Hi Guy & Gal Gurus,
I need some help!!!!!!!!

Went to install a new vid card (Radeon 9600 XT lite 256mb). Not the cream of the crop but light years ahead of my current card (NVIDIA RIVA TNT2/TNT2 Pro 32mb).
Check all the requirements before purchasing.
Have:
Intel P4 1400 MHz
RAM 1024 MB
Windows XP Pro with all updates
500w Power Supply

All of this meets or exceeds ATI's requirements for this card.

Computer won't boot up :-( I get 1 long and 2 short beeps, then nothing :-(

Main Board Discription
Brand/Model 22101710 9800 03720700001066
Type Desktop
Serial Number 1146HPPAV3
BIOS Phoenix Technologies Ltd. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 11/20/2000
System Board Hewlett-Packard HP WMTA System Board 123

Tried going to ATI what a F***ing nightmare. First you surf all the crappy data base for nothing then when you get to where you can submit the make you down load a small program to analyze the system and card. Well how do you analyze the system and card if you can't boot with the card installed. I'm running out of time to return the card to TigerDirect.com and even then I need a return number of some sort from ATI before TigerDirect.com will accept a return. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any, all help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Skank :-(

I'll give this a shot real quick. First, of all, BEEEEEEEEEEEEEp Beep Beep has always signaled to me that the vid card wasn't seated all the way in the slot properly. The is the exact code that Compaq and HP computers put out anyways.

2nd thing to look at is to make sure you have removed all software that was attached to your last card. Go to control panel, add remove programs and make sure to remove anything that starts off with NvidiaXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

Last thing is: was your old card PCI and this one now is AGP? It should matter really but in the bios there is a setting for something like 1st video device. By default, it seems to always be on PCI. Set it to AGP.

Extra last thing is to make sure your bios is running the latest version. My ABIT KT7A mobo would totally screw up with and Nvidia card if I didn't use the latest BIOS.

Good luck sir, let us know how it goes eh? I am smashed right now. First time in several weeks. Please excuse any typos.

The way this case clamps down on all the cards it would be hard not to be seated correctly. Two huge screws pivot a bar down on the cards at the back of the case rather than one screw on each card. I will give it a shot later though with the clamp loose just incase when it pushes down on the case end its pulling up the other end.

What happens if I remove all the old software and have to put the old card back in to use the computer again. Will I be able to see anything without the software?

Both cards are AGP but I’ll check the bios any ways.

I went to HP.com to check for Bios updates. It would appear that they used several different Motherboards so before I go any further there I want to doubly no make that triply make sure which board I’ve got.

Love the typos they add flair as well as character.

Thanks for the input Hermskii.

Skank :wink:

if you still get stuck try using this bit of software its called Everest Home Edition i use it it tells you exactly what bits you have in your system http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=1&lang=en

Hi fluffy you can use this programme to remove all traces of nvidia software go here its called detonator http://www.guru3d.com/detonator-destroyer/
and yes once you remove all drivers you can still use your monitor just at very reduced screen size Etc i suggest downloading and saving the drivers for both cards before you do any more.

Dark

Definately the card is not seated right or the card is bad....Software cannot cause a boot up problem into the bios.

I agree with Hippie. Do you have another computer that you can test the ATI card in?

From the sound of it, it is one of three things...
1. Your mobo is to old to support the video card
2. You fried the vid card or mobo when you installed it. (ESD Sucks)
3. You missed a 5 volt connecter that needs to be plugged into your card.

Hey Fluff,

No luck with the hardware upgrades this year huh.

Another thing I have run into is Video RAM shadowing or the amount of memory for the AGP Arpreture (sp). You may want to make note of your current BIOS settings (digital camera anyone?) and reset BIOS to factory defaults and see if that helps.

Seating the card and removing Nvidia drivers, as stated by our friends, also a possible issue.

As always good luck and drop me a note if I can help.

Let us know what happens.

Later.

BIGI (Big E) wrote:


You are not kidding there, dude. I have fried not one, but TWO motherboards with a simple static shock. That little, teeny sound of static sounds sooo horrible when you are installing a pricey piece of equipment.

The motherboard should be able to support the card, as it runs the Intel 850 chipset(assuming here). Should easily handle AGP 4X.

Also, this card does not have a 5 volt connector, therefore it can not be that.

So, if you do not have another computer to test the ATI card in, then you will have to assume that the card is fried. Reinstall the Nvidia card and see if it boots. If it does, the be thankful it is not the motherboard that is fried.

I'm sure there was no ESD as I go to extraordinary lengths not only to discharge any static electricity but ground myself and stay grounded during these procedures.

That doesn’t mean the card is any good though.

The mobo is good using it and the Nvidia card at this moment.

Fortunately there are two newer towers in the house I can plug it into to see if it works there. If it does then we know the card is cool. If the card is cool I'll plug it in again but this time without clamping it down as the downward pressure on that end of the card may be forcing the other end up un-seating it somewhat.

I tend to agree with Hippiekat[AI] that software cannot cause a boot up problem into the bios leading me to further believe that the card is bad or as stated earlier the clamp mechanism is rocking the end of the card out of the slot just enough to make it a no go.

Many of the Radeon cards in the 9000 series require the 5 volt connector, the 9600xt lite does not. Good thinking though.

It’s been and will remain a tough week and will remain so for the next few days. 14 hour workdays plus the commute. Hope that maybe Friday will let up enough to get back to fixing this problem. Times running out and I don't want to miss the window of opportunity to return the card if indeed it is dead.

Tigerdirect.com gives you 30 days from date of purchase but it must be accompanied with a "defective confirmation code" from the manufacturer.

Finally got a message back from ATI.com it sounds like you guys are leagues ahead of them.

Thanks for the input. I'll post again when I know more. If you come up with more ideas please do share.

Thanks, Skank

Hiya Troops,

Finally tried the card in one of my sons computers the card worked fine. Unloaded all the Navidia drivers and gave it a shot on my computer again. No luck. Went into the BIOS and changed the setting to PCI no luck, changed them back to AGP no luck. I'm out of ideas. You have any?

Thanks, Skank

Well, if it worked in your boy's PC then the card is good. If you put in back in yours and got the same BEEEEEEEEEEP-Beep-Beep then it isn't seating properly for some reason. That is the only thing it can be. I have a Nvidia card that used to do the same thing to me. I'm sure yours has much better system for lodging it into place though. Pull the card and blow in the AGP slot to make sure there isn't any crap in it. Reseat the card and plug in the monitor. Turn the monitor on and then PC. Still get beeps? If so, turn off the PC. Tap down on one end of card and try to boot again. Still get beeps? Turn off PC and tap down on other side. Try to reboot again. Still get beeps?Lightly tug card towards bottom of PC as it stands up properly. Reboot. Still beeps? tug card lightly towards top of PC as it stands properly. Try to reboot. Still beeps? Kick the crap out of something (not son) and return card for refund.