[Ham-Computers] RE: Installed new video board, now problems

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Some suggestions, Dave...

As with all VIA chipset motherboards, make sure you're using the lastest
Hyperion 4-n-1 chipset drivers (or whatever they're calling them these
days) as some VIA chipsets have timing issues (especially with video).
Download the drivers directly from VIA at http://www.viatech.com.

Although this sounds strange, try reducing your RAM to one memory stick
(any size).  This might point out memory management/allocation problems
- could be hardware or software based.

Check the BIOS setting for "AGP Aperature Size" and set it to 128MB (or
the size of your Video RAM, whichever is larger).

Make sure that all previous video card drivers are uninstalled.  Boot
with your old video card.  Then use the "Add/Remove Programs" Control
Panel to remove all Video related drivers/utilities.  Then verify that
all video adapters are removed from the Device Manager.  You'll need to
enable a "tweak" to show all hidden/non-present devices to make sure all
of them are gone.  To do this, do the following (BTW, this also works in
WinXP)...

  * Right-click "My Computer" --> Properties --> Advanced -->
Environment Variables
  * Under "System Variables", click on "New"
    * Variable Name: "devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices"
    * Variable Value: "1"
  * Click "OK" three times to close the System Properties box

Now, in the Device Manager, click on "View" --> "Show Hidden Devices".
This will now show you *ALL* of the devices that have ever been
"registered" including non-attached devices.  Go through the "Display
Adapters" and make sure everything is uninstalled.  Then Shutdown.  Now
install the new ATI card and boot into Windows.  Skip the driver
installation for now and Windows should use the generic VGA drivers.  If
everything works with the generic driver (albet slow), then go ahead and
install the ATI video drivers - make sure the VIA chipset drivers are
updated first!  If things still don't work with the generic driver, then
there's probably a hardware compatibility problem between the
motherboard and the new video card - try an Nvidia based card.

BTW, if you're a bit more daring, you can do additional clean-up while
in the Device Manager with the "tweak" enabled.  Most of the "ghosted"
or "gray" devices are currently not installed and can be safely removed.
However, *don't* touch anything in "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" or
"System Devices" unless you know what you're doing.  Removing ghosted
items from the other sections should be fine as Windows will redetect
and re-install the device the next time it's attached.

Good luck and let me know if you need more details!


  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O (ex-KD6DAE)
    {nn6o}@arrl.net
    {aaron.hsu}@nbcuni.com
    No-QRO Int'l #1,000,006
    . -..- - .-. .-   ".... . .- ...- -.--"
 



-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 9:46 AM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Installed new video board, now problems


I am running Win2000 on a 1.8 gh Sytax K7SV266AD mb with 785,904 kb of
memory.  With VIA chipset .It has worked great for a year.  Installed  a
new Radeon 9550 (ATI)  AGP video board  and have had nothing but
problems since.  When installed it worked fine, but turning off the
system and back on the next day all I get is a black screen and the
monitor is in sleep mode.  The HD makes it's normal noise and then HD
led stays on. (replaced HD same problem) If I reboot about three times
in a row the monitor comes on.  Called  ATI and they recommended new
drivers and BIOS update. So did this and still have same problem with
monitor not coming on after a cold reboot.  It does come back after a
warm reboot.

I have searched the Internet for this problem and came across it many
times but never any solutions.  I have AGP enabled in BIOS. Is there
something else I am missing in BIOS?

Or maybe a different monitor, it's a Compaq V710.

If I install the old diamond PC video board back in everthing works
normal. Dave, K3ASI

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