Graphic card upgrade - computer will not boot

[iamamm]

Hello everyone... I am having some mysterious happenings...

My screen started flickering and dropping out two weeks ago with a recurring AMD Radeon display driver error message and then my original AMD Radeon 7450 graphics card failed on me. The screen was all dodgy and striped and I could only boot in Safe Mode.

I went out and bought a new graphic card that I was told was similar to what I had... it is a GEforce GT 1030. I removed the AMD drivers using an AMD utility before inserting the new card. I had to use a different cable from the monitor, because the new card is PCI express 3.0 while the old one was PCI express 2.0.

After I put the new card in, the computer refused to boot. It would just get stuck on the splash screen for a while, and then try to load windows, but it was just an endless boot with nothing happening and it would sometimes restart. It wouldn't boot in Safe Mode either - would just get stuck. The computer makes a beep every so often. That said, the image on the splash screen is perfectly clear so the graphics are okay now.

I started to do some of the HP diagnostics tests. The memory test passed but the hard disk test failed and I was told I need a new hard disk so I went out and bought one and installed it. Now the HP diagnostics all pass, but the computer still refuses to boot.

I got some Windows 7 Recovery Disks sent to me from HP, but the computer doesn't do anything with them - even when i managed to change the Boot Order in HP Set up Utility. I eventually get a message saying Error: no boot disk has been detected or the disk has failed.

I don't know if the new graphics card has caused some sort of system instability and is causing the problem. Its all really confusing. Has anyone else had issues with graphics cards and how did you resolve them?

Thank you for your time! 

[old_geekster · Accepted solution]

@iamamm, welcome to the forum.

Your problem is caused by the fact that the GT 1030 is not compatible with your motherboard.  The card requires UEFI in the motherboard instead of a Legacy/standard BIOS.  HP didn't begin using UEFI until mid-October, 2012 with Win 8.  The BIOS can't be upgraded to UEFI.  The last cards not to require UEFI are the GTX 660/670 series.

I suggest that you contact the manufacturer's Tech Support to see if they have a VBIOS update that will allow the card to work with your system.

Please click the Thumbs up + button if I have helped you and click Accept as Solution if your problem is solved.

[iamamm]

Hi @old_geekster, thank you so much for your quick advice. I will contact them to ask.

My System BIOS is: JAS_707.rom V7.07, revision date 20/4/2012.

Does this mean that the UEFI Boot sources option in the Boot Order of the HP Setup Utility is not valid?

Do you think my first hard disk might have failed as a result of this incompatibility?

Thank you... this is all new to me and a big learning experience!

[old_geekster]

Thank you for the additional information, @iamamm.

The best way to know if you have UEFI is to go to "Run" and type msinfo32.  Find the "BIOS Mode" in the list.  UEFI is not available in Win 7, however. 

The incompatibility of the video card would not have anything to do with a failed hard drive.

[iamamm]

Thanks for your help @old_geekster. HP wasn't able to recommend a BIOS update. They said that because I can't boot the computer, its impossible to update the BIOS, but then they kind of sidestepped the question about whether or not there is even a BIOS update available. I think I may just need a different card.