Display problems out of the box

Question

I just bought a 24" imac with 2 gigs ram and the 7600 gt card. After finally getting the computer delivered to me, I plug it in and turn it on only to experience a completely black screen. The computer is getting power just fine as I can here the setup assistant doing its thing and the kyboard lets me control the sound, but I can see none of it. Ive reset the ram , even though that shouldn't be necessary. I've also followed all steps listed under the apple support page. Does anyone know what the problem could be, and is their any way of fixing it short of taking it in to the local apple store or sending it in for repairs.

Answer 1

Welcome to Discussions, nixon737!
Did you try a PRAM reset?
To reset the PRAM:
1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following four keys on the keyboard: Command (Apple logo), option, P, and R. You will need to hold these four keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Start up the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination after the startup chord sounds, but before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold all four keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup chord for the second time.
6. Release the keys.
This might reset a couple of preferences which will then need to be reset - Startup Disc, Sound, possibly Energy Saver.
[edit-
Do you hear the startup chord after you power on? If not, return the unit to Apple, as the lack of it is a "big trouble" diagnostic. Between the PRAM reset, the SMC reset, and the Support items you mentioned having already done, there are only 2 other things that should work - and they are able to work due to the ability of the install disc to supplant OS X and control the operation of the computer:
1. running the Apple Hardware Test, which is done by inserting the grey-labeled Install Disc 1 into the optical drive, shut down, power on and holding down the "d" key from after the startup chord until the spinning progress indicator appears beneath the Apple logo; and also
2. booting from the Install Disc 1 by repeating but holding down the "c" key instead of "d" key so that you can access Disk Utility from the "Utilities" pull-down at the top of the second sceen of the OS X Install Process (which can then be quit after using Disk Utility). After accessing Disk Utility, open the "Help" menu for Disk Utility Help.]