Need help installing new video card

[Holesto]

I just bought a HP Pavilion a520n and also an ATI Radeon 9600 SE video card. The computer itself has a video card (nVidia GEForce something..i can find the exact specs if needed) built right into the mobo, and I want to install this new video card in the 8x AGP slot.

I was reading the instructions in the book that came with the video card and it said I needed to install drivers for AGP cards. The processor is an AMD Athlon XP 3200+ and the book has a website for the drivers listed as www.amd.com. Should I go there and download the drivers?

Next prob is the big one. It says "Remove any existing graphics card from your computer. If your computer has an on-board graphics capability, you may need to disable it on the motherboard. For more information, see your computer documentation. That's all well and good, but I looked at the comp documents and it says nothing about disabling the on-board video card. There's instructions about installing an AGP card, but that's it. Says nothing about disabling on-board video card.

My question is, how do I disable it and install this new vid card without damaging anything, and also, is disabling the current gfx card going to cause any of my pre-installed programs to malfunction? (DVD viewers and such.)

If any additional information is needed I will gladly post it.

Thanks everyone!

[Force Flow]

All you need to do is go into the device manager, remove the display drivers, shut down, take out the old card, put in the new one, boot up, and install the ati drivers.

It shouldn't have any effect on your programs.

[Holesto]

I can't take out the old card because it's built into the mobo....is that going to be a problem?

[Force Flow]

Ok, you have an integrated video card, meaning that it is part of the motherboard. You won't be able to phyically remove it. Just remove the drivers, then install your new card in the AGP slot.

[edit]: Your new video card should come with a CD with drivers on it.

[Holesto]

ok, well what if i disable the drivers, and install the gfx card and the new drivers from the cd and it messes up my comp? ie a blank screen or something. what do i do then??

edit: should i install the drivers before i install the new vid card? i need specific instructions because i'm afraid i'm going to mess up my comp..

[Force Flow]

Your O/S will install generic drivers for the video card.

No, don't install the drivers before you install the card.

[Holesto]

Alright. Thanks Force Flow. Not to doubt your knowledge or anything like that, so please don't take offense. Does anyone else have recommendations to installing this vid card? If not then I will definitely go with yours, Force Flow, it seems very simple :) Thanks again.

[Staren]

Ok. First off, relax. I used to have the same fear before I built a system. Once you've done that you realize that these things are not 'quite' as fragile as thay want you to think. If you're a little scared, go to amazon or somewhere and order an anti-static strip. That will take care of any damange you might do by mistake.

A computer can send info to your monitor without the drivers installed. It just won't be totaly sharp. Maybe a little bured or quite sharp, but you can work with it more then well enough to get the new files in and fix this. You uninstall your current display drivers, open your computer, put the new card in the AGP slot (will be the top longest slot. You might have to remove a small backing plate. Once you push the card in and get it lined up in the back of the computer, make sure that ALL of the gold contacts on card are inside the slot. Sometimes it can feel like a card is seated in there good, but it's only half in.), then power up the computer (with the case still open just in case you have to double check) and stick in the CD that came with your card. Follow on-screen instructions.

[Holesto]

Thanks Staren for your reply. Okay, new question, how do I know which driver to uninstall? I'm in the Device Manager and I clicked Display Adapters and there's one thing in there and it says NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU. Is that the one I want to install?

There's another one I was looking at as well. I'm in the Device Manager and I clicked System Devices. There's one in there that says NVIDIA nForce2 AGP Host to PCI Bridge. That one doesn't sound right, but I wanted to double check first.

edit: should I just disable the driver or completely uninstall it? thanks!

[VideoQuasar]

" NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU. Is that the one I want to install?"

YES, that one....your almost there hole......

Now right click that and go to Uninstall and click, then just do what the other fellas said and enjoy.

[glc]

Before you remove or disable anything in device manager, look in add/remove programs for any Nvidia GRAPHICS or VIDEO drivers. Uninstall them, that should be all you have to do.

Inserting the card in the AGP slot will automatically disable the onboard video.

If you are really concerned, just make a XP restore point before you start.

Don't expect wonders - a Radeon 9600SE isn't much better than your onboard graphics.

[Holesto]

i disabled the driver and tried it that way and all that came up when i started up the comp was a blank screen. should i go ahead and completely uninstall the driver and try again?

[VideoQuasar]

you put the card in, seated it firmly and fired it up and nothing?

[glc]

I have to ask a stupid question - did you connect the monitor to the card?

[Holesto]

Yes, I put it in firmly and fired it up and nothing. All I got was a black screen. I disabled the onboard video before I installed the new card. Yes I did plug the monitor into the card and that's when I got a black screen. I then unplugged the monitor from the card and plugged it back into the regular connector and still had a blank screen. I rebooted with the connecter in the original connector and it was fine (after I had removed the card). I'm so confused guys!! Please don't tell me I just wasted $130 on this thing!

[Force Flow]

Try blowing out the AGP slot. Seeing as it hasn't been used before, there probably has been some dust build up.

[Staren]

I think I caught his problem. I 'sounds' like from his post he was trying to unpliug and repliug the monitor into the graphics cards with the power still on. Video is not hot swapable, meaning your system has to be totaly powered down to move the monitor hook up or you will get funky stuff like blank screens.

[Force Flow]

I hot swap all the time and haven't run across that problem.

[glc]

Hot swapping a VGA cable is one of the few things that's safe to hotswap on a computer.

[Holesto]

I did hot swap, but there was a black screen before I hot swapped anyway. (when it was plugged into the card) Any more suggestions on what to do??

[stalker0]

I installed the same card in to my computer about 3 months ago. Very easy to do. I disabled my onboard. Turned off my computer and installed the new card. pluged the computer to the new card. Turn it on and install the new drivers. It was that easy.

[Staren]

Does your new card have a molex connector to draw power right off the power supply? I can't remember if they started that with the 9800 line or if it is on the 9600s as well.

[VideoQuasar]

I took this right off HP's site for his model


Before you begin

Make sure that the new video card is not installed in the computer. If it is, remove it and its drivers per the video card manufacturer's suggestions.


Adding a new video card in Windows XP

Use the following steps to add a new video card on an HP Pavilion computer that has Windows XP:

Click Start and right-click My Computer.

Click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button.

Click View, and then Show Hidden Devices.

Click the Plus (+) sign next to the Display Adapters category to expand it.

Select a graphics controller under Display Adapters and click Disable. Click OK to confirm.

Continue to disable all of the graphics controllers until all are disabled. Do not restart the computer until all controllers are disabled.

Turn the computer off.

Install the new video card and software using the instructions that came with the video card. For help, refer to the HP Support document Taking Apart the Computer for Upgrade or Service .


....Hole, get it back to work with your on board, you may have more to disable under Display adapters. Does anyone agree?

[glc]

You do not have to disable anything just to get a POST display when you turn the computer on. This is way before any drivers kick in, it's just running on the builtin VGA on the card. You have a core hardware issue if the card isn't turning on.

[VideoQuasar]

Geeezzz!!! now i have the same problem as Holesto!!

Got my Asus 5950 card and did all the stuff and procedures above and windows won't boot with the card. It does with my 5600 after I swap back! I have the ugly windows screen now and no display adapter in hardware. What do I do guys, any suggestions...this is to weird. help

[glc]

Quasar, have you tried installing the Nvidia driver package?

[VideoQuasar]

no glc, I'm going to try that!!! Don't go away!!

[VideoQuasar]

well, thats a no go! When I put the Asus in it just fires up, No post.....no beep....and sits there running with no post showing the card like my 5600 does very first thing.

Can I actually have a bad (very expensive) card?

[glc]

Does that card have a separate power connector? If it does, the card won't start without it.

Sure, a bad card is always possible, nobody's quality control is perfect.

[VideoQuasar]

Yes, but I got a ThermalTake PurePower 560w super duper PSU because I needed it. I know the molex is working because I exchanged that around and it powers a fan blower I installed also.

I RMA'ed it at NewEgg because I think I got one DOA. My mobo just dosen't no it's there.

I will end this episode when I get my replacement I hope. Maybe I should install it in a clean room wearing white overalls.
I built this system and I didn't think a video card upgrade was going to be rocket science.