Two weeks ago my computer crashed and wouldn't reboot. Hooked up my mom's computer and it would freeze on startup. My brother used parts from 3 computers to get one going. It works, however there is a problem. This is what I know I have. Ignore the system info automatically input by computing.net. 1.24GB RAM Windows XP with SP3 Pentium 4 3.00GHZ 2.99GHz (not sure why there are 2 sets of speeds here) Under Device management there is an ! beside VGA. I click update driver and says it cannot find the hardware. Strange because I have a monitor hooked up and it's working. Duh I"m on the computer now. So I buy a new GeForce VGA and try to install it. I used Device Manger to disable the onboard VGA and hit "uninstall drivers" and turn off the computer. I slip the new VGA (pci) into a slot making sure it's secure and turn the computer on. The screen is black. Is there something else I need to do? The second problem is I play Final Fantasy XI which requires Directx 8.1 which is installed but dxdiag says I have Directx 9.0c. Direct Draw tests are successful but I am unable to test Direct3D. Acceleration for Direct Draw/Direct 3d/AGP Texture are "Not Available". Also at times my screen acts as if its being shaken. I will be trying to get a new computer, but until I can afford one I'll be using this one and one my sister is loaning me.

Could it be there is an onboard video that bios some how has defaulted to? Playing to the angels Les Paul (1915-2009)

How would I get into bios? I know you do it at startup but I can't remember how.

You plug the monitor into the onboard video display connector and then reboot. This assumes you have an onboard video. Most new computer have a few ways. Try F2, delete key or maybe F10 or even insert or F1. You should see what you are doing though. I have had to do it blind. Playing to the angels Les Paul (1915-2009)