FIXED: GeForce 8400 GS not showing on device manager

[axelfox]

I upgraded my video card to the PNY GeForce 8400 GS. After I got all the bugs worked out, it was working great running on dual monitors (DVI out and VGA out).

Now, ever since I installed Windows 7 (before I installed this video card), I would have trouble shutting down and turning it back on. I would hit the power button, and no beeps. Eventually, I would let it sit for while and turn it back on, hoping it would boot, which generally worked, but made the machine unreliable.

I shut it down last night, and when I tried to boot up this morning, I just got the no beep. After hours of trouble shooting, I use the onboard video just to get it working. The video card isn't detectable in the Device Manager.

I tested the video card into another XP machine, and it also doesn't show up in the device manager.

C2D 1.8 MHz
ECS P4M800 Pro Mv2
2 GB RAM detected (but I have 4; WTF?)
WIN7 RC7100

Update: After fiddling around with the PCI slots, it's appearing in the Device Manager, but I can't get the monitors to switch to use the GeForce card. I'm afraid if I disable the standard VGA device, I won't be able to get back in if the GeForce doesn't work.

Edit: I also notice that when the video card was working, it would be detected on the boot up and would display the specs (512mb RAM, GeForce 8400 behind the black screen after detection of the IDE and SATA devices). However, even though it shows up in the device manager, it doesn't show up in the boot up.

Update 2: In the BIOS, I changed the primary graphics slot to AGP (instead of PCI), even though I have a PCI video card , but that did the trick.

Now, if I can only get the system to recognize 4 GB RAM.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

It sounded like you have a dead video card, since it wasn't working in two separate machines. But now it seems like that motherboard has some issues.

And I'm also afraid to inform you that motherboard, if I'm reading the specs correctly, can only recognize a max of 2GB of RAM: http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSi...tion&MenuID=44&LanID=0

Single-channel DDR memory architecture
2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM socket support up to 2 GB
2 x 240-pin DDR2 DIMM socket support up to 2 GB
Support DDR400/333 DDR SDRAM or DDR2 533/400 DDR2 SDRAM

By the way this is worded, you can use either DDR or DDR2 (but not at the same time, I imagine), and with either setup only 2GB max is supported.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
It sounded like you have a dead video card, since it wasn't working in two separate machines. But now it seems like that motherboard has some issues.

And I'm also afraid to inform you that motherboard, if I'm reading the specs correctly, can only recognize a max of 2GB of RAM: http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSi...tion&MenuID=44&LanID=0

Single-channel DDR memory architecture
2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM socket support up to 2 GB
2 x 240-pin DDR2 DIMM socket support up to 2 GB
Support DDR400/333 DDR SDRAM or DDR2 533/400 DDR2 SDRAM

By the way this is worded, you can use either DDR or DDR2 (but not at the same time, I imagine), and with either setup only 2GB max is supported.

Thanks, I didn't even think to look at whether the mobo supports over 2GB.

My mobo has been somewhat finicky with Windows 7, and now I'm afraid to turn it off or even set it to hibernate because I'm not sure if it will be able to turn back on again. The biggest problem I have is when I hit the power button, but I get no beeps; the power and HDD lights go solid and my DVD drive light flashes, but thats it.