PC Won't boot with PCI vid card

[TruckStuff]

I have a system that won't even post when I have a PCI video card installed. When I remove the card and power up, I hear the normal beeps, etc. Of course this does me no good without video. I've reset the CMOS and done as much as a I can think of to "reset" to factory defaults with no luck? Any thoughts before I just go buy a cheap video card?

[VidmanII]

Is there a setting in the BIOS that allows for booting with AGP or PCI? Check that to see if it's set to PCI. Just a thought.

oop, just reread your post that seems to suggest you can't get to the BIOS

[wvjohn]

some systems won't boot if the pci card is out of spec with the mobo - and they can be VERY finicky

one of my dell server boxes would only boot with a pci ati card - not a geforce

check the voltage on the mobo and the pci slots and the card - that is probably the source of your problem

[FlyingPenguin]

You got another video card?

[TruckStuff]

I have an AGP video card in my current system which I know it boots with (this card used to be in the other system). Unfortunately, I need a functioning video card in both systems. I made sure to set the BIOS to PCI video first but have still had no luck. I tried sticking the PCI video card in this system and it wouldn't boot either. Same symptoms: powers up but no BIOS beeps. So I'm guessing this video card is dead. This is a pretty old video card (Diamond Stealth64) which I was going to use in a server, but I guess I'm SOL now. Oh well...

*EDIT* For what its worth, I have an Epox 8RDA3+. During the boot process, the LED indicator hangs with a code of 26. The manual indicates this is a reserved code. )*

[TruckStuff]

Originally posted by wvjohn
check the voltage on the mobo and the pci slots and the card - that is probably the source of your problem

Actually, this sounds a little interesting. Any idea how I can found out what voltage this card requires? As I said, Diamond Stealth64 w/ a S3 Trio64 chipset. I'll see what Google turns up.

[FlyingPenguin]

Voltage is not likely to be an issue with PCI - only AGP.

I would think the problem is a BIOS setting. You need to tell it to initilaize using a PCI card not AGP. Pop the AGP card back in, and make the change in BIOS, then switch back to the PCI card. If there's an AUTO setting for the vid card use that instead - that way either type of card will work.

[eGoCeNTRoNiX]

But I believe (I think) that some older motherboards had jumpers to disable the onboard video so that PCI video could be enabled, though, if I read this right, you have no video at all, so this post is irroneous.. he he he.. eGo

[NascarFool]

The PCI/AGP setting in the bios will make no difference unless you have one of each installed.

[TruckStuff]

Well I did some more testing last night. The card will boot in an old BH6 system (the PCI card origanlly came out of this system), so I know the card works. It will not boot on my Epox 8RDA3+ or my Tyan Tiger MPX systems. Both of the new systems exhibit the same symptoms: fans power up but no BIOS beeps and no video output. None of these boards have onboard video.

If this were an AGP vs PCI BIOS setting, wouldn't the system still boot but just give a "no video" beep code? This stuff is at home, so I'm hoping to have some new ideas to test when I get home this evening.

[NascarFool]

If you have a PCI card and the bios is set to AGP, it will look for a vid card on the AGP first and then the PCI. Currently my comp is set on PCI but I have a Rad AIW 9700 Pro AGP. It finds the card without any problems. Therefore, you won't get an error beep if the bios setting is on AGP. You might have a card that is just incompatable.

[wvjohn]

http://forums.amdmb.com/showthread.php? ... =pci+video


there are reports of problems with voodoo2 pci no boots and pci slot choice appears to be an issue as well

[TruckStuff]

I've pulled everything out of this system except the video card and it won't boot. I guess I'm just going to have to spring for a cheap AGP video card. Thanks for the advice everyone.