Onboard graphics broken - how to configure new graphics card?

[Klaus.Muensberg]

Hi, the onboard graphics on the PC gave up. There's no signal
whatsoever on the monitor. However, the monitor works fine as other PCs
on that monitor work just fine (with the same cable, btw). So, I
thought about getting a new graphics card and plug it in - but I have
to get into the setup to disable the onboard graphics before the system
will work with the new card - not easy with nothing on the screen.

Any ideas? TIA!

 

[MAP]

Hi, the onboard graphics on the PC gave up. There's no signal
whatsoever on the monitor. However, the monitor works fine as other
PCs on that monitor work just fine (with the same cable, btw). So, I
thought about getting a new graphics card and plug it in - but I have
to get into the setup to disable the onboard graphics before the
system will work with the new card - not easy with nothing on the
screen.

Any ideas? TIA!

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2006-
29,GGLD:en&q=disable+motherboard+video

 

[Klaus.Muensberg]

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2006-

29,GGLD:en&q=disable+motherboard+video

Mike Pawlak

Thanks Mike! However, there's a catch-22: Without a screen it's hard to
fiddle with the BIOS settings and w/out changing them I'll have no
graphics as I got you.... Any further idea?

Thanks!
Klaus

 

[DL]

If your on board graphics have crapped out its quite possible other mobo
problems will/have occured. Buy a new mobo

 

[sdlomi2]

Thanks Mike! However, there's a catch-22: Without a screen it's hard to
fiddle with the BIOS settings and w/out changing them I'll have no
graphics as I got you.... Any further idea?

Thanks!
Klaus

Not sure any benefit, but at this point: Have you tried a simple, cheap
video card, as is? Might just work, at least long enough for bios changes.
Don't forget you may try even an old pci vc in the closet! HTH, s

 

[Klaus.Muensberg]

Thanks all! I'll give it a try.
Cheers,
Klaus

 

[Dave B.]

Do you know for a fact that it's just the onboard vga that's the problem or
are you just guessing because you have no video?

 

[Anna]

Do you know for a fact that it's just the onboard vga that's the problem
or are you just guessing because you have no video?

Klaus:
Dave raises a valid point in that it may not be the onboard video, i.e.,
lack of!, that's causing the problem. A black screen can result from any
number reasons.

What makes me a bit suspicious is that I'm hard-pressed to think of a single
instance where the motherboard's onboard video failed (assuming, of course,
proper configuration in the BIOS settings) and there were no other
motherboard problems leading up to a catastrophic failure of the MB. It
could happen I'm sure but I've never experienced it working with many, many
motherboards having onboard video capability.

But having said all that (and the real reason for this post) is that there's
certainly no harm in installing a graphics-video card. Indeed, that would be
one of the first things I would try. You mentioned that this might be hard
to do "with nothing on the screen". That shouldn't be a problem (unless
there's another problem affecting screen display) since all you have to do
is install the card and boot. You needn't be concerned with video drivers at
that point because your only objective at that point is to get a screen
display which you will get assuming it was an onboard video problem to begin
with.
Anna

 

[Klaus.Muensberg]

Thanks all again! Well, my assumption that the onboard video will be
the clue stems from the fact that it seems to do "something" according
to the beeps, the disk works in another system (although, of course, it
doesn't truly boot) and the screen works with other systems.

Anyway, you're right that it may be a flaw in any component of the
motherboard but I'll try with a video card. I just assumed that I have
to disable the onboard video in the BIOS to get the separate card
recognized (or used). I'll give it a try.

Thanks!

 

[Dave B.]

Again, your assumption may just end up costing you $$ and not fix the
problem. The monitor working on another system just shows that the monitor
is good, it in no way shows that your onboard video is bad. The fact that
the disk drive works in another system is not really relevant either.
The beeps are a diagnostic tool and also may not indicate the specific
problem, although it's a good sign that your still getting them.
What I would do (short of advanced hardware diags) is fire the system up and
watch the hard drive indicator light, if it starts showing activity after a
short time, it's possible that the system is in fact booting and that your
assumption of the onboard VGA being bad is correct.