Windows 98 Doesn't Load After New VGA Card Installation - ????

caLeBBBTEmp · 11-30-2004, 11:19 PM

Hi,

I have an old DELL computer (around 7-8 years old) that I wanted to improve upon. I recently acquired a computer that was about 1-2 years younger then my DELL and had a GeForce2 MX400 video card. The computer was a gift so I have no idea what the specs on the card are exactly, I just know what it is.

I downloaded the latest Nvidia drivers for the card and then installed the card and booted up the system. Windows detected it and installed the drivers and then asked me to restart the system. I clicked Yes and it rebooted and then after the Windows 98 startup animation screen all I see is a "green" screen with no text, and nothing happens. It basically freezes.

I use the reset button and it gives me a notification after startup that windows never loaded before so they recommended I go into safe mode. So I do and it loads, with the video card but no driver, and then I try to reboot and it does the same thing, I get a green screen and it freezes.

I'm not quite sure if this has anything to do with it but the motherboard in my old PC has an AGP slot with basically 2 slots in it. The original video card had 2 prongs (for lack of a better term) to plug into those 2 slots. However, the new video card has 3 prongs (for lack of a better term), but it still fits the slot. Is it possible that the motherboard is so old it doesn't support the 3 prong video card? Or maybe the video card driver I installed is too new and won't work on such an old system.

If anyone can provide me with help on this I'll appreciate it.

CTSNKY · 12-01-2004, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Or maybe the video card driver I installed is too new and won't work on such an old system.

Without knowing any specifics on your PC, I would say this is more likely the problem here.

caLeBBBTEmp · 12-01-2004, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTSNKY

Without knowing any specifics on your PC, I would say this is more likely the problem here.

The specs are roughly the following:

Pentium III 300MHz CPU
288MB RAM
40GB WD HDD
Sound Card Unknown
*ORIGINAL* Video Card Unknown

No idea what the motherboard is.

CTSNKY · 12-01-2004, 03:29 PM

Of course, we'd need to know the mobo make/model to know for sure, but a P3 3300mhz board most likely will not accept taht card.

Here's a tool that will list your system specs for you:

Belarc Advisor

caLeBBBTEmp · 12-01-2004, 05:56 PM

I just tried to install an older version of the driver and it still didn't work so I don't think the card is compatible with the motherboard.

Just to give you an idea on how old this motherboard is though, the P3 processor doesn't even mount on a square platform with a heatsink/fan on top, it just plugs into a slot the same way you would plug a video card in.

Thanks for the help. I'm gonna have to go back to the original video card.

11-30-2004, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
caLeBBBTEmp Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 33 OS: Windows XP Pro	Windows 98 Doesn't Load After New VGA Card Installation - ???? Hi, I have an old DELL computer (around 7-8 years old) that I wanted to improve upon. I recently acquired a computer that was about 1-2 years younger then my DELL and had a GeForce2 MX400 video card. The computer was a gift so I have no idea what the specs on the card are exactly, I just know what it is. I downloaded the latest Nvidia drivers for the card and then installed the card and booted up the system. Windows detected it and installed the drivers and then asked me to restart the system. I clicked Yes and it rebooted and then after the Windows 98 startup animation screen all I see is a "green" screen with no text, and nothing happens. It basically freezes. I use the reset button and it gives me a notification after startup that windows never loaded before so they recommended I go into safe mode. So I do and it loads, with the video card but no driver, and then I try to reboot and it does the same thing, I get a green screen and it freezes. I'm not quite sure if this has anything to do with it but the motherboard in my old PC has an AGP slot with basically 2 slots in it. The original video card had 2 prongs (for lack of a better term) to plug into those 2 slots. However, the new video card has 3 prongs (for lack of a better term), but it still fits the slot. Is it possible that the motherboard is so old it doesn't support the 3 prong video card? Or maybe the video card driver I installed is too new and won't work on such an old system. If anyone can provide me with help on this I'll appreciate it.

12-01-2004, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
CTSNKY Knower of all that is MS Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 10,755 OS: (multiple machines) 95, 98, 2K & XP Home & Pro	Of course, we'd need to know the mobo make/model to know for sure, but a P3 3300mhz board most likely will not accept taht card. Here's a tool that will list your system specs for you: Belarc Advisor __________________ GO BIG BLUE!!

12-01-2004, 05:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
caLeBBBTEmp Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 33 OS: Windows XP Pro	I just tried to install an older version of the driver and it still didn't work so I don't think the card is compatible with the motherboard. Just to give you an idea on how old this motherboard is though, the P3 processor doesn't even mount on a square platform with a heatsink/fan on top, it just plugs into a slot the same way you would plug a video card in. Thanks for the help. I'm gonna have to go back to the original video card.