Can't install a new graphics card.

Hi,

I've just bought a PNY Geforce 6200 512Mb DDR2 AGP8X graphics card and have been trying for five hours to get it installed on my system.

My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-7DXE (which is quite old and supports AGP4X but I've heard it can support AGP8X)

I reach the 'Starting Windows' screen before it stops and does nothing.

There is no trouble in me using a standard VGA adapter installed in the AGP slot. I tried uninstalling the driver for it and restarting the computer with the new card in but the startup process only goes so far before stopping at the 'Starting Windows' screen.

Every now and again the HDD light on the front of my case will flicker and I will hear the HDD spinning (and having a think about loading or something!) but then it ceases.

I've been online and downloaded the latest drivers for this graphics card but Windows 7 won't let me install them because I need to have the card plugged into the motherboard in order for it to let the installation proceed. On the installer I get the message,

"The nvidia setup program could not locate and drivers that are compatible with your current hardware."

[*Of course I am viewing this message using the standard vga adapter because I can't use the new graphics card because it won't get past the 'Starting Windows' stage!]

When I go into safe mode the loading process goes up to amdagp.sys which I think is the last bit before it should take me to the 'Welcome' screen.

I've downloaded the latest chipset for my mobo from Gigabyte's website (although the release date was back in 2002!

*Breaking news, Windows Update has just offered me an update for Geforce 6200! However the installation failed. Here's a link to the screenshot:

http://www.4shared.com/file/183891589/cfa2...ate_failed.html

I think it's still to do with not having the card plugged into the mobo. I wonder if I put in the new graphics card and set Windows Update to run in ten minutes time, would it apply the update because the card would be present?

Thoughts?
Thanks,

nivekinski

I do have two cards. But they are both AGP.

One is a standard VGA adapter and the other is the card that I wish to install. So I can view and run Windows off the standard card, but I can't plug in the new card to install the necessary drivers for it!

It's quite frustrating. And now Windows Update isn't showing me the Geforce 6200 update any more! (It failed before).

Any ideas?

I could go to the local PC store and 'borrow' a PCI graphics card?

Also, I've downloaded the latest updates for the card from nvidia's website but I can't install them because the card needs to be plugged in for the installer to run! (which is why I should perhaps try using a PCI card!)

I guess the PCI way has got a good chance. I'll look into it...

Thanks.

Here's your motherboard specs GA-7DXE - GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification

Expansion Slots

1. 1 x AGP 4X
2. 5 x PCI slots support 33MHz and PCI 2.2 compliant

You can use a AGP 4x card in a AGP 8X slot but not the other way around. I don't think your motherboard is compatible with AGP 8X.

Dang! Really?

If I use the AGP8X in a AGP4X slot does it not just run at 'half speed' (4X)?

I guess I'll need to look around for an older model or a PCI alternative (not PCI-E however! lol)

Man, this computer is ancient!