video card incompatibility???

uberclueless · 26th May 2003

I am having major problems regarding a clean format of my computer.

I just bought a geforce4 ti4600 (PNY) and an asus A7V8X-X motherboard recently.

After doing a format...installing drivers and programs, the display on my screen starts going funny...funny as in colors left behind the trail of my mouse as I drag it along the screen...and then eventual restart/crash of my computer.

Then as my computer is restarting...letters displayed on screen are replaced by stars...

example:

geforce ti4600 becomes **for*e *i46**

computer will still load though...through the post and whatnot...

I decide to reformat the HDD...as I am formatting...my Dos prompt looks like this:

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

(all the way vertically down the screen)
the stars (*) are actually little diamonds

on a whim I take out the new video card...and replace it with my geforce4 MX440...

problem solved.

to me it seems like a video card problem...(I know this video card works because it runs fine on my other computer)
I have no idea what is wrong though, could it be that this ti4600 video card is not compatible with the motherboard? I doubt it since the motherboard is brand new as well and it has gotten really good reviews...

any suggestions anyone?

thanks

The O/S I am using is WINXP PRO, I don't know if that will make a difference...as well...should I use the video driver the windows update suggests that I use...or the latest one from NVIDIA.COM?

uberclueless · 26th May 2003

ok I'm thinking it may be a driver issue...maybe I'm installing it too soon?

should I download the winxp servicepack 1 and directX first?
then video driver?

or video driver...then directx...then all the microsoft updates after a CLEAN INSTALL?

Train · 26th May 2003

Download and get everything installed, then I would work on the video.

I use the nvidia drivers and not the antiques that come on the cd.
And if the newst for Nvidia cause problems, nothing new there, http://download.guru3d.com/detonator/ has older versions of the nvidia drivers. And that is where I have been getting them for a couple years.

uberclueless · 26th May 2003

Thank you for your prompt reply Train...

when I get home I will format right away...

should there be a specific order in which I install everything? eg. windows updates (service packs etc...) directx...sound card...network adapter...THEN video card? or just install anything in random order and leave video card until the end?

Train · 27th May 2003

After the install, I go to windows update and get Critical updates first. I watch which ones I get for the OS. The hardware ones I FORGET. All they do is cause problems.

Then when i am satisfied there, then i go into device manager and see which drivers are not installed. I have a few mobo drivers that for some reason, windows will install one time and another it will not. But anyway , now is when I finish installing my drivers. Now with 98, I install the mobo drivers right after the install.

BillyBob · 27th May 2003

After the re-install of Windows do not forget to install any Motherboard drivers that may be required BEFORE installing the new video drivers.

Also are you letting the install use the DEFAULT windows video driver first.

Train

You mention the drivers on the CD. With my machine they are the ONLY ones that work ( properly that is ) with my GeForce4 MX 440.

BillyBob

uberclueless · 28th May 2003

I have pretty much narrowed down the problem.

It lies in the PNY Ge4 Ti4600...

for some reason, the display goes all funny...splotches of yellow on my desktop...then eventual crash.
rebooting is all messed up too, parallel, vertical circles are running down my screen until I hit the windows XP screen (the one with the horizontal bar and 3blocks running from left to right of it)...when that loads...I get a crash again.

I'll pop in my MSI ge4MX 440...everything is fine...I played games...did whatever I normally do on my comp and no problems at all...

I'm using directx 8.1 and the newest detonator drivers.

I am now totally lost...could it be a setting in BIOS that I have to configure?

Train · 28th May 2003

It just might be in bios as you are experiencing things just the opposite of all the rigs I have worked with. But what it could be, i have no idea.

uberclueless · 28th May 2003

I think the video card is shot...even after a format...still having picture issues...

agh...at least I think it's covered in the PNY lifetime warranty

Train · 28th May 2003

Going back over everything, I do believe you reached the right conclusion.