New vid card.

[Firestormalpha]

Ok, so I got myself a new video card to put in my new computer. It's been running video off of the motherboard thus far. the installation manual (all 2 pages of it) say to disable onboard graphics controllers. This new computer is running Windows vista (came with the computer).

So far I've gone to control panel, found the device manager and found display adapters, before I DO anything with it, I want to know. Is this the thing I'm looking for to disable? If I disable it prior to installing the card and software, as the manual tells me to do, will it make my video cease functioning, or simply cease to function at full capacity?

Thanks for any help rendered. (I've discovered I only know enough about computers to break my own.)

Add- for reference the card is an XFX GeForce 7300GS (PCI Express slot)

[ 04-13-2007, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: Firestormalpha ]

[robertthebard]

If you disable the card, you will disable your video, if you don't have anything for it to go to instead. However, you can turn the PC off with the button, and then install the new card and the drivers. If you move your monitor cable to the new card, it will work, and then you can install the drivers, and set it as the default card when you reboot.

[Firestormalpha]

So basically, disable the integrated video, disengage power to the computer, install card, hook up monitor to card. install drivers, and make them default. video should work fine?

[robertthebard]

That's it, in a nutshell.

[Larry_OHF]

An hour and a half, and he's not checked back in? Should we send a team in to make sure he's okay?

[Firestormalpha]

Sorry, got sidetracked by "National Treasure" pretty good movie I'd say.

Anyways, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to say, that the operation was a success. I thank you all for your help, most notably that of robertthebard.

[robertthebard]

I do this stuff all the time, usually by phone. Glad to read it worked out for you.

[Larry_OHF]

Originally posted by robertthebard: I do this stuff all the time, usually by phone. Glad to read it worked out for you.

I've tried doing this stuff by phone, but I don't feel comfortable with it. I prefer to have the machine in front of me. That's not always helpful to the person asking for me to help. I wish I could get better at over-the-phone advice. Any advice? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[robertthebard]

You just have to remember what it is you've done when you had the machine, and then go through it step by step. It's a big help if the person on the other end knows what they are looking at, and I have been recruited to do things like this, or upgrade RAM, when they aren't so sure about it. Vid cards, RAM and such are easier to do than try to work out software conflicts though. Sometimes you have to see what the PC is doing to fix it. This kind of stuff is pretty much Rinse and Repeat though, unless the drivers don't take, or something.

[Larry_OHF]

Originally posted by robertthebard: It's a big help if the person on the other end knows what they are looking at.

That's my problem. I get asked for help by people that only know where the ON button is. I usually have to pack my tools and go do house calls. The last time I did that, the woman's printer was not working. I uninstalled the drivers and reinstalled them and suddenly it worked. She had not followed directions and had turned the printer on before installing the drivers from the disk. I wasted an hour's round trip for that.