If a computer originally comes with an AGP video card, can you replace it with a pci card? I have a computer that I cannot get the monitor to work on. The motherboard does not have a card built into it. The computer sounds like it boots up fine, but the monitor just doesnt get anything. I have tested the monitor, which is working fine. The computer originally came with an AGP card, I tried to use a PCI card (which works in another computer) and neither will get the monitor on, so I am guessing I need an AGP card since that is what the computer originally came with?? any help is much appreciated.

If the hard drive appears to be NOT loading Windows normally - it's led DOES NOT blink as you would expect before the Desktop would be loaded - no video is a common symptom of many problems and there is probably nothing actually wrong with your video hardware. The most likely thing is the computer power supply is failing - it can partially work, yet the computer will not fully boot into Windows. Check your PS. See response 4 in this: http://www.computing.net/hardware/w... If the hard drive appears to be loading Windows normally - it's led blinks as you would expect before the Desktop would be loaded - your problem may be the video drivers are not detecting the monitor you are using properly. Try this, despite the fact you have no display: Boot into safe mode and select Enable VGA mode when the menu appears. If you are then able to boot normally into Windows, go to Display - Settings - Advanced - Monitor - and load Plug and Play Monitor, or use Have Disk and load the specific drivers for your monitor, reboot normally, and you should have video.

Thank you for the help, although I could not boot up in safe mode, My problem is that the monitor wont even come on while plugged into the computer. It is the original monitor that came with the computer. Therefore I am unable to see anything whatsoever, it is as if the monitor is shut off, I get no boot up menu or change to even get into safe mode. I did in fact check the blinking light which seems to be correct. Could the motherboard be FUBAR? thanks again!

"I have tested the monitor, which is working fine. The computer originally came with an AGP card, I tried to use a PCI card (which works in another computer) and neither will get the monitor on, so I am guessing I need an AGP card" The above doesn't specifically implicate the AGP card since a PCI card does not work on the machine as well. It could be the RAM & it could be the motherboard & it's premature IMO to order an AGP video card without further troubleshooting.

"...I could not boot up in safe mode...." If there is nothing wrong with your mboard, video card, and the ram or the ram connections, you should at least get video before Windows loads. If you get a display when booting at first, then blackness as Windows starts to load, then what I told you should work - I added a bit more here: "Try this, despite the fact you have no display: Boot into safe mode..." as in, press F8 repeatedly while booting, starting very early in the boot - don't hold down the key - "...and select Enable VGA mode when the menu appears. If you are then able to boot normally into Windows, go to Display - Settings - Advanced - Monitor - and load Plug and Play Monitor, or use Have Disk and load the specific drivers for your monitor, reboot normally, and you should have video." "I did in fact check the blinking light which seems to be correct." It should blink for at least a minute or so - if it only blinks a little that doesn't count, and something else is probably causing your video symptoms. .... Did you remove the AGP card when you installed the PCI card, and did you unplug the computer or otherwise remove the AC to the computer PS before doing so? ATX PSs are always powering ATX mboards in some places as long as there is live AC connected to the PS, even if Windows is Shut Down or in Standby or Hibernate modes. If you or someone else was fiddling and installed or un-installed the video card in it's AGP slot without unplugging the computer or otherwise removing the AC to the computer PS, it's quite possible the video card and/or the circuits connected to the AGP slot is/are damaged. In that case, removing the AGP card and installing a PCI one may or may not work, if the AGP slot circuits are damaged.

You might also try going into the BIOS for the motherboard and choosing the option, if it's available,to initialize the PCI card first for video instead of AGP. That might work, though I wouldn't be optimistic.

If your not seeing the post screen but it seems like the PC is getting to windows. Unplug everything and take out the AGP card, put in the PCI one, reset the BIOS and then power the machine up to see if you can see anything. If you see the post screen but nothing after it, its a driver issue. Mattwizz3 : Vista Home Basic 2.2GHz Sempron 1GB DDR400 GeForce 6800Ultra