Video card issues...argh...

zero2dash · 07-23-2003, 03:08 AM

Ok, this is something I just *don't* get.

I got a new Radeon9500 card to go in my primary PC, my Athlon system. So I took out my GF2MX 400 to put in my secondary system, a Compaq Presario (which had the factory TNT2 card in it). The whole same time I'm reinstalling Windows on this secondary machine, and I decided to fart around with XP again (don't ask why, I'm just stupid or something). So I put in the card, fresh install XP, and everything's cool. When XP goes to load, after the splash screen with the blue scroll bar...it gets ready to go to the next screen, the login screen, and my monitor goes dead. So I reset a few times, same thing. I figure - ok, XP installed a screwed up driver. I clean installed TWO MORE TIMES just for the sake of trying, and STILL the monitor goes dead (i.e. no signal) at that login screen.

I can boot into Safe Mode and the display pops up and everything, but otherwise...the monitor is dead. So I tried the PC with another monitor (my Dell P1110FP) and *that* monitor goes dead as well - so I know it's the video card. I started having issues with my system resetting for no reason (with the GF2MX card when it was in my primary Athlon PC), which is one reason I bought the Radeon card. I started wondering if the card was going dead...now I'm REALLY wondering if it's dead (or one foot in the grave)...

Does anyone have any idea WTF the problem could be?!? Aargh...

I swear this is the last time I ever use an nVidia card...

LPMiller · 07-23-2003, 06:13 AM

All radeons I've ever used blank out my KDS monitor on boot up. It's some sort of refresh rate problem that shuts them down. I have, however, been able to get them back on by killing the power, or unpluging the monitor from the card while it's on.

Dunno, but this might be similar to what is happening to you.

Other wise, uninstall the drivers in safe mode, and load up the most recent 3.6 drivers.

bbrian · 07-23-2003, 11:34 AM

It really sounds like your power supply doesn't have enough umph to power the card. That could explain the reset with the geforce.

zero2dash · 07-23-2003, 09:47 PM

(Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the Radeon card...)

I'm having problems with the GeForce 2MX 400 card, not the Radeon.

ceeka · 07-23-2003, 11:38 PM

Go into the bios and make sure fast write is turned off. bbrian may be right about the PS since compaqs usually have very small ones.

gdllv · 07-27-2003, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bbrian
It really sounds like your power supply doesn't have enough umph to power the card. That could explain the reset with the geforce.

I would have to agree with bbrain... When I replaced my old video card with a gefroce4 Ti4600, Windows XP would always crash within 5 minutes of using the comp and it will display the blue screen of death with some kind of hardware error. First I reinstalled windos XP but that didn't work. Then I thought the card was defective so I returned it and got a replacement. My problem didn't go away... I think my power supply was going bad. So I decided to get a brand new 400w power supply and my problem went away.

zero2dash · 07-28-2003, 03:01 AM

Well, for some reason (?) it works ok now. I tried reseating the card a few times, and cleaning the hell out of the case and the AGP slot, plus the contacts on the card, etc. I tried reinstalling XP a few times over the last few days only to have it completely freeze while installing the devices (meaning I knew the card was the culprit). So I tried the whole cleaning/reseating thing, and it works ok now.

Still chuggin' along on the same 300w power supply too...

(don't know if the custom built Compaqs have a beefier PS than standard shelf models, but my Compaq is one of the Best Buy custom-model jobs, etc.)

07-23-2003, 03:08 AM	#1
zero2dash Commander Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fenton, MO - but I wish I was at the beach. ANY beach. Posts: 1,367	Video card issues...argh... Ok, this is something I just don't get. I got a new Radeon9500 card to go in my primary PC, my Athlon system. So I took out my GF2MX 400 to put in my secondary system, a Compaq Presario (which had the factory TNT2 card in it). The whole same time I'm reinstalling Windows on this secondary machine, and I decided to fart around with XP again (don't ask why, I'm just stupid or something). So I put in the card, fresh install XP, and everything's cool. When XP goes to load, after the splash screen with the blue scroll bar...it gets ready to go to the next screen, the login screen, and my monitor goes dead. So I reset a few times, same thing. I figure - ok, XP installed a screwed up driver. I clean installed TWO MORE TIMES just for the sake of trying, and STILL the monitor goes dead (i.e. no signal) at that login screen. I can boot into Safe Mode and the display pops up and everything, but otherwise...the monitor is dead. So I tried the PC with another monitor (my Dell P1110FP) and that monitor goes dead as well - so I know it's the video card. I started having issues with my system resetting for no reason (with the GF2MX card when it was in my primary Athlon PC), which is one reason I bought the Radeon card. I started wondering if the card was going dead...now I'm REALLY wondering if it's dead (or one foot in the grave)... Does anyone have any idea WTF the problem could be?!? Aargh... I swear this is the last time I ever use an nVidia card...

07-23-2003, 06:13 AM	#2
LPMiller Chief News Editor & Master of His Domain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,161	All radeons I've ever used blank out my KDS monitor on boot up. It's some sort of refresh rate problem that shuts them down. I have, however, been able to get them back on by killing the power, or unpluging the monitor from the card while it's on. Dunno, but this might be similar to what is happening to you. Other wise, uninstall the drivers in safe mode, and load up the most recent 3.6 drivers. __________________ lpmiller Chief News Editor Nobel Prize Nominee Reverend in the Universal Life Church Once Shot A Man For Snoring Too Loud Way Too Lazy To Change His Signature "The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference." - Calvin and Hobbes

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-23-2003, 11:34 AM	#3
bbrian Lieutenant Commander Join Date: May 2000 Location: La-La Land Posts: 676	It really sounds like your power supply doesn't have enough umph to power the card. That could explain the reset with the geforce.

07-23-2003, 09:47 PM	#4
zero2dash Commander Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fenton, MO - but I wish I was at the beach. ANY beach. Posts: 1,367	(Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the Radeon card...) I'm having problems with the GeForce 2MX 400 card, not the Radeon.

07-23-2003, 11:38 PM	#5
ceeka Lieutenant Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: SoCal Posts: 348	Go into the bios and make sure fast write is turned off. bbrian may be right about the PS since compaqs usually have very small ones.

07-28-2003, 03:01 AM	#7
zero2dash Commander Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fenton, MO - but I wish I was at the beach. ANY beach. Posts: 1,367	Well, for some reason (?) it works ok now. I tried reseating the card a few times, and cleaning the hell out of the case and the AGP slot, plus the contacts on the card, etc. I tried reinstalling XP a few times over the last few days only to have it completely freeze while installing the devices (meaning I knew the card was the culprit). So I tried the whole cleaning/reseating thing, and it works ok now. Still chuggin' along on the same 300w power supply too... (don't know if the custom built Compaqs have a beefier PS than standard shelf models, but my Compaq is one of the Best Buy custom-model jobs, etc.)

User Name
Password
Remember Me?