Rebooting, no video signal, switch DVI ports and it works?

[r0bVious]

I tried to fit it all in the title.

A couple weeks ago I went to a friends house with my computer, and I had a hard time getting my computer started. It seemed to be a power issue. When I got home the power issue was no longer there (leading me to believe that it was somehow his house and not my computer), so it's not a major concern at the moment.

However, this started happening:

1. I reboot the computer, or turn it on.
2. The monitor thinks it gets a signal, then realizes it doesn't, and stands by.
3. I get frustrated, and move the DVI connection from the first port on the video card to the second port.
4. The monitor catches a signal, and it all works great.

Why on earth would I need to switch DVI connections every time I reboot? For added mystery, I tried to fix it by uninstalling and installing the latest drivers. And it *did* fix it. Until this past Sunday, when it did it again after I started it up one morning.

I don't understand it at all. It's a home built machine. Here's the specs:

OS: Windows XP Pro x64
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Memory: 4GB DDR2 800 PC6400
Video Card: (2x) nVidia GeForce 9600GT in SLI

I have no problems at all other than those. All my games work fantastically, I've never had a video problem.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Hardlin]

Have you tried re-seating your video cards? I've seen cards come a little out of their slot (usually the side away from the backplate) and it cause strange issues. Never hurts to pull them out and re-seat them.

I'm suggesting that because you said the problem started after you took it to a friend's house.

 

[r0bVious]

Good thought. I'll open her up and give that a try.