Trying to use 2nd Vid Card

[News Groupie]

I'm tryna to add a Nvidia RIVA TNT2 PCI video card to my computer but WinXP
(SP2) hangs when starting up (Windows XP logo and animation on black
screen). I already have a video card onboard, but it's only 4 megs, that's
why i'm replacing it. When I switch back to the onboard vid card, Windows
boots with no problems, but I want to use PCI video card. The PCI vid card
boots fine after F8'n into safe mode and VGA mode, but just not normal mode.

Any ideas why it's hanging? Any ideas on how to resolve it?

TIA

 

[Yves Leclerc]

You have seem to encountered the problem of adding two different types of
video cards to one PC. Most on-board video cards are PCI controlled and
since you are added a different make, the drivers are interferring with each
other. You will need to look the the BIOS as disable the on-board video
card.

 

[News Groupie]

I've done that. The only options available on that matter is 'Onboard' (to
only use the onboard video card) and 'Auto' (to use a video card in the PCI
slot if present). I've obviously chose 'Auto' and it works fine until
Windows trys to load.

I think it may be just this particular Windows XP installation, because for
one I can boot safe and VGA mode and also I booted off a BartPE CD with no
problems.

Can I edit some files or maybe disable or reset some drivers or settings on
that WinXP installation to resolve this issue?

TIA

P.S. - Onboard is Intel 810E video chip and the PCI card is Nvidia TNT2
chip.

 

[RonK]

Leave the monitor cable attached to the onboard connection and have the pci
video card installed. Boot into windows then install the video card drivers
for the new display adapter found.
After you have installed the new video card drivers, shut down, connect the
monitor to the pci video card, make sure bios is set to Auto then boot into
windows.

 

[News Groupie]

Now this is weird.

After hooking up the speakers I learned that Windows actually loads, but the
screen image freezes/hangs. I can here the startup sound and notification
sounds. I can even run programs if I wanted to (blindly). The screen just
stays on the Windows loading screen eventhough the system is actually
loaded.

I also learned that Nvidia stopped supporting the card at version 61.77, so
I uninstalled the whatever current drivers installed were installed for the
card and installed that version. I got the same loading screen problem.

Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

In device manager disable the onboard video card (display adapters,
properties, do not use this device [disable]), you will then see a red X on
the entry for the card and after you reboot it will always show this in
device manager.
j;-j

 

[Guest]

Have you disabled the onboard 4mb Video card?
It's time to upgrade to a newer 64-128mb Video card, or maybe just an even
older driver, if the card is any indication, to a newer P4 era computer too,
if possible.
Sounds like you updated an older PIII era machine with XP...
j;-j

 

[News Groupie]

Ya, it's a Dell Optiplex GX110 PIII 667 MHz. I just need a slightly better
video card for video playback.

It actually runs well in VGA mode even after I change the resolution and
depth. It just doesn't boot normally.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Have you tried to install the nVidia drivers in "Safe Mode" before changing
to the TNT2 card? You may need to have the video card drivers installed
before XP will set the video card active?