DOA Radeon LE?

[blahsome]

Just got a refurbished Radeon LE from newegg.com. Here's the problems:

1. during POST, some of the characters displayed were garbage.
2. Windows XP recognized it as Radeon DDR, proceeded to install a driver, and then screen went dead. The indicator on the monitor turned from green to yellow, suggested there was no longer a signal from the video card.
3. Rebooted and couldn't get a login screen. Same yellow light as in step 2.

I tried going into safe mode, which succceeded. I then installed the latest ATI driver from the ATI website. Rebooted and still couldn't get a login screen.

At this time I pretty much believe it's DOA. I've already requested an RMA number (I'm grateful that part was easy...), but would just like to solicit some opinions before I send it back. (It doesn't seem to be a driver issue since there are problems as early as during POST).

Thanks.

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

What are the other parts of your computer? i.e. mobo, cpu, etc

what was your video card before the LE?

Did you delete all of the previous vid card drivers before you installed the LE?

I switched from Nvidia to my Radeon LE and it was real pain in the ass to set up with problem similar to what you have with yours. I had to d/l a program to remove all of the nvidia drivers , then install the radeon drivers twice before it worked.

g/l

 

[rbV5]

<< Rebooted and still couldn't get a login screen. >>



Your card may be fine, since you can boot to safe mode, most probably OK.

Try this, press F8 before it gets to the windows boot-up to get the advanced startup options, instead of safe mode, use enable VGA startup. This should get you into windows at 640x480 4 bit color. Now change to a refresh rate and resolution that you know is supported, say 800x600 32 bit color. Now reboot and all should be well.

 

[blahsome]

Tried to go into VGA mode and failed. Same thing happened--the Windows XP logo displayed fine, but the log-in screen never appeared. The monitor indicated no video signal.

I did have nVidia drivers installed, but I removed it using the Control Panel before installing the Radeon LE. The reason that I think the card itself is defective is that there's even garbage in the POST display. My understanding is that Windows drivers won't even kick in at that stage.

Me thinks since Radoen LE is so overclockable that somebody did something really bad to it and then just returned it. I guess I'm going to refrain from refurbished stuff from now on, although I've had great successes before. :|

 

[Killrose]

Do you have a third party overclocker for your Nvidia card still installed? These are'nt removed when you remove your Nvidia drivers.
It may be trying to overclock the Radeon.

Boot into Safe Mode, in the Devices Control Panel check and see what devices are listed for your Display Adaptor. Remove any of course that may be other than your Radeon.

 

[blahsome]

I booted from my Windows XP CD and tried to fake a new Windows installation. From the very first setup screen, I got the same garbage display. This should completely rule out driver issues.

Now there's only one element I need to test before returning the card--my BIOS settings. I have few video settings to play with in the BIOS, except the AGP aperture size. Currently it's set to 64MB, with 64MB and 256MB as the only two available. However, I swear when I was using an ATI Rage Pro 8MB, the AGP aperture size was set to 32MB with 32MB and 64MB as the possible options.

I've installed AGP 2.x cards since, so I guessed the BIOS automatically changed the available settings accordingly? (Now even if I put the 8MB card back in, it's still 64MB or 256MB.)

I'd really like to try adjusting the apperture to 32MB. How can I get that setting back? Maybe I can flash my BIOS?

Thanks.

 

[Killrose]

The aperture size is not the problem. I've had that sort of problem before when I installed a video card with an overclock utility not ment for that card. But then again I've had a bad video card before, and even the bios text was scrambled.

Call it bad and send it back.

 

[blahsome]

Thanks for the help.

I guess I'm sending it back.