System locks up at boot after Checking NVRAM message - HP Pavilion a1514n

[Ztruker]

I have a HP Pavilion a1514n. I'm trying to upgrade the video from onboard to a PNY GeForce GT 220 1GB PCIe 2.0 DDR2. It's a PCI Express X16 card.

When I boot, the computer freezes right after I get the Checking NVRAM message.

I've cleared BIOS by removing the power cord and CMOS battery then pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds or so. On reboot I get the expected CMOS configuration error and press F1 to enter Setup. I load defaults, set date and time, video to PCI-E , save and exit.

It boots until I get the Checking NVRAM message then it freezes. Only a power off works.

I've also replaced the 300W power supply with a 400W, known good, power supply and get the same result. Remove the card and use the onboard video and it boots fine.

This computer did have a PCI-E X16 video card in it originally but it died so I removed it and was using the onboard video but the display quality is terrible. Unfortunately I did not keep the original card or I would just order another.

Is it likely the new video card is defective or do I need to order a different card? Is 1GB of onboard video ram too much?

Much appreciate any ideas.

[Big_Dave]

Hi Rich,

Remove the NVIDIA 220 and try this bootable memory diagnostic disk.   Download memtest86 iso file and burn it to disk using Imgburn.  Run 3-4 passes.

If you you can try the video card in another PC.

You might try contacting PNY and see if there are any issues with that particular card and your PC.

[Ztruker]

Thanks, all good ideas. I'll try them.

Thank you.

[Ztruker]

For some reaason that specific video card is incompatible with the a1514n. I tried the card in 3 other computers and it worked fine in all of them, a Compaq, Dell and Sony Vaio.

I returned it and just got the replacement, a ASUS GeForce GT440. Will see if this works tomorrow.