There is a 12v power supply rail that goes into all Geforce 7 series cards...make sure this is properly connected and functioning..also, what PSU are you using? This is a leading cause in GPU detection errors. Ive had these myself and I just had to replace my PSU. Also recheck and ensure the fittings of all cables that go with the card. The best way to know whether the card is damaged or not is by a shrill high frequency continuous tone that is audible upon turning on the system, check and make sure this is not the case. In other cases, there will be an audible note saying 'System Failed VGA test'. Also, if all else fails, dont forget to contact the card vendor or the manufacturer if you still have the warranty.
Good luck,
Necromage :)