:2funny:
Nooo not THAT hardware !! :angel:
I have my brand spanking new gfx card: Radeon X1650Pro (the best I could afford and that had AGP..apparently that's important)
and my two new sticks of RAM, 1 gig each.
I'm carefully reading the instructions for installing my card. If you have any suggestions I'd be glad to follow them.
Also, those who know how to do this stuff, if you'll keep a special eye out on this thread for the rest of the day, I'll post my progress and questions.
I'd really like to not screw this up. You know?
EDIT:
ARGH..I've already screwed up :(
Seems I have a PCI bus, not AGP. Does that matter? Can I use this card??
If you have a PCI-E slot, then no, you can not use an AGP card.
Two completely different interfaces.
At this point PCI-E is far far prefereable, as motherboard manufacturers are phasing out models using AGP slots. Who advised you to purchase an AGP card?
Also, what model computer are you referring to? I can look up its specs on line and then easier advise what needs to go where.
Yeah, my new ATI Radeon 1600 512 mb is a PCI-E. PCI-E Works fine. Plus, I only have so many slots. I'm almost out of them!
... and yeah, what Imeriel said. ;D
Ime I'm in the chat room... and my computer is:
Dell Dimension XPS Gen 2
((service tag number: C4YMW31))
See, I was carefully reading every single word and instruction in the book before doing a thing.
It said to update my motherboard drivers.
So it told me to find out my motherboard driver by going to System, Device Drivers and to find AGP. I found PCI bus.
And freaked.
Guthric and Gwennie tell me to open the tower and look. I should I can get my laptop going here so I can report what I see.
Are you still around Ime?
I am now.
Just got home.
One sec.
Ah, the wonderful world of expansion cards.
About a year and a half ago they started phasing out the old AGP/PCI standard for expansion cards, and phasing in the new PCI-E standard.
On the old standard, you would plug most cards into PCI slots (sound card, modem, cable, wireless, NIC, etc) but there was a special AGP (Advanced Graphic Port) slot JUST for video cards.
Now on the new motherboards we have PCI-E slots for most card uses, and Graphics cards still have a special slot reserved for them, PCI-E x16.
PCI-E doesn't work with PCI and AGP designed video cards won't fit into PCI-E x16 slots.
K. I popped into chat. Here's a quickie though, after scanning through Dell's tech specs.
Your AGP card you just got will do fine.
And you don't have to update your motherboard drivers. Well, its always nice to update drivers when possible, but all you ~really~ need to do is crack open the case and find a slot that is brown and shorter than the rest. Pop your now card into that.
The board you have has two expansion buses. PCI and AGP.
Here's a historical rundown.
Imagine a computer as being a growing girl- child, and the slots you put periphials in as shoes.
Back in the day, all computers used ISA slots (cute little black patent shoes) ... but, the little girl outgrew em and needed to be a bit faster on her feet, once she started playing around outside. So, a new type of shoe was in order, comfy gym shoes (PCI). For the most part, these work just fine for general purpose stuff. But the little girl, she got interested in soccer, and she needed something much faster when she played soccer specifically (graphics cards). So in addition to her standard comfy gym shoes, She acquired a special set of shoes for soccer ... (AGP).
Now the little girl is in high school / college, and is competing for soccer championships and scholarships (bigger and beefier video games) so the special competition shoes needed to get replaced with something even sleeker and faster (PCI-E).
And yes, I just pulled that analogy out of my ass. Crux of it is, all computers have a PCI bus. That's for regular cards like sound cards, network cards, etc that are not already built in to the motherboard. In addition, you can have either a AGP bus or PCI-Express bus for your graphics card. Really shnazzy and up-to-date motherboards converted ~all~ pci slots to pci-e. Many, though, are still the standard PCI, with a speshul slot for graphics.
The specs of your computer state you have a PCI bus and AGP bus. So, just crack that puppy open and put your new shiny card in the AGP slot. ;) If you used the integrated video card, you ~may~ have to tell the BIOS (motherboard brain) to use the AGP card as opposed to the integrated. It may be smart enough to switch over if it senses something there.
okies ... got to run for a bit. will check back later.
ok popped in the new card in the old slot. Put in 2 gig of ram for a total of 3 gig (could do upto 4 gig)
computer makes very sad meep meep sound on start up. I've opened it up twice and checked the seatings of all new hardware and wires. All just fine.
I think the mother board doesn't know to use the new card. Do I have to reinstall the old, update chipset and then try again?
FYI I am moving from radeon to radeon.
/sigh
Leave the new card in. Take out the ram and replace it with the old ram. If you had a card already in the AGP slot, your motherboard already knows to use the AGP instead of the integrated graphics.
You've got a ram mismatch going on sounds like, from the sound of the meep meep.
If the machine boots up with no meep meep, then take out old ram completely and put in new ram only ... do not mix old and new sticks.
Also, make doubly sure that the new ram is 400-MHz DDR SDRAM or what is called PC 3200.
going to take a nap. will check back when I wake up.
If ~none~ of this works, then take out video card and repeat above process again.
First one needs to find out what new hardware ~will~ work. Ram upgrades can often be the trickiest of the lot.
Per Rosemary:
http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
Per ATI:
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=20870
driver info
http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en
net framework something
Mer. I've never installed an ATI card. Nvidia cards plug right in and go. And only time I needed to install the .Net Framework dealies was when I installed DDO.
But if Dell is telling you to install all that, I guess go for it.
No matter what I do or in what order, I get the same error message.
I have no VGA display drivers. I can't 'force' them as explained in the help from Microsoft.
I'll be calling Radeon tomorrow.
/sigh
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/searchresult?c=us&l=en&s=gen
support at dell
http://www.ccleaner.com/
you asked me to post this here for you..
<hugs> good luck.
I'm going to assume a lot occurred between my next to last post and now. Seeing as how a meep-meeping non-booting computer would not say that it has no compatible VGA Display drivers ;)
I'm going to hazard a guess that the computer boots now, but when it does so, it won't permit the installing of the new ATI drivers (I am also assuming you were given a disk when you purchased the new card). It is, I am guessing, saying that it needs to have a VGA controller first.
A VGA controller is, (sorta) the underlying thing that forms a bridge between your OS and the hardware. Kinda like a translator. Many manufacturer built computers have OEM, or Specific - to -Themselves motherboard / OS / driver setups. Why? Because it keeps people paying for support ;)
At any rate, I took the time to Google this morning, and it seemeth that you are not alone in the world, with this XP Home + ATI + VGA Blues thingie. Seems to happen a lot on Gateway / HP / Dell etc. I do remember having somewhat of a similar problem with IDE controllers on Tan's old old computer. After 3 hours of frustration, however, I simply decided to build a new box from scratch. I honestly dislike using Manufacturer OEM parts.
Aaaaanywho. I've not had enough coffee so am rambling.
Here you shall find the Chipset driver, this tells Win XP which INF files to load. This is from Dell, and is for your service tag specifically. You cannot use the Microsoft files. Or generic files. The files MUST be from Dell.
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R58201&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_XPS_G2&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3268&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=1&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=70069
After installing, RESTART your comp, then, try installing your new video card drivers again.
I will say, however, I encourage you, and anyone else having driver / hardware issues like these, systematically, and thoroughly work through each problem that arises, as it arises. Trying a multitude of things all at once can muddy / worsen the problem. If the matter is very ~urgent~ then call the Support line of your Computer Manufacturer.
THank you Ime.
I did install the chipset twice now.
Radeon guy couldn't get it working either.
He said I should return the Vid Card and get a new one :(
He also suggested I update my BIOS and told me how. I'm doing that now.
Pray for me. I'm scared when I do this BIOS thing everything is going to go poof.
This is the page i'm following from Dell:
http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R71943&formatcnt=2&libid=0&fileid=93407
It smells suspiciously like Dell has configured that computer when it was built to not play nicely with anything "not Dell". I hate when manufacturers do that :tickedoff:
Lessee if Dell sells an upgrade for your vid card.
Final update:
I'm returning the gfx card to Newegg. The cost for this card? $199.00
I called Dell to see how much it would cost to order the identical card from them: $165.00.
Heh.
Serves me right. I should have done a better job price checking.
And yes, I'm certain Dell does something screwy with their stuff to make it impossible to buy elsewhere. Yet... when they UNDERSELL the competition, I can't make much of an argument.
So. I'm getting the same gfx card and I learned a whole lot about computers.
And I found out that I have many many friends who are willing to give up an evening of fun or sleep to help me...
and that is probably the very best Valentine's gift I could possibly get.
*tears up a little*
Not sure I deserve such generosity and kindness, but I can say thank you.
Thank you.
THANK YOU to all of you for your immediate, unstinting and patient help.
Thank you.
:BH:
Um, I've had two Dell machines, and I've always updated the hardware bought elsewhere. I'm pretty sure that is not the case. It might have been that way, way back when, but not now.
I bought my latest Radeon video card from Compusa. Took it out of the box, plopped it in the computer, and installed stuff and up it went. I've bought memory elsewhere, plopped it in, and went on with my business. We did find that the memory was causing issues. Something is wonky with the Newegg video card. I don't know, I guess I personally feel better going into the store and picking out my hardware.
Anywho, when you get your new video card, pick the PCI-E since your old card was a PCI anyway. You should be able to use it in the PCI slot. I had no problems with that either. This computer is about 2 years old, Dell 8400, and it's quite happy.
Sometimes you just get bad hardware.
Also, the Flashing is going to be so simple. Updating is always a good thing, and they tell you what the update contains. I updated from A05 to A09 already. Happy computer. It really does help and I find their flashing procedure flawless.
You'll be ok, Lyrima.
Real quick.
TECH HEADS, Can you use PCI-E cards in PCI slots?
Quote from: XO of SAGA on February 14, 2007, 03:46:21 PM
Real quick.
TECH HEADS, Can you use PCI-E cards in PCI slots?
Yes. And no.
While PCI-express
is backwards compatible to regular PCI, the speed of the card will be throttled to that of the slot (bus). To put it into perspective, a single lane (PCI-E 1x) has almost twice the transfer rate of a regular PCI. AGP has up to 8 lanes. (Lanes are what you see commonly referred to as 2x, 4x, 8x). PCI-E is capable of 32, though most motherboards and cards are at 16 right now.
If you don't have a computer that has an AGP slot and only has PCI, then purchasing a PCI-E card for current and later use (after you get a PCI-E board) is fine. Or, if you plan to replace the computer
really soon anyway. An AGP
will perform better, however, than a PCI-E in a PCI slot. At least speed wise. If the PCI-E in PCI has far more RAM than the AGP, humanly noticeable differences start to get negligible.
And there are a fair number of OEM computers that folks can upgrade at will. There are certain models, however (more typically those "on special") that a given company will configure on a bios level to accept only that company's oem part. And some companies (cough HP cough) that are far worse about it than others. Dell honestly isn't all that bad about it. My money in Lyr's case is that, or the ATI card is bunk. Of course, I will admit I am highly biased as I don't like (more on a visceral level than anything logical, admittedly) OEM products or ATI. ;)
I've already ordered the AGP card. It was never a question of getting that. It's what I have now for the old card.
My foot is too big for my AGP slot. Should I upgrade? :ime: :angel:
Despite being really clear there was no way to get the card out to me...Dell has delivered. Again.
Interestingly, this card's box has 'By VisionTek' on it...the same ATI Radeon name, same type..just made by someone else.
Now then. Halagren explained that Radeon will farm this stuff out to be made. And that may be so.
However, who wants to place the bet that this card sings in my machine first time out whereas the other did not?
I asked Halagren if I should put it in today. He asked how my frustration levels were. As I was assessing he and I both realized that he will not be around tonight. Guess what he said?
Put it in, baby! I won't be home..!
Heh.
Guessin he doesn't want to dedicate yet another evening to Lyrima Computer Woes.
The question remains...
Do I want to do this tonight or not?
/hm
I just want to emphasize that no matter when you do it, please read the instructions and follow them before you ask us. Just see how it goes by following the manufacturers instructions. I'm betting it will be ok.
And wow, Dell delivered it the next day! I've had them do that before and all was well. Dell rarely has OEM parts anymore. The parts are easily exchangeable. OEM stuff is pointless in this day and age, and Dell just doesn't do it. You can also get those Visiontek parts at CompUSA and Best Buy.
You and Ime would be so proud of me. I read the instructions and promptly called Dell.
Good thing, too, because I'm suspecting they sent it without the power supply cables I need. /sigh
I'm doomed. I know it.
Waiting on the answer from the Dell guy.
:(
so got the second, new, video card in the computer. Still having the same error message.
What? 2? 3? hours later, still on the phone with the technician and he has remote access to my computer and he cannot fix the problem. So far. He is getting help from someone else.
/sigh
my head and back are killing me.
Head ..well.. who knows. The usual?
Back and leg because of moving this unspeakably heavy tower in and out of its home.
Dean at Dell was very friendly, very sweet and could not fix the problem. He says the computer is working fine, it might be the OS.. so. MS is at fault now.
He said before hanging up that he was going to do some research and call me back tomorrow. And worst case scenario will be to completely reformat my disk.
One one hand, I'm not entirely against that idea. I've gone in and messed with my registry so often, I bet I've done something stupid along the way. Starting clean? with no other games loaded? Has some merit.
OTOH, I'll spend tomorrow night trying to move my pictures and documents to my laptop and flash drive. I've only the one flash drive. I don't know if I can even move all the pictures...there is an enormous amount on there.
The good news is, teh pictures are all on the 'D' drive I have; he'd be reformatting the C drive, where all the programs are, right?
So maybe I wouldn't have to move stuff. Oh.
I just remembered my music files.
*puts head on desktop*
/sigh
This will be too big a problem if I have to clear off my d drive. If it is just my C drive, I can see doing it.
deargodinheaven, what am I doing?
There's an easy way to make sure your D: drive stays intact. Before you do the reformat, open your case and unplug the power connector to the D: drive.
Do all the formatting and junk.. when you're all done, turn off your computer, open it, and plug the D: back into the power cable. Start your system then right click on 'My Computer' and select 'Manage.' After that, you just import the foreign disk with the 'Disk Management' addon, and you're back in business.
This ensures that no matter what happens while reformatting, D: is safe. You can't do anything to a drive that has no power.
thanks Namae :)
I do believe a talented gentleman at Dell figured it out.
He kept referring back to the error message I was getting.
He finally figured out that the gfx card was all wrong for my system as my system needs a gfx card that 'talks' VGA and the X1650 talks in digital.
He found a 512, agp, gfx card that has VGA compatibility for me. Finally. I think this IS the answer.
So. Now, tomorrow, I will be returning two gfx cards and hope Dell will send out another sans the shipping charges.
*grinds teeth*
Waiting for Noa to call me back. Not sure why I was ordering from Dell and not asking our resident super sales lady to help me.
*bonks self*
don't mind me..trying to fix my gfx troubles:
http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=41507
trying the drivers for the Radeon ... AGAIN.
/sigh
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=20870