Video card ID

Well, I messed up again. After formating and installing Win ME on the wifes machine, the display only offers 2 and 16 colors. I went to the device manager/display adapter/, it only says standard pci video controller. I tried to update the driver, but it tells me it's the best driver installed already. how can I find what kind of video card I've got so I can get the correct driver. I tried the Balarc advisor, it says standard pci adaptor too. Any suggestions on how to fix it?

Blu

 

Remove the video card and read the information from the chip.

If on-board video, get the board manual out and read it or find the on-board video chip and read it.

 

Thank you Alex

I'll do that now. I thought about pulling the card, and let windows detect it, but I didn't know if that would work.

 

It will redetect it the same as before.

 

Wonder if AIDA would do the trick?

Daizy

 

I'll try it

I don't think I'm going to have any hair left by the time I fix this thing. LOL

 

Blufx
Let us know how it goes.

 

The only chip ID utilities that really work are the ones released by the chip manufacturer, themselves. Those other utilities, like Belarc, mostly get their information from the system registry, not the chip.

 

I pulled the card and found SIS 6326 on the chip. I installed Aida,but it didn't detect anymore than the standard pci device. It did however suggest I upgrade the bios since it is over two years old. I wish I knew who made the card itself instead of the chips on it. The SIS download site says the upgrade may not help because the card may be customised. I wonder if Walmart has a video card in stock today. lol

 

Forget it. Posted a link and found you had to pay for the drivers. I suspect we can come up with something for free.

 

Hi Blufx

You say you upgraded to ME. What OS were you using prior to the upgrade. Assuming you are using the same video card / monitor before and after, what setting did it run under previously. I have a 6 year old computer running w95, original equipment which I run at "true color" 24 bit. Question is, did you have that capacity in the previous OS or is ME more demanding in it's driver requirements. Also you might want to check to see how ME is listing your "Monitor" and at what "refresh" rate your currently using.

 

Try here . You might also check the puter manufactures site for drivers.

 

Thanks Dennis and Zander

Dennis, yes it did have the capacity in the previous OS and ME just didn't load the driver correctly,I guess. It's running at "high color 16 bit" by default. I got aggravated with it ( with the wife standing over me offering suggestions and questions about something she knows less about than I do......) Since I did a "clean install" from a upgrade disk( it was win 98), I put in the restore disk and reinstalled win 98 everythng else. It loaded the vid drivers. The monitor is listed as unknown although it's a NEC multisync. refresh rates are adaptor default.

Zander, I checked out and saved the driver page you sent. Thanks for taking the time to look it up. I looked at NEC's web page ,but not much help there. I couldn't find anything on that computer or the drivers for it.

But...It's all loaded now and "she's" happy. Now I can rest.


Thanks again all, Blu

 

I have Windows 98 and Windows 2000 drivers here. Send me an e-mail and I'll reply with them as an attachment.