OMG pc problem!

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Looks like the lights are on (your computer) but the graphics card doesn’t appear to be home!

It appears you have an SIS 661FX Chipset which has only 2x 2.2 PCI (white slots) and 1 AGP 4x/8x (brown slot). I’ll assume you’re GeForce is fairly recent and is connected to the AGP (Brown Slot) and not one of the white PCI slots. Your motherboard should also have an onboard SIS 661FX Graphics Chip using shared system memory. Most motherboards automatically disable the onboard graphics when an AGP card is installed although sometimes this does not happen.

While you’re inside your machine you should also do the obvious, ensure the power is off and disconnected from the receptacle. Ensure you have yourself properly grounded or use a grounding strap if available and double check that the GeForce card is properly seated in the slot, check for a 4 pin molex power connection on the card. Some GeForce cards require additional power from the PSU to operate properly.

To rule out the possibility that your onboard graphics is still operational.. Switch off your computer and check the rear of the machine.. disconnect your monitor cable from the tower and look at where it came from!. Just below where you would plug in your keyboard and mouse should be a vertical monitor connection identical to the one on your graphics card that is the onboard graphics adapter. Your GeForce graphics card should be lower down your machine located on the first or second plate and in a horizontal position. Try plugging your monitor into each of the monitor adapters when the machine is operational.. if I’m correct then you should be back in action, if I’m wrong then nothing is lost and you’ve ruled out one possibility.

If I’ve identified your motherboard correctly you could always use the onboard SIS chip to power your graphics or is the GeForce card needed for 3D animation/Games?

Good Luck!

Yeah, I'm a gamer So I need that video card working. I'll try all of the above but I've already double checked to see if the darn thing is seated properly. (The monitor was hooked up to the external video card btw)

What happened is this: we bought a new LCD monitor and tried hooking it up, it wouldn't work right away so hubby ended up using the switch in the back & reset button to power it on and off. I think that's what the problem is He owes me a new video card, that's what

It was fully operational before this so I don't think the onboard graphics adapter is the problem.

I don't know though, you definitely sound like more of an expert

Thanks a bunch, btw! Appreciate that you took the time to reply

[aidan80 9]

If your graphics card was fried or at least not operational (on most modern machines) the BIOS will signal that something is wrong with that particular subsystem by making a series of beeps. Normally when there is a problem with the graphics subsystem a series of 1 long followed by 2 short beeps should be heard from the systems internal speaker. The exact order and length of beeps is dependant on what particular BIOS is in use and the internal configuration of the system. If your not hearing beeps then.. there’s a decent chance your card is fine. Have you tried your card on another machine?

I believe the problem may simply be that the machine is booting using the onboard graphics chip and not the GeForce card. It could just be a simple case of the CMOS chip has through, improper shutdown pressing the reset button! lost all saved information the BIOS uses when starting up and is now running under default settings. In this case that would mean the machine should start from the onboard graphics chip and not the GeForce card.

Check that your BIOS is set to run from your AGP card and that onboard graphics is set to disabled or start from AGP Card.. Disconnect all switches connected to your graphics card and connect your tower directly to your monitor then switch it on see what happens.

I was once (before moving and becoming unemployed) an ICT Technician and part time gamer on occasion! If you need to ID your GeForce card look for it’s FCC code and do a database search..

Good Luck!

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

If your graphics card was fried or at least not operational (on most modern machines) the BIOS will signal that something is wrong with that particular subsystem by making a series of beeps. Normally when there is a problem with the graphics subsystem a series of 1 long followed by 2 short beeps should be heard from the systems internal speaker. The exact order and length of beeps is dependant on what particular BIOS is in use and the internal configuration of the system. If your not hearing beeps then.. there’s a decent chance your card is fine. Have you tried your card on another machine?

I believe the problem may simply be that the machine is booting using the onboard graphics chip and not the GeForce card. It could just be a simple case of the CMOS chip has through, improper shutdown pressing the reset button! lost all saved information the BIOS uses when starting up and is now running under default settings. In this case that would mean the machine should start from the onboard graphics chip and not the GeForce card.

Check that your BIOS is set to run from your AGP card and that onboard graphics is set to disabled or start from AGP Card.. Disconnect all switches connected to your graphics card and connect your tower directly to your monitor then switch it on see what happens.

I was once (before moving and becoming unemployed) an ICT Technician and part time gamer on occasion! If you need to ID your GeForce card look for it’s FCC code and do a database search..

Good Luck!

OK I think you're right (there is just the regular one beep when booting, no other short or long beeps), but where do I set the BIOS to run from the AGP card and disable the onboard one? I don't like messing with the bios, I'm geekish but not that much

And thanks so so much for the help!!!

[aidan80 9]

A single beep indicates all is well and operating properly (usually)..

Keep pressing the delete key when you turn the computer on, I’m assuming you can see all system messages and or the manufacturer logo until your OS begins booting. After pressing the delete key you should enter the BIOS/CMOS Setup Utility..

I assume you (from your chipset type) are using an Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility which by default should have a blue background with yellow text split into two lines side by side. As I’m sure you know your mouse is not supported within the BIOS and the arrow/directional keys on your keyboard should be used for navigation with the enter/return key used for selection.

Navigate to:

“Integrated Peripherals” then to “Display Card Priority” and change the value to “AGP Slot” assuming it’s being displayed as “PCI Slot/On Board”

Press the ESC (Escape) Key to exit the menu and navigate to “Save & Exit Setup” save you changes and exit, ensure your monitor is connected directly to your GeForce card when the computer starts and with some luck you should be back to normal.

Bear in mind I’m running from memory and it’s been a few months since I’ve done much in the way of repairs.. you may have to search around a little to locate the correct menu and or setting, not all BIOS’ are made the same.. don’t be afraid to look around within the BIOS CMOS Setup Utility just be very careful of what you change.

Good Luck!

[rclouse 0]

I had a problem like that with Windoze once before. Everything was OK until I loaded the drivers for my Viewsonic monitor (yes, for the monitor, not the video card). Something happened to the timings when it tried to go into 1600X1200, the highest res for the monitor and the monitor would shut itself off. I tried "safe mode" as well but I couldn't remove the offending drivers. I had to reinstall Windoze and I didn't bother with the Viewsonic disc. No problems since.

/YA reason I run Linux

Edited May 10, 2006 by rclouse

[aidan80 9]

I thought exactly the same thing, maybe the timings are off between the video subsystem and the monitor.. maybe the video has been set too high a resolution and or refresh which knocked the monitor out of range.. but then it was stated that:

“I've tried 3 different monitors and the same thing happens.” And “I've tried booting in safe mode, it's a no go. It goes right up until the Win XP loading screen and then the monitor turns itself off.”

That essentially excludes the monitor. It tells me it’s very possibly just a simple case of the onboard video being active when it’s not supposed to be. After all in safe mode only the most basic drivers are loaded and refresh is defaulted to 60hz @ 800x600 (if supported) or even 640x480.. which would exclude it now being a driver issue and more than likely a hardware issue unrelated to the OS.

I understand exactly what you mean when it comes to certain drivers being overly difficult or remove using Add Remove or even removing them manually. You may have been able to correct your problem by resetting your display resolution to a lower level and or adjusting your refresh rate to default while in Safe Mode it has worked many times for me.

You are correct, life does get easier to a point in Linux but so many gaming benefits to be had with Microsoft right now..

[rclouse 0]

You are correct, life does get easier to a point in Linux but so many gaming benefits to be had with Microsoft right now..

Yeah, there are tons more games, but unfortuntaely I don't have time for them. I've got Civ IV and I've hardly played it. UT2K4 has a Linux version and it works great, I've actually gotten good at it and I don't need to reboot to play.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

I thought exactly the same thing, maybe the timings are off between the video subsystem and the monitor.. maybe the video has been set too high a resolution and or refresh which knocked the monitor out of range.. but then it was stated that:

“I've tried 3 different monitors and the same thing happens.” And “I've tried booting in safe mode, it's a no go. It goes right up until the Win XP loading screen and then the monitor turns itself off.”

That essentially excludes the monitor. It tells me it’s very possibly just a simple case of the onboard video being active when it’s not supposed to be. After all in safe mode only the most basic drivers are loaded and refresh is defaulted to 60hz @ 800x600 (if supported) or even 640x480.. which would exclude it now being a driver issue and more than likely a hardware issue unrelated to the OS.

I understand exactly what you mean when it comes to certain drivers being overly difficult or remove using Add Remove or even removing them manually. You may have been able to correct your problem by resetting your display resolution to a lower level and or adjusting your refresh rate to default while in Safe Mode it has worked many times for me.

You are correct, life does get easier to a point in Linux but so many gaming benefits to be had with Microsoft right now..

Just wanted to say Thank you again for all the help and the elaborate instructions.

I ended up buying a new video card and everything's fine now.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I thought exactly the same thing, maybe the timings are off between the video subsystem and the monitor.. maybe the video has been set too high a resolution and or refresh which knocked the monitor out of range.. but then it was stated that:

“I've tried 3 different monitors and the same thing happens.” And “I've tried booting in safe mode, it's a no go. It goes right up until the Win XP loading screen and then the monitor turns itself off.”

That essentially excludes the monitor. It tells me it’s very possibly just a simple case of the onboard video being active when it’s not supposed to be. After all in safe mode only the most basic drivers are loaded and refresh is defaulted to 60hz @ 800x600 (if supported) or even 640x480.. which would exclude it now being a driver issue and more than likely a hardware issue unrelated to the OS.

I understand exactly what you mean when it comes to certain drivers being overly difficult or remove using Add Remove or even removing them manually. You may have been able to correct your problem by resetting your display resolution to a lower level and or adjusting your refresh rate to default while in Safe Mode it has worked many times for me.

You are correct, life does get easier to a point in Linux but so many gaming benefits to be had with Microsoft right now..

Just wanted to say Thank you again for all the help and the elaborate instructions.

I ended up buying a new video card and everything's fine now.

good to hear