>1.  Does anyone know if there is a way to run the computer without a 
>video card?

Sure, first try to disable the video card  in the BIOS, there is 
often a setting for this.

>I guess the same question will occur for the keyboard,

Just remove the startup check in the BIOS, so it  POSTs 
without  checking for anything.

>2.  If the monitor is unplugged and the screen saver is on, set to 
>black, does the video card use much power?

no, not an old AGP or PCI card with less then 16 megs of RAM. Your 
watt meter will let you know exactly how much, but I bet it is insignificant.

However, I would install an old video card, and use a USB keyboard 
and mouse.  You can unplug the monitor, mouse and keyboard once you 
are up and running.... and then plug them back in without a reboot if 
you need them. If, or should I write when, you have a problem, it 
will be really nice to have some kind of video, mouse and keyboard support.

Mark Rode
The Nospin Group 

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