Video card upgrade disaster! Help please! (onboard video etc)

Hello

So I was attempting to add a PCI radeon graphics card to my girlfriend's couple-years-old Emachines T2895. I didn't realize until AFTER I started having problems and looking around the internet that this is not such an easy thing to do.

Anyway, I couldn't get the computer to recognize or boot from the new card. I disabled the onboard video in device manager and that didn't work. Then I found my way into BIOS and turned off the "On-Chip VGA" since I read that was what was required in order to get the computer to "see" the card.

Well, now I have no video at all. The old on-board video is disabled, so that's not working..and it still is NOT using the new card. So now I don't know what to do. Can someone give me some directions to at least get SOME kind of graphics back since I can't really do anything now since nothing will come up on the monitor. Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Thanks

Jon M

 

Try resetting the BIOS. I'm not sure if there is a F key to hit at startup that will do that for you. It may be in the manual if you have that. Otherwise, you could try pulling the battery out for awhile to see if it resets things. If you get it back, this page might offer some help.

Mike

 

Jon:

Nice dilemma - If it ain't broke, fix it and fix it good.

First, a comment then a potential solution. [SIZE= "5"]e[/SIZE] machines, Dells, Gateways, HPs, Compaqs and most branded mass produced machines are fine in their factory configured minimalist state, however, most of these shouldn't be considered as good candidates for even simple upgrades because of their "minimalist" hardware. Sure, there are exceptions but as a general rule - leave well enough alone.

Now, open the case back up and locate the 3 pin CMOS jumper near the battery. It will be jumpered on pins 1&2. Now, disconnect the power cord from her computer to the wall outlet. Remove the PCI video card you are trying to install. Next, disconnect the ATX power header from the motherboard (this will be a 20 pin or 24 pin plug). Now, move that CMOS jumper to pins 2&3, wait 20 seconds and re-jumper it to the original pins 1&2. Reconnect the ATX power header and plug the computer back into a wall outlet. When you start the computer back up, try tapping the Del key continuously. You can also alternate between Del, F2 and F10 but what we are attempting to do is get to the BIOS or Setup. Once you arrive there set everything to default and set the correct date. F10 your way out and see if you can now boot with graphics.

Next steps are optional. Since you want to approach this from a fresh perspective, it is best to do this very early in the morning. This will require an overnight stay with the girlfriend so you can tackle it at first light and are in a most positive frame of mind from the previous evening. Turn off the machine and install the PCI Video card. Restart and go back into the BIOS and disable on board video and look for a setting to enable PCI video. Then save your settings (F10). Now what happens? You will need to install drivers for the card assuming you now have graphics. If no go, I would question the Video card itself. Good Luck.

 

Another true story re-affirming the joy of onboard video!