Graphics cards problem

Cirruz · 09-03-2006, 10:52 AM

My brother was playing on my friends machine (has 2 graphics cards, but only 1 in use, geforce 5500 originally), and decided to set the other card (geforce 6600) as the default card. Then he turned off the computer and connected the 6600. When he started it again the screen stayed black. So he kept switching cards both with the computer on and off. Sometimes the screen was black and sometimes it was working, but the computer was very slow and it took ages to log in and the desktop would show only the background. But he said both cards worked occasionally.

Then I came for a visit and they asked me to help them with it. I couldn't figure it out. Safe mode doesn't seem to work either. The computer seems to work on the 5500 and that's the card we want back to default. So we tried to take out the 6600 physically from the box, but still with the 5500 connected the computer is very slow. The problem is that we can't open any folders or run any files, so we can't open up properties to switch the 5500 to default, but we thought that when we took out the 6600, the 5500 should be automatically set to default.

What to do?

**jnob** · 09-03-2006, 01:54 PM

I would start by putting just one of either video card in, boot into safe mode and remove all drivers. The 5500 and 6600 can run from the same driver but need seperate installs. It sounds like the two cards are trying to use the same drivers and when they were both in the machine at the same time it was probably really confusing. So remove all drivers in Safe-mode you should be able to add/remove programs, NVidia drivers. Then reboot into normal mode and install the latest drivers. If the system is still extremely slow then start investigating other issues such as temps, voltage, etc. Post back with updates and if you need more help.

**pharoah** · 09-03-2006, 02:49 PM

in your post you said he switched the card with the computer both on and off. big mistake might have a bigger problem now than ya think. be sure to inform him never never never swap hardware with a computer turned on,unless ya know for sure its something hot swappable

**Cellus** · 09-03-2006, 03:10 PM

I sincerely hope your statement with switching the card with the machine both on and off was a goof and not actual fact. pharoah is right in that hot swapping a non hot-swappable FRU is a very bad thing to do.

Doing so can cause permanent damage to machine components as well as possibly electrocute the user. There is enough power coming out of the PSU to cause serious injury or death.

**jnob** · 09-03-2006, 03:14 PM

I took the swapping while the computer was on to mean swapping the vga cable from one installed video card to another that was already installed otherwise as stated the computer would probably be completely dead.

kolotriha · 09-15-2006, 01:35 AM

I agree with jnob,depending on your which mother board you have some M/B's dont like to have 2 different types of GPU's they should be of the same make and model.Try physically removing one of them so as to have only 1 card on your M/B and if it dont work swap with the other.( turn off computer first before disconnecting your cards)
Let us know how you go.

09-03-2006, 10:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cirruz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1 OS: XP	Graphics cards problem My brother was playing on my friends machine (has 2 graphics cards, but only 1 in use, geforce 5500 originally), and decided to set the other card (geforce 6600) as the default card. Then he turned off the computer and connected the 6600. When he started it again the screen stayed black. So he kept switching cards both with the computer on and off. Sometimes the screen was black and sometimes it was working, but the computer was very slow and it took ages to log in and the desktop would show only the background. But he said both cards worked occasionally. Then I came for a visit and they asked me to help them with it. I couldn't figure it out. Safe mode doesn't seem to work either. The computer seems to work on the 5500 and that's the card we want back to default. So we tried to take out the 6600 physically from the box, but still with the 5500 connected the computer is very slow. The problem is that we can't open any folders or run any files, so we can't open up properties to switch the 5500 to default, but we thought that when we took out the 6600, the 5500 should be automatically set to default. What to do?

09-03-2006, 01:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
jnob TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Valley Posts: 692 OS: XP Pro, SP2 My System	I would start by putting just one of either video card in, boot into safe mode and remove all drivers. The 5500 and 6600 can run from the same driver but need seperate installs. It sounds like the two cards are trying to use the same drivers and when they were both in the machine at the same time it was probably really confusing. So remove all drivers in Safe-mode you should be able to add/remove programs, NVidia drivers. Then reboot into normal mode and install the latest drivers. If the system is still extremely slow then start investigating other issues such as temps, voltage, etc. Post back with updates and if you need more help. __________________ Everest Memtest86

09-03-2006, 02:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
pharoah TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,188 OS: vista business edition My System	in your post you said he switched the card with the computer both on and off. big mistake might have a bigger problem now than ya think. be sure to inform him never never never swap hardware with a computer turned on,unless ya know for sure its something hot swappable __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015

09-03-2006, 03:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
jnob TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Valley Posts: 692 OS: XP Pro, SP2 My System	I took the swapping while the computer was on to mean swapping the vga cable from one installed video card to another that was already installed otherwise as stated the computer would probably be completely dead. __________________ Everest Memtest86

09-15-2006, 01:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
kolotriha Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney,Australia Posts: 23 OS: XP PRO SP3 and Vista Ultimate SP1	I agree with jnob,depending on your which mother board you have some M/B's dont like to have 2 different types of GPU's they should be of the same make and model.Try physically removing one of them so as to have only 1 card on your M/B and if it dont work swap with the other.( turn off computer first before disconnecting your cards) Let us know how you go. Last edited by kolotriha; 09-15-2006 at 01:41 AM.

09-03-2006, 03:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	I sincerely hope your statement with switching the card with the machine both on and off was a goof and not actual fact. pharoah is right in that hot swapping a non hot-swappable FRU is a very bad thing to do. Doing so can cause permanent damage to machine components as well as possibly electrocute the user. There is enough power coming out of the PSU to cause serious injury or death.