[danfredw]

Hi,
I've recently been having trouble with my graphics cards. XP SP2 will begin to boot up but once the login screen should appear, the screen goes black. If I start up in VGA mode, I have no problems. I've tried both an ATI 9800Pro and an nvidia 6800, and for both of them, when I install the graphics card and reboot, I have trouble. I know its not the monitor, I also have just upgraded to a new motherboard and have the same problem. The only thing I've recently done is upgrade to SP2 on XP.

I have an:
Athlon XP 3000+
1 GB PC3200 RAM
NVIDIA 128 MB 6800
my new mobo is an MSI K7N2 Delta 2

I cannot figure out what is causing the screen blackout problems. Hopefully someone can help.

 

[Uranium-235]

Do you have the power connector from your power supply connected to the video card?

 

[danfredw]

Yes, its definitely connected.

 

[danfredw]

Its an xfx card and I've been looking on their website's forums about the problem. Alot of people agreed that the power is an issue, but I definitely get loud beeping when I disconnect it so I know its connected. Another thing they were saying was that it could be the power supply. I have a Antec Tru430W power supply rated for 20A max, altho their website says 26A. Is it possible that the graphics card needs more Amps? I read this on the forum.

 

[Uranium-235]

26 is the suggested. That is, probably about the maximum power draw from the PSU when the card is being stressed out from gaming. If it's just sitting there during boot and the problem happens, It's drawing less then 26A. Maybe even less then 20.

Is it on it's own line from the power supply? or is it connected to a line that is also connected to something else. I don't know about ATI cards, but NVidia really suggests you have the power connected to it's own line on thier 6200 and up.

 

[danfredw]

Yeah, I put it on its own line, and the current one I am using is the NVIDIA card. I think it might be my power supply going, I've had it for 4 years so its beyond warranty. However, the motherboard manager tells me that its still producing the 12V that I want. I am gonna try to switch it up with a friends power supply, but is there an easier way to test if the power supply is bad?

 

[danfredw]

Switched up the powersupply, and its not the problem. I recently went from an AMD XP 2200+ to an AMD Athlon XP Barton 3000+. The mobo is an MSI K7N2 Delta 2. Is there any chance this is the problem?
I have tried everything else I can think of. Only other thing is I recently put on XP SP2 from SP1.

 

[Ericwaycotx]

Dan did you run your motherboards setup CD? Make sure you have the correct drivers installed. Your videocard is working, but there is a software issue keeping it from working in windows.

- Eric

 

[dai]

start up in safe mode and go to the device manager and check if there is any yellow alongside the video card entry indicating a problem with the driver install