Problem installing PCI video card

[Graken]

Hello,
Sometimes when I start my PC the view is distorted. I have on-board graphics on my Intel m/b, and have tried to install a PCI graphics card. I am having difficulty in finding out how I switch from the on-board adapter to the PCI adapter. Can anyone please help.

[pave_spectre]

Depending on the BIOS, there is probably an option in 'Onboard Peripherals', to disable the graphics card.

[jabarnutcase]

As pave_spectre mentioned, you may have to enter Bios. (I think it may be in the PCI/Plug and Play setup page).
Check and see if the Primary Graphics Adapter is set to PCI. (There may even be a specific setting to disable on-board video)

Depends on the motherboard too. If you are still getting video from your on-board card, ensure that the PCI card is firmly seated. (it's common for people to think the card is firmly seated when it isn't)
In some cases, the card will automatically disable the on-board video.

(Edit) One other thought...You say sometimes the "view is distorted". That may be a problem with your Monitor and not the video card.
If possible, try the moitor on a different computer and see if it still looks "distorted".

[ski]

Also, check the computer's or MB's documentation for a MB jumper to disable the onboard video.

[deddard]

Do you have any electrical devices near to your monitor/monitor cable?
A distortion, as jabarnutcase pointed out, may be monitor related.

You should certainly check the other options first - disabling the onboard graphics through the bios.

If this doesn't work, then enable the onboard graphics, attach the monitor to the onboard graphics outlet, and remove the PCI graphics card.
Reboot, and see if this solves the problem. If the problem is still there, then the chances are that it is the monitor/monitor cable that is causing the problems.

let us know how you get on.

[alex666]

Graken, I had a compaq presario with on-board video, and I have installed several pci boards on it. I don't know about your intel mobo, but if it's anything like my wife's, there are limited bios options. IN any case, with the compaq, if you install a pci card, the on-board video is automatically shut off, and windows (in my case, windows 98 and win98se) automatically detected the new video card. From there, it's a matter of installing your drivers.

What I found frustrating about the presario mobo was the inability to utilize the on-board video card at the same time as the pci card. I really wanted to run two monitors, but that is the way that particular mobo was designed, and I found no way to alter it. Otherwise, it turned out to be an amazing little mobo for a proprietary mobo.

Good luck.

marty

[Graken]

Thanks Folks,
It was the BIOS setup that was the problem. Once I found out how to get in, I was able to sort it. Much thanks to you all for your help.



Regards,



Graham.