Help with my video card installation

[RVaL74]

So about 5 months ago, my uncle crashed his HP Pavilion a6330f desktop computer, pre-installed with Windows Vista, then he gave it to me, and I formatted the HDD and installed Windows XP Professional SP3 on it. I installed all the drivers needed to get online and then I carried on with the others from there. So here's the problem.

Ok, so I got a new VisionTek HD Radeon 3650 OC edition 1GB GDDR2 video card. I went to VisionTek.com and got the very driver I needed, installed it and restarted my computer, then I go into my BIOS and set my graphics adapter to PCI x16, which is what the card is plugged into, and also needs. Then I plug my monitor into the video card (Acer P206HL) and nothing comes out of it, kaput. So I plug it back into the integrated slot. I check my system info, it says I'm still using the GeForce integrated card. But I can't see anything without it being plugged in there. Someone please help, I want to use my video card, because it's the only thing holding me back from playing Skyrim.

[vnyga]

Hi,

from the specs of your pc:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01294325&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=3644699

the Integrated video is not available if a graphics card is installed.
Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 6150SE

So if an additional graphics card is installed the right way, the graphics output should be on it automatically.

You can see the boot process (bios) with the new card?
maybe you can boot in safe mode?

Else:
With your psu - 300W - you should also check if it supports the technical requirements of the additional card!

Unforunately it seems like some older HP pcs can't run Radeon HD cards - maybe your pc is one of these.
Can you test a Nvidia instead?

V.

[RVaL74]

Well, I checked the specs of this very card on the VisionTek website, and it says a 300W or more power box, which is what this pc has. I forgot to mention that this is the very video card my uncle was using before he crashed his Operating System. He said it worked perfectly and that he could play all these games that I can't play. I'm wondering if it's just an XP incompatibility or if he fried the PCIx16 slot, because my ATI Radeon 2550 and my FoxConn 630G01 also don't work in this slot. They run, fan and all, but do not emit video.

[vnyga · Accepted solution]

>I went to VisionTek.com and got the very driver
>I'm wondering if it's just an XP incompatibility
If you got XP drivers at that site then there could be no incompatibility

Is any pci slot working?
(Ok - fans are running ...)
Or check device manger if pci-bus/pci-bridge is working (under sytem devices).

Hmm, looks like pci is the source of the crash your uncle had.
>I got a new VisionTek HD Radeon 3650
What happened with the one your uncle had?

V.
P.S.
You can check the slot if any contact is bended.

[RVaL74]

My bad, it wasn't a new video card, I just meant to say I have a visiontek... etc., anyways, the system devices are up and running to begin with, no issues there. When I decide to shut my PC down tonight, I'll get my flashlight and check for bent contacts. Thanks for the help.