How to blind install graphics card

Forums › Desktop computing › How to blind install graphics card

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#302523 29-Nov-2022 12:31

I am trying to set up an old pc for a neighbour kid. As soon as I plug in a DVI graphics card, the VGA display goes blank. How the hell do you install a new display if you can't see what you are doing?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

1 | 2

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#3003067 29-Nov-2022 12:37

Have you got the monitor still connected to the onboard graphics port? Does it go blank straight away (ie., you can't see BIOS screens)?

Move it to the new graphics card. Windows should still boot in VGA mode until the drivers are installed?

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#3003068 29-Nov-2022 12:40

I tried two different DVI cards. Plug it in, turn the power back on, hear it boot, blank screen. Jiggle cables, plug in and out, curse in four languages, no result. Just blank screens, both VGA and DVI.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3003087 29-Nov-2022 13:04

I'd probably pull the CMOS battery off the mobo to reset the BIOS to ensure no weird BIOS video control going on. Then while its working with the onboard video, do a check if any newer BIOS is available.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3566

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3003100 29-Nov-2022 13:23

If the computer is actually starting up, you can install something like Anydesk or TeamViewer to remote into it.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

1024kb

1197 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 519

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3003104 29-Nov-2022 13:31

Setting up an old PC always seems easy before you start, then reality hits home as you wait ages for Windows to install then begin the search for ancient drivers, hunting through manufacturer download sections for 64-bit drivers that support Windows 10. Downloading utilities for some cutting edge tech that's ling-since been abandoned. Finding the latest BIOS update, from 2016.

I usually find a component or two that I tucked away some time ago, thinking I was saving awesome stuff for the next monster build - here it is 4 years later & I'm pleased to get rid of it.

Today I finished a rebuild on an old PC with i5 4th gen CPU that hadn't run for over 12 months but the owner had an affectionate attachment to. With a $600 budget (substantially more than the total value of the machine as delivered) I went through & replaced nearly every item except the board & CPU. Now it flies, it's one old but quick PC with a built-in upgrade path because every other item is far newer than the Mobo & CPU, so next time round we'll replace those 2 parts & once again have a good fast PC for reasonable cost. Performance Test has this machine at +32% compared to any other PC with the same CPU / GPU now.

Personally, I enjoy the recycling aspect, turning useless broken junk into useful machines.

Megabyte - so geek it megahertz

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3003109 29-Nov-2022 13:48

Yup, I love recycling old PC's, took a heap from work which are 2nd gen i5's, and installing Batocera on them and giving away as charity.

My own PC is all 2nd hand apart from the case. 6th gen i5, 16GB, 1050Ti video...... runs everything I throw at it quite happily :)

@ OP.... whats the motherboard brand and model ?

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

spmiller

41 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 13

Lifetime subscriber

#3003112 29-Nov-2022 13:59

I've seen plenty of problems in the office caused by people plugging into the onboard HDMI instead of the graphics card HDMI, but I expect that's not the case here.

Dumb question though, have you tried cycling through the monitor's inputs in case it's working? Newer monitors auto-switch source, but perhaps this one isn't?

Reanalyse

397 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 310

#3003134 29-Nov-2022 15:16

Rikkitic:

I tried two different DVI cards. Plug it in, turn the power back on, hear it boot, blank screen. Jiggle cables, plug in and out, curse in four languages, no result. Just blank screens, both VGA and DVI.

Could you put a dummy plug on the new card so the system recognises that it exists (if no screen or dummy equivalent many video cards will not turn on -ask any Bitcoin miner, not that I am one)

Then plug into the standard output and see what is going on ?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41029

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3003138 29-Nov-2022 15:32

I have a similar thing with my desktop. My BIOS is set to switch to the secondary video card after POST. But if for some reason Windows doesn't like something then I see nothing, because the OS is not loaded yet. For example if Bitlocker fails to unlock the boot drive (it happened once during a firmware update) then Windows will use the primary/on-board display to show a message asking for the key to be entered. That's why I still have a VGA cable around, in case I need to plug an old monitor to see if there are any error messages on the primary monitor.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#3003201 29-Nov-2022 17:15

1024kb: Setting up an old PC always seems easy before you start, then reality hits home as you wait ages for Windows to install then begin the search for ancient drivers, hunting through manufacturer download sections for 64-bit drivers that support Windows 10. Downloading utilities for some cutting edge tech that's ling-since been abandoned. Finding the latest BIOS update, from 2016.

I usually find a component or two that I tucked away some time ago, thinking I was saving awesome stuff for the next monster build - here it is 4 years later & I'm pleased to get rid of it.

Today I finished a rebuild on an old PC with i5 4th gen CPU that hadn't run for over 12 months but the owner had an affectionate attachment to. With a $600 budget (substantially more than the total value of the machine as delivered) I went through & replaced nearly every item except the board & CPU. Now it flies, it's one old but quick PC with a built-in upgrade path because every other item is far newer than the Mobo & CPU, so next time round we'll replace those 2 parts & once again have a good fast PC for reasonable cost. Performance Test has this machine at +32% compared to any other PC with the same CPU / GPU now.

Personally, I enjoy the recycling aspect, turning useless broken junk into useful machines.

I have to smile at this and some later comments. We have very different definitions of 'old' here. This pc is a duo core something from the year dot that still runs IDE drives. What you are talking about is way, way, way too modern for this. I installed Windows 7 on it because I doubt it would be able to handle Windows 10.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#3003205 29-Nov-2022 17:19

coffeebaron:

If the computer is actually starting up, you can install something like Anydesk or TeamViewer to remote into it.

This is a great idea. Thanks. I will give it a try if I can't find another solution.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Wellingtondave

160 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 88

#3003727 30-Nov-2022 16:54

A picture is worth.... as is actual info on the system being used, motherboard / PC model if it's a prebuilt and card being added.

You've not explained quite what you are doing, are you trying to dual monitor it? In which case adding cards to some systems disables onboard video. If the issue is that the new card with a DVI cable to a DVI monitor isn't working, then that's a separate issue.

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3003803 30-Nov-2022 18:34

You'll be surprised what Win 10 runs on ;)

But yeah, sounds like 7 will be the better bet for driver support :)

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

richms

29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10207

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3003813 30-Nov-2022 18:56

Whats the card? Possibly it wont work in something that old so that is why there is no signal from it.

Richard rich.ms

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#3003821 30-Nov-2022 19:30

Sorry for the delay in getting back. I've been out all day.

The pc is an Acer Aspire T690 according to a label I found on it. Another label on the CPU has a date of 2008. I can get more details but have to acquire some software tools first. It has been awhile since I last did this sort of thing.

I have been trying two DVI cards with the same result. One is a Nvidia Galaxy 9500 GT. The other came out of an Asus and looks almost identical to the Nvidia card.

What I'm trying to do is provide the kid I am giving this to with an alternative. I will also give him a VGA monitor, but if it dies or he has another problem with it, he won't have any way of accessing the computer. I want to install the DVI card so it's there if he needs it, but continue using VGA until or unless that happens.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

1 | 2