PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: GillE on May 28, 2006, 14:38
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I removed my graphics card to make way for a new network card in the PCI slot alongside the AGP slot. When I replaced the graphics card, I found there was no picture to the monitor, so I presumed I'd broken the graphics card :( .
I've just tried a new graphics card but there's still no picture. However, I've noticed that when I disconnect the monitor from either graphics card, it flashes a message to say that a cable is disconnected. I don't get this message when the monitor cable is connected to one of the cards.
The motherboard is a MSI 875P MS-6758 (v2.X) ATX.
Clearly, I'm writing this on my backup computer!
Gill
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Its probably a driver issue Gill.
Unfortunately you wont be able to get the screen to be visible to reinstall it :(
Do you get any beeps at all ?
Did you perhaps disturb the RAM when removing/installing the GFX card ?
If everything seems to be in place then try using the clear CMOS jumper and see if that bring the screen back to life.
If that doesnt work then remove the gfx card start the pc and leave it for a few minutes so that it will have loaded what it can of windows then switch off.
Replace the GFX card and see if it detects it and installs it and brings the monitor up.
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Hi Sandra
there were no beeps and the RAM was nowhere near the graphics card so I couldn't have touched it.
If everything seems to be in place then try using the clear CMOS jumper and see if that bring the screen back to life.
What's a clear CMOS jumper? Unfortunately, it's probably a mistake to assume I have even a basic knowledge of computer internals ("So why were you swapping cards around :roll: ?" I hear you sigh).
Gill
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A jumper is a small, usually black, piece of plastic that has a piece of copper or brass in it that will connect or short out 2 pins on the motherboard, hard drive or cd/dvd drive etc.
Its usually but not always, near to the CMOS battery, the round flat shiny battery on the motherboard.
Hopefully it will be printed near the jumper saying CMOS.
It connects 2 of 3 pins together, it will be in the normal run position where it is now, connecting the central and one end pin.
It needs to be taken off and placed so that it connects the central and the opposite end pin. This shorts out the memory in the CMOS chip and resets the bios to its default value.
It only needs to be placed in that position for a second or so then put back to its original position.
If you cant identify the clear CMOS jumper then the same effect can be done by removing the battery for a few minutes, thats a bit hit amd miss though as it may take 10 mins or 30 or even longer, using teh jumper is instant.
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Thanks Sandra - the bear of little brain is with you now :) .
I take it that you should only use the clear CMOS jumper when the computer is switched off, not when it's powered up? That's the impression I get from the motherboard manual.
Gill
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I've used the clear CMOS jumper and rebooted without the graphics card installed. Still no joy :( .
I'm open to further suggestions...
Gill
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Does your motherboard have onboard graphics, separate to the graphics card, Gill? If so, there should be another port to which you can plug in your monitor. Try that, as your BIOS may have reverted to onboard graphics. If you see a picture, you should then be able go into BIOS (press Del as soon as the boot process starts), and reset the graphics to boot from the AGP card.
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Nice idea, Simon, but unfortunately the motherboard doesn't support onboard graphics.
Gill
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I'll get me coat...
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Does the CPU fan and possibly case fan/s carry on running when you switch teh pc on or do they just run for a few seconds and then stop ?
The same with the power and hard drive lights and do the floppy and CD/DVD lights come on as normal, then go out ?
Did you try removing the new network PCI card, just in case that was conflicting somehow ?
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Yes, everything's continuing as per normal (all the fans/lights/drives etc keep working) and I've removed the network card. There's just no picture...
Gill
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Presumably the monitor itself is ok as you said that you get a no signal message when the cable is unplugged :?
have you tried another monitor on that pc, if you have one available ?
Cant think of anything else at the moment Gill, sorry :(
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I thought I'd let you know that I've had a computer engineer look at the machine and he's confirmed that the motherboard is shot :( . No wonder we couldn't get the graphics card working. Thanks for all your help, though.
Gill
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That's bad news, Gill, but thanks for letting us know. Perhaps the replacement will support onboard graphics. ;)
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you can still use the m/b with a pci graphics card :)