starter replaced now no cluster lights come on.

Replaced starter now dash cluster will not come on when key is turned to
no.
Battery good. yes neg. was disconnected during work.
Cluster did work before i pushed car into the garage.
If i remove the fuse for the cluster and replace all the cluster lights come
on, but as soon as key goes in lights go off, except for the theft light. That
has been slowly blinking as it should I believe.
When I turn the key on after reconnecting the battery I can hear what i
assume is the puter going thru startup steps.
Can you help with this mystery?