Quote Originally Posted by Photo-John
I haven't tried taking out the drives. That's next. I did check all connections and just tried another video card and another monitor. I used my old Matrox Millenium II video card, ca. 1996. It popped. So that wasn't a very useful exercise. I bought the new card, a Kaser AT!-9200 SE, at Frys. You never can tell if something you bought at Frys has already been opened. There's no manual in the box, only a CD. And the CD has no read me file or other documentation. The Kaser site has no real support or information, either.

I guess a useful question is - should I be able to get video when I first start up the computer, with any video card? All video card documentation I can find says a CD is needed to install a card. If so, how do you get video, in order to install Windows, in order to install a card? Get it? Looks like a catch 22. If it should just work, fine. But I can't tell if that's the case.

Thanks for your help. I'm starting to get a little frustrated. The next step is to remove all the drives and try again.
You're correct about your assumptions and the catch 22. If the hardware in the system is functioning properly, and the bios is configured properly, then you should always see video with any video card shortly after turning on the computer.

I'm beginning to suspect your new video card. I didn't understand what you meant when you said the matrox card "popped". Do you mean it blew up on you? (with a little smoke and what not?). That surely isn't a good thing.

I'm concerned that your video card was returned. I don't know anything about the brand you mentioned, but it's custom behavior to have at least some printed material instructing a person how to physically install the card.

I've got a few minutes to kill while I wait for my laundry to dry....I'll search the internet for a bit and if I find something I'll update this thread.....if you don't see anything from me today then it means I haven't found anything valuable.

Try not to stress yourself out too much. Chances are, you did everything right and something out of your control is at fault. It happens.