akedm

Hi,

I'm trying to do this today, so specific, prompt replies are great. First off I've heard of "disabling the onboard graphics" but I do not know what that means, so if that's something I should do after reading what follows, tell me how to do it. Thanks.

Ok. It's an older eMachine: model T3406. It has three PCI slots only (No other slots). The FX5200 is the only PCI card I have lying around. I've installed this card into other computers, including other eMachine since I'm trying to figure out what's wrong, but I cannot get it to work in this eMachine computer. On other systems it's pretty much plug and play; not exactly but close enough. But on this computer I cannot figure it out.

Here's what I have and what I see :

My computer (the one I'm typing to you on), when it boots it immediately gives a quick few lines that tell what kind of graphics card is installed, then the computer brand logo comes up and the computer boots. On my computer its a 7600GS graphics card.

I see that same quick thing on this eMachine too and it says FX5200. So this tells me that the eMachine is "prepped" to allow the FX5200 card, but for some reason it doesnt work.

---------

When I boot the eMachine I used to only get video through the onboard video plug-in-thing in the back where the monitor plugs into. I'd try to plug in the monitor to the card (the card has two VGA plug ins - tried them both) and nothing "no signal" on the monitor.

I went to the BIOS and changed something under the video options from "AGP" to "PCI" (the computer does not have an AGP slot) and then I could plug into the card and see the picture. But then the resolution was real low (everything was big) like maybe 640x480. I'm not sure because the screen was not resized to 640x480 but instead acted like I could only see part of the screen (the start menu bar was not on the bottom, the display options gave all resolutions and stated I was currently at 1200-something x 768-I think, etc).

So now I've switched the BIOS back from "PCI" to "AGP" and plug the monitor into the onboard VGA plug-in, and it works like it did before.

-------

There are two things on the add/remove programs list that I have not removed "Intel Pro Network Adapters and Drivers" and "Intel Extreme 2 Drivers". I think these are the onboard drivers (see computer specs). Do I remove them?

-------

Oh and I've also inserted the CD and downloaded the driver the nVidia site said to, and tried to look for some solution. Nothing. The switching the "AGP" to "PCI" in BIOS seems to have gotten the closest, cause it allowed video to pass through the card, but the resolution was all messed up.

How do I install this card? Thanks.

dai

boot from the onboard
in the device manager disable the onboard
if the card is listed uninstall it
turn the computer off
install the card
change the video cable from the onboard to the card
reboot into the bios
check to see if you can disable the onboard in there and set it to detect agp first
save and exit the bios tapping f8 and choose vga mode
when windows finishes booting
disable a/virus
install your drivers for the card
reboot the computer

akedm

thanks for the help. unfortunately I cannot try your instructions as soon as I'd like. the computer took off back to it's owner, but I'll be able to try it before too long, and when I do I'll let you know what happens.

thanks again. :)

akedm

PLEASE CLOSE THIS THREAD...

I've sold the card, so it's a moot point now. Thank you though for your replies.

- Eric