Replacing and AGP card

I need to replace the AGP card in my system. What is the correct way to do this task.

I have visions of XP not being happy about finding the new card since it will differ from what it sees in the HAL

Ray

 

Ray,
First uninstall any Video card software pertaining to the card (if any installed), check this in the Programs menu and Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. Secondly go to Add/Remove Hardware also in the Control Panel and unistall your Video card which should? be mentioned. Shutdown the PC and unscrew the case. I would leave the power connected (but with the PC shutdown) as this provides an earth to ground in case of any static electricity. Briefly earth one of your hands on any metal (unpainted) part of the case to discharge any static you may have picked up (from some carpet etc). unscrew the Monitor cable and remove from the card, unscrew the retaining ***** and grab the card by the bracket and the other end and gently but firmly wriggle the card out of the AGP slot. Insert the new card in reverse placing one end of the edge connector on a SLIGHT angle and wiggle in till it's firmly in place, some card will make an audible click when they are properly home. You will need a reasonable amount of pressure to achieve this but don't go silly and crack the Mother board that the AGP socket is soldered too. (sorry if this is too basic!).

Reboot the PC, let it detect the new card. XP will probably load a generic driver for the new card. Run the new cards software/driver that is probably on a CD. I'd suggest downloading the LATEST XP drivers for the card from the manufacturers Web site and running the software set-up in the download folder. (delete or archive this file after the installation)
That's it, probably another reboot after the driver install.
I suggest setting the colour setting for the card at 32 Bit, refresh rate at 85Hz and the screen size to at least 1024 X 768 or higher depending on your monitor size and if it supports these settings.

 

Woops!
Sorry Ray I just noticed your experience level. Sorry about the basic board jockey instructions. But the software tips may help?

 

Rayz - the HAL (hardware abstraction layer) isn't concerned with most hardware components. It serves mainly to hide the specific platform from NT so the remainder of the OS kernel can be pretty standard and still function on a variety of platforms.

HAL will mainly take note of -
ACPI vs. Standard power management
Multi vs. Uni processor board
On a multi-processor board, how many CPUs are installed

and install the proper HAL version at OS install time based on the hardware it detects or (if you are really brave and a little foolish) on the version you specify. But once done, it's difficult to change without an OS reinstall. ACPI/Standard pretty much can't be changed and Multi vs. Uni processor can but you have to work at it.

Granted, some things like the design of the plug & play tree are very different based on the HAL version but that is a matter of how the information is stored. And you can certainly change the various plug & play devices you have installed.

A good tech summary of the whole thing (but long) is Here if you are interested.

 

Nice Response!

I have become somewhat gun shy because of another machine that I have with HAL problems as a result of XP detecting the M-board as a Standard PC when in fact it is an ACPI. I am sure that you know what happens when I reboot.
I have yet to find a solution other than not turning it off.

Tonight I un Installed the driver on the old AGP card and then shut down. When I restarted XP/PNP did it's thing without problems.

Thanks!

Ray

 

The only real fix for the mis-identified mobo is a reinstall. You can force it to see ACPI by pressing F5 when it says press F6 if you need ..... but that isn't recommended.

My guess is the system has a BIOS update available and with that flashed in, an XP reinstall would properly identify the board.

But even now if you set in BIOS to not use ACPI and have a HAL that sees a standard PC, you should be OK since the two will then match. But if the BIOS thinks it should use ACPI and XP doesn't, you will have problems.