Video card won't install

I am trying to install an Nvidia Geforce FX5500 video card with no positive results. I am running a gateway 7210 server with windows 200 advanced server operating system. I have followed the the procedures I thought to be correct. First, I try to install the drivers from the Nvidia installation disk. I get a message indicating that "The Nvidia setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatable with your current hardware. Setup will now exit ". OK I'll buy that - the video card is not installed in the computer yet. I figured the drivers should be installed so the system would ask about them when it located the new hardware. To continue - So now i install the video card. Upon booting, I get beep codes, 1 long 2 short, indicating a video conflict. No video form the onboard video - No video from the Nvidia card. Now I reset all back to the starting configuration. Next is to disable the current video driver and restart the installation. I get all the same messages, and no video feed, neither from the onboard source, nor from the new card installed. This is supposed to be a straightforward procedure, but it is all but that. I'm sure there is something obvious i am missing - any help will be most appreciated.

 

Hi,

First you will need to get the new card to startup. That has nothing to do with drivers or Windows, the computer has to start without beeps and you should see the Gateway splash screen. If you can see the splash then you can go to F8, the Startup Options menu (where you go to Safe Mode) and choose VGA mode. That will load standard graphics drivers, then you can run the nVidia software/drivers installation. That's the basic plan.

Yes, uninstall any nVidia graphics listing in Add/Remove Programs until you can get the new card working at startup.

Check the specifications for the motherboard and graphics card. The add in graphics will be AGP, but AGP can be 1X, 2X, 4X or 8X. The motherboard may be, say 4X and the card 8X only (not backwards compatible).

You may need to make a setting in the BIOS/Startup settings to disable the onboard graphics before you connect the add-in card.

You can check for any BIOS upgrades at Gateway, but I doubt they will relate to graphics.

You need to get past the beeps and there are not many avenues you can take.

Matt
PS If you can get to VGA mode, uninstall any drivers and software from the onboard graphics before installing the nVidia.