videocard problem (still)

[NoviceBill 0]

Still having trouble booting my Compaq after I install the drivers for the videocard (or let Windows 2000 install them for me); original post was #143271. Sampson suggested I ensure that the BIOS specifies a boot default to AGP (not PCI). The BIOS options I can get to seem pretty weak, with not a whole lot of options available and nothing regarding AGP. The books I have by Meyers and Mueller show BIOS screens with all kinds of stuff, but I only get a little bit. Are Compaq BIOSs realy this lame or is there another area I can access but don't know how? (the Advanced pull-down also doesn't have much). I've read that older compaq systems may use something called an IML system partition BIOS where some of the BIOS is hidden on the hard drive and only the core BIOS remains on the motherboard. Now I realize that if this is the case, and I have already installed a new hard drive, this new hard drive won't have the Compaq-supplied BIOS stuff hidden away on it somewhere. I do, however, still have my old drive with all the stuff still on it: I've put it into one of those external HD enclosures. Does anyone know if I might be on the right track here, and if so, how do I get at the "hidden" BIOS stuff on my old drive? and how to get it onto the new drive? (copy/paste obviously, but I don't know what files to look for). Thanks!

[Sampson 0]

Sorry you are having such problems. This should take you to the page that is the support for the Presarios at HP: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softw...&rule=33464

Compaq used to hide part of the BIOS on a hidden area on the hard drive. That was in the days of Windows 95 and 98. My feeling is that since this is an older board the AGP may only be 2X, and it may possibly be damaged or that portion of the configuration for the AGP at bootup may be in that hidden partition (or a special .inf only Compaq's had). If the support or drivers are not available at HP (I didn't know which Presario you had) or if the site is no help to you at all, see if you can get your hands on a PCI video card and see if you can install it. You will not then have to worry about the BIOS.

[NoviceBill 0]

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I eventually went and purchased a used ATI card for $20 which works fine. FYI, I think my nVidia card is actually OK. I actually went and read the ReadMe file on the Win2K installation disk, and it said that display controllers based on the nv4 display chipset may experience incompatibilities with systems that contain the VIA system chipset. So the generic driver that came with windows won't work with my nVidia videocard, and I have to find the driver that will. I contacted HP a couple of times, but so far their options haven't gotten me the correct driver. Since everything's running, it's not a pressing matter, but it's become kind of personal so I haven't given up yet. Anyways, I appreciate your help.

[teqguy 0]

Perfect example of why prebuilt systems are limiting... if Compaq was actually dumb enough to store something as volatile as the BIOS on the hard drive, I really have to ask what are they smoking and where can I get some.

 

I can help you clear up the inconsistancies of the BIOS by flashing it with the motherboard manufacturer's BIOS... unless of course it's an un-marked prebuilt board(which I doubt). If the latter is the problem, I can modify the BIOS and manually reveal features that were hidden by Compaq.

 

Since we don't have to avoid voiding your warranty, poke around inside the case and see if you can't find a model number, brand name, or anything else that would be distinguishable. If you can't find anything like that, try taking a picture of it and I'll try to identify it by sight.

 

As for incompatabilities with the chipset and graphics card, I wasn't around for your first post... so I don't know which card you're dealing with.

 

The multiplier of the AGP clock and the voltage of the AGP slot are negligible, seeing as how a 2x slot is structurally different from a 4x and/or 8x slot. If the card has an adjustable multiplier and voltage, it tends to have two notches in the PCB connector(the gold contacts), the first notch being for 2x support and the second being for 4x. If your motherboard's AGP slot has a small section of contacts, then a notch, then a large section of contacts it's an AGP 2x slot. The AGP 4x/8x slot mirrors the 2x slot, with a large portion, a notch, and then a small portion.

 

With the Radeon installed, download and install Via's chipset drivers available here: http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=403

 

These drivers not only improve compatability, but also performance and stability in the IDE controllers, onboard sound, onboard video, and chipset... because Via rolls everything into one neat package.

 

After we get this taken care of, you might want to grab the Forceware 66.00 drivers to ensure the best performance and compatability with your card.