Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help!

Mitchell90 · 08-01-2009, 12:11 PM

Hi there, I am running Windows Vista and unfortunately my knowledge with graphics cards is very limited. After restarting my computer (possibly after a few updates, I am not quite sure) my monitor stopped receiving a signal from my tower to turn on.

In other words, I had a blank, black screen on my monitor with the orange light which wouldn't change even if I moved the mouse or hit any buttons on the keyboard. At first I figured maybe it was my motherboard, as I've had this problem in the past with a different computer. However, after moving some cables around, I realized that it was my eVGA NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS video card that was no longer working. When I plugged the monitor cable to my GeForce 6150 nForce 430 (integrated graphics card) the computer was working fine.

I went to the Device Manager but my NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS is no longer listed under Display Adapters; only my integrated card is listed.

I tried disabling the integrated card and I downloaded the driver for the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS off of NVIDIA's website (which happens to be compatible for the integrated card as well).

After installing the driver and restarting my computer (note that I did not uninstall anything because I was too afraid it would no longer work; I simply disabled) the Device Manager still only showed my integrated card.

I tried doing a system restore, but that failed due to some error which eventually resulted in absolutely no change after the system restore.

I am clueless as to what to do at this point, I have searched endlessly across all forums. I do not know anything about the term BIOS which I see is mentioned frequently but I will start searching these terms now. Thank you in advance for any help that I do receive.

Mitchell90 · 08-01-2009, 04:18 PM

If anyone can at least take a stab at this one, I would be very grateful. If you need any additional information, please let me know.

**vladimirb** · 08-01-2009, 04:32 PM

Hello and Welcome to TSF

Could you provide us with your system specifications please???
Don't forget to put what make/model is your PSU...

Does your graphic card has active or passive cooler???

Clean the contacts on your graphic card with rubber eraser and clean graphic card slot with brush...

Are you able to plug your graphic card on some other PC to check if it is visible there???

Keep us posted...

Mitchell90 · 08-01-2009, 06:18 PM

Thank you for responding,

I have an HP Pavilion a6650f running Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 (64-bit) with 6.00 GB RAM and an AMD Phenom(tm) 9550 Quad-Core Processor 2.20 GHz.

I am using an Antec - EarthWatts 500-Watt ATX CPU Power Supply.

This link has all the specifications for the exact graphics card that I have under the specifications tab: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130082

Edit: I would also like to mention that I am unable to test the video card on another computer, as fitting it into this computer (by a professional) was claimed to be difficult. I do not want to take risks with altering any hardware unless I am 100% sure that there is no other way.

Phædrus2401 · 08-01-2009, 06:24 PM

Installing or uninstalling a graphics card is one of the easiest things you can do with a computer's hardware. You turn off and unplug the computer then lay it on its side and open it up. The graphics card is probably the largest part in the case, it will be a large board with a fan mounted perpendicular to the motherboard. Unplug the card's PCIe power connector (if there is one, it's usually at the end of the card), undo the screw holding it onto the case, then lift it out. Reverse these instructions to install it in another computer.

Mitchell90 · 08-01-2009, 08:04 PM

When I had someone install it for me, they were saying that it might not fit because the graphics card was too big for the space available, and even though they were able to do it eventually, it seemed like a troublesome task--is there no other solution to this problem?

Would it help if I uninstalled all graphics drivers completely and reinstalled the driver off of the website? :/

Is there any software steps that I can take at all?

Phædrus2401 · 08-01-2009, 10:31 PM

That might help. Use DriverSweeper (Google it) to help remove any remnants of the drivers left over after the uninstall.

08-01-2009, 12:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mitchell90 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help! Hi there, I am running Windows Vista and unfortunately my knowledge with graphics cards is very limited. After restarting my computer (possibly after a few updates, I am not quite sure) my monitor stopped receiving a signal from my tower to turn on. In other words, I had a blank, black screen on my monitor with the orange light which wouldn't change even if I moved the mouse or hit any buttons on the keyboard. At first I figured maybe it was my motherboard, as I've had this problem in the past with a different computer. However, after moving some cables around, I realized that it was my eVGA NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS video card that was no longer working. When I plugged the monitor cable to my GeForce 6150 nForce 430 (integrated graphics card) the computer was working fine. I went to the Device Manager but my NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS is no longer listed under Display Adapters; only my integrated card is listed. I tried disabling the integrated card and I downloaded the driver for the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS off of NVIDIA's website (which happens to be compatible for the integrated card as well). After installing the driver and restarting my computer (note that I did not uninstall anything because I was too afraid it would no longer work; I simply disabled) the Device Manager still only showed my integrated card. I tried doing a system restore, but that failed due to some error which eventually resulted in absolutely no change after the system restore. I am clueless as to what to do at this point, I have searched endlessly across all forums. I do not know anything about the term BIOS which I see is mentioned frequently but I will start searching these terms now. Thank you in advance for any help that I do receive. Last edited by Mitchell90; 08-01-2009 at 12:15 PM.

08-01-2009, 04:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mitchell90 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help! If anyone can at least take a stab at this one, I would be very grateful. If you need any additional information, please let me know.

08-01-2009, 04:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,715 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help! Hello and Welcome to TSF Could you provide us with your system specifications please??? Don't forget to put what make/model is your PSU... Does your graphic card has active or passive cooler??? Clean the contacts on your graphic card with rubber eraser and clean graphic card slot with brush... Are you able to plug your graphic card on some other PC to check if it is visible there??? Keep us posted... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

08-01-2009, 06:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mitchell90 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help! Thank you for responding, I have an HP Pavilion a6650f running Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 (64-bit) with 6.00 GB RAM and an AMD Phenom(tm) 9550 Quad-Core Processor 2.20 GHz. I am using an Antec - EarthWatts 500-Watt ATX CPU Power Supply. This link has all the specifications for the exact graphics card that I have under the specifications tab: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130082 Edit: I would also like to mention that I am unable to test the video card on another computer, as fitting it into this computer (by a professional) was claimed to be difficult. I do not want to take risks with altering any hardware unless I am 100% sure that there is no other way. Last edited by Mitchell90; 08-01-2009 at 06:21 PM.

08-01-2009, 06:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,912 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help! Installing or uninstalling a graphics card is one of the easiest things you can do with a computer's hardware. You turn off and unplug the computer then lay it on its side and open it up. The graphics card is probably the largest part in the case, it will be a large board with a fan mounted perpendicular to the motherboard. Unplug the card's PCIe power connector (if there is one, it's usually at the end of the card), undo the screw holding it onto the case, then lift it out. Reverse these instructions to install it in another computer. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-01-2009, 08:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mitchell90 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help! When I had someone install it for me, they were saying that it might not fit because the graphics card was too big for the space available, and even though they were able to do it eventually, it seemed like a troublesome task--is there no other solution to this problem? Would it help if I uninstalled all graphics drivers completely and reinstalled the driver off of the website? :/ Is there any software steps that I can take at all?

08-01-2009, 10:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,912 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Video Card Suddenly Not Recognized - Please Help! That might help. Use DriverSweeper (Google it) to help remove any remnants of the drivers left over after the uninstall. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.