Can only run in VGA Mode?

W

Wino

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Please help any of you in the know.

All of a sudden my screen froze.
When booting, the XP Pro screen shows, then screen goes black.
After checking all the obvious etc, found I can only boot and run in VGA mode.

Does this mean my card is cooked (NVIDIA GeForce FX5500 - old I know - bought it beginning 2005).

If so, what card should I get for normal PC work, no gaming, some video and jpeg editing and what/where is the best place to get it in Cape Town, I will need to get it tomorrow first thing.

Thanks in advance.
 
5 series was AGP, there might have been some normal old-school PCI versions as well, but not sure about that.
 
And how handy is that. I have an AGP card and am just around the corner from you;)

Unfortunately however it is a TNT2 Vanta 16mb;)

You interested?
 
JUGGY said:
And how handy is that. I have an AGP card and am just around the corner from you;)

Unfortunately however it is a TNT2 Vanta 16mb;)

You interested?
Click to expand...

Seriously now, I am desperate, but at your mercy.
Is it safe to assume that I need to replace my card?
Where is the best place near me, and what card to get then?
 
Last edited:
Wino said:
Seriously now, I am desperate, but at your mercy. What card do you have and why arent you using it?

Is it safe to assume that I need to replace my card?
Click to expand...

That is the card I have and I would think that maybe your card is poked.

Have you tried using a driver cleaner to remove the driver then install the latest version?
 
JUGGY said:
That is the card I have and I would think that maybe your card is poked.

Have you tried using a driver cleaner to remove the driver then install the latest version?
Click to expand...

I've tried a few driver 'experts', which at the last minute want 30$ or somethng. What do you recommend?
 
It worked!
Fantastic, thanks. TBH, I didnt think updating the driver would work, since the old one was working just fine and has been for 4 years. I'm a bit nervous though now about this card. What is a good lifespan for a vid card?
 
Wino said:
It worked!
Fantastic, thanks. TBH, I didnt think updating the driver would work, since the old one was working just fine and has been for 4 years. I'm a bit nervous though now about this card. What is a good lifespan for a vid card?
Click to expand...

I would say 4 to 5 years for a plonker like yours;)

Probably less for the high end ones as they generally run hotter and faster. I suppose there's a reason for limited warranties.

Did you use the driver cleaner?
 
No driver cleaner, in fact this is what I found there:

"Update: This software was removed at the request of the publisher. A newer version of their software is still available yet shareware, to be found at the author's website."

So what card would you recommend I get. Mainly work related stuff, some graphics and slide shows etc. Nothing hectic.
 
Wino said:
No driver cleaner, in fact this is what I found there:

"Update: This software was removed at the request of the publisher. A newer version of their software is still available yet shareware, to be found at the author's website."

So what card would you recommend I get. Mainly work related stuff, some graphics and slide shows etc. Nothing hectic.
Click to expand...

Try and find a 2nd hand ATI X1950XT on prophecy or something similar.

You'll pay around R800 but it's pretty decent and will even run some games.
 
Wino said:
It worked!
Fantastic, thanks. TBH, I didnt think updating the driver would work, since the old one was working just fine and has been for 4 years. I'm a bit nervous though now about this card. What is a good lifespan for a vid card?
Click to expand...

Starting your PC in VGA mode simply loads the default Windows VGA driver, instead of the usual display card specific driver; so it was definitely a driver issue.

I would not worry about your card being faulty - I had a 5500 and it went from me, to my brother, back to me, sat in the cupboard for a year, and is now in a friends PC working fine many years later....
 
Conradl said:
Starting your PC in VGA mode simply loads the default Windows VGA driver, instead of the usual display card specific driver; so it was definitely a driver issue.

I would not worry about your card being faulty - I had a 5500 and it went from me, to my brother, back to me, sat in the cupboard for a year, and is now in a friends PC working fine many years later....
Click to expand...

I think you're right! All looks fine now. I just wonder what corrupted the driver in the first place. The only thing I did differently yesterday than any other day was watch a few AVI's I had taken of my kids.
 
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