weird problem, need a genius here

I'm on an E Machines ET1831 with onboard video. I was running 2 monitors by using a PCI video card along side the onboard video.

Suddenly, the computer crashed, and would not post unless I pulled the video card out. So i got a new PCI card, same problem.

Waited overnight, now it will boot but won't let me use both monitors. If I go into BIOS and make the onboard display the default, it works, but the PCI card doesn't. I can also do the opposite, and use only the PCI card with onboard disabled.

In Device mgr, it says PCI-to-PCI bridge won't start, error 10.
Display manager won't detect 2nd monitor.

Why would the computer suddenly stop allowing me to use both on board and PCI card video? I tried reinstalling drivers, resetting CMOS by taking battery out. Tried restoring computer to a week before the problem began.

Hi, how long was this working for you before the trouble started?.

I'm on an E Machines ET1831 with onboard video. I was running 2 monitors by using a PCI video card along side the onboard video.

Well if it doesn't let you use both right from boot it, then it's for sure not a software problem. Do you have any other pci slots to test the card on? I doubt it but i''m gonna throw it out there and say the slot could be bad. Like I said, I doubt it but it's better to try any thing until you figure it out. Also you could try taking all the ram and everything else and try to re-seat them. I've worked on a lot of computers and seen a lot of stupid things. Just give both of those a shot to eliminate them right away.

Also, he did say he was getting an error in his device manager. I briefly looked for the error code but didn't really find much. And by briefly, I mean like 20 secs. I'll look sometime tomorrow unless someone else could find/knows what the error code is. That would help.

Yes the device mgr says the pci-to-pci bridge won't start.

For about 2 months I was using the PCI card along with the onboard video. suddenly, it won't let me use them together.

i have switched the BIOS back and forth, and i can use either video, but not both... i can use the PCI card in the other slot, same thing.

Hi, So why don't you just use the PCI card on its own and turn off the other card through the bios
as Fabe suggested..?

Install your chipset drivers which should install a filter for your PCI bridge.

ok i reinstalled the chipset, nothing.

oddly, when i remove the PCI card, the Device Mgr error goes away. the error was 'Pci Standard pci-to-pci bridge: error code 10, this device can't start'

any other thoughts? I can still use either the PCI card or the onboard, but not both at once.

Hi, So why don't you just use the PCI card on its own and turn off the other card through the bios
as Fabe suggested..?