trouble installing graphics card

[jhuns]

I have a Dell Dimension 2350, which comes with onboard integrated video.  I just bought an EVGA GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 PCI card that I cannot get installed.  Here are the steps I have taken and their results:

I installed the card in PCI slot 2 (because 1 was taken).  I could not make it display, nor install the drivers.
I moved the card to PCI slot 1.  The first time I booted up afterwards, the new card displayed the BIOS splash. but went dark after that.
Lots of reboots never resulted in displaying video from the new card.

I know that the graphics card works, because it worked one time, but I have not been able to get it to work since.  I have a feeling that it is a problem with the onboard graphics chipset taking over. I cannot disable the onboard graphics, because the bios only gives me the options "onboard" or "auto".  I have browsed lots of other forums looking at other people's problems, and tried most of the suggestions given there, but to no avail. 

Does anyone have any ideas how I can make the BIOS turn the control over to the new card? Or if that is even the issue? Any suggestions are appreciated!


Thanks

[mannsupreme]

did you un-install the previous graphics card drivers and install the new ones prior to installing the graphics card?
try switching back to your old one and doing this chances are it will help.
ive had alot of problems installing graphics card into dell dimension computers before. dell dont make their computers to be self-upgrade friendly

[Allan]

DO NOT install the new driver before the card is installed

[GQ]

I had the same problem recently trying to install a nVidia geforce 2mx400 64mb PCI card in a old Dell with on-board video. In device manager I had the yellow ! telling me the device had problems and could not start. I worked on it for a week trying every thing, tried all the PCI slots - downloaded drivers for the card - flashed the motherboard bios to the latest version - disabled on-board video. The new card did start two times for me but no more. I finely came to the conclusion the new card must be bad. I returned the card , it was tested and found to be bad. Received replacement , installed it in PCI slot 1 and it started up and works great. I use duel monitors now.

[dahlarbear]

I cannot disable the onboard graphics, because the bios only gives me the options "onboard" or "auto".

So which setting are you using ("onboard" or "auto")?

[jhuns]

So which setting are you using ("onboard" or "auto")?

I am using "auto"

[jhuns]

did you un-install the previous graphics card drivers and install the new ones prior to installing the graphics card?

DO NOT install the new driver before the card is installed

Anyone else have thoughts as to whether or not the drivers should be installed before or after the hardware?  I don't know that it is even possible to install the drivers if there is not hardware there to install them with.

[Allan]

There is no other thought. It's not an opinion. The driver is installed AFTER the card is installed. As you said, the driver should not even be able to install if the card is not in place.

[cruisin702]

Is your BIOS version A02?

[jhuns]

Is your BIOS version A02?

Yes, I am running BIOS version A02, and I have changed the graphics from "onboard" to "auto", with no effect.

[patio]

Dead card..."it worked once" means nothing...

[jhuns]

It turns out my card wasn't dead.  I got on EVGA's website and looked at the recommended requirements: 250 W PSU.  I had to check out Dell's website to find out what mine was: 200 W.  I bought a new PSU and presto! it worked!

[dahlarbear]

Thank you for posting the "resolution".  I learned something new today.