part "misc notes" and follow the instructions.

Good Luck with it and enjoy your new build! (post back if still problems after all this)

Fern

 

[leigh6]

I am guessing. You did not put enough pressure on the vid cards. Make sure they are really snug in the slot. YES. Exert some pressure. Push them in. Sounds like they are not making full contact.

It is common for 1st time builders afraid to break something to not put enough pressure to insert cards.

 

[Demento19]

Thanks. Turns out i installed too many of the brass mobo mounts underneath the CPU.

Now, my only problem is getting XP authorized. The PC doesnt seem to want to connect to the internet from the cable i have connected to a router. And using the phone auth method doesnt work either.

And when i enter the BIOS setup or w/e its called, there is no CD rom drives (i have two hooke dup) that come up under boot order. All i have is the floppy drive and the HD come up.

 

[Fern]

And when i enter the BIOS setup or w/e its called, there is no CD rom drives (i have two hooke dup) that come up under boot order. All i have is the floppy drive and the HD come up.

Double-check the power (4 pin) connectors and IDE cable connection. Make sure they're in good. Check the jumpering too (master vs slave vs cable select) Don't mix master/slave with cable select either.

Fern

 

[Demento19]

Turns out i had the Master/Slave jumpers correct, i didnt know i had to connect the cable to the Secondary IDE slot. Now both drives appear and its all happy dandy.

Currently, im putting my hard drive into my parents pc so that i can back up my important stuff onto my 20gb mp3 player, so i can put it back into my HD after it gets formatted w/ the XP install.

On my mom's Vaio, there is no labeling of the master/slave/cs on the hard drive like my HD does, so i dont know where exactly to put the jumper to make it the master. It has only 4 rows of 2, where my HD has 5 rows. a CS, Slave, Master, blank, and a PM 2 or something like that.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Demento19

On my mom's Vaio, there is no labeling of the master/slave/cs on the hard drive like my HD does, so i dont know where exactly to put the jumper to make it the master. It has only 4 rows of 2, where my HD has 5 rows. a CS, Slave, Master, blank, and a PM 2 or something like that.

1) Consider leaving her HDD on it's own IDE channel so you don't have to mess with it's jumper. Put your HDD on the second IDE channel, or

2) Find out what HDD make/model she has (pull it and look at it) and go to the manufacturer's website for jumper instructions.

Sounds like you're making progress! :thumbsup:

Fern

 

[Demento19]

Yea, since im impatient i found a friend on AIM and he told me to find the HDD info and search their webpage for the jumper settings. Right now im waiting for my 7gb music folder to transfer onto my iriver Mp3 player. then im back up to my room to install XP. Im going to try and restore XP with the emachines disk, and if tat doesnt work, im gonna use the new version of XP home i bought. IF the emachines one works, ill just return the unopened XP home cd.

Thanks a lot for all the help so far!