I am having a video card problem.

[DOSfan]

General Overview (Details to follow): I have an AGP card that refuses to operate in anything other than PCI compatable mode.

Disclaimer: I am prepared to do a clean install of my OS, in fact I had it "schedualed" for a few months. (I was waitning for my new hardware.) However, the OS CD is "mispalced," and I am looking for other things to try in the meantime. And to take notes, in case the clean install does not fix the problem.

Details:

Motherboard: ECS K7S5A
BIOS: AMI 07.00T
SMBIOS/DMI: 2.30
AGP slot is 4x version 2.0
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2100+ (1.73 GHz)
OS: Windows 98 SE 4.10.22224.10.2222 A
Current install has gone through 2 motherboards, and four video cards. So I am well aware that it is even more confused than 98 normaly is.
Video Card: nVidia Geforce FX 5900 Ultra - Asylum
Driver: 45.23

So what do you suggest?

((Please note: While suggested changes of OS or Hardware are welcome if you can point to "actual" improvements, I have made my choices for reasons that are sound to me. You will need to bring up some very convincing material to sway me. ))

 

[Theslowone]

This might be a stretch but what kind of power supply do you have? and wattage?

 

[amdskip]

You really can't just switch out a motherboard and use the same install on a hard drive and expect the system to operate correctly. Sometimes using XP and repairing the operating system will work but you are using 98 and its basically asking for trouble.

 

[DOSfan]

As far as power supply, Antec True Power 550 Watt. So, I am fairly certain it isn't the power supply.

And amdskip, like I said - I planned on the clean install. But no longer have an OS to install. At least not for now. I am thinking about rumaging through the bargain bins in my area to see what a copy of 98 is going to run me.... But I refuse to pay 200+ dollars for a "new" operating system. (I did some checking, WinME retails for $199. These prices are all USD btw.)

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: DOSfan
As far as power supply, Antec True Power 550 Watt. So, I am fairly certain it isn't the power supply.

And amdskip, like I said - I planned on the clean install. But no longer have an OS to install. At least not for now. I am thinking about rumaging through the bargain bins in my area to see what a copy of 98 is going to run me.... But I refuse to pay 200+ dollars for a "new" operating system. (I did some checking, WinME retails for $199. These prices are all USD btw.)

Do not Do not Do not even consider ME. It's Microsofts biggest pos operating sytem!!! I would go the 2k or XP route really, much nicer than 98.

 

[DOSfan]

LOL!!

Relax amdskip.

I wasn't going ME. I only listed it because that was the oldest OS I saw for retail.... And I could not believe it was selling for $199. XP goes for around $500. I think all of Microsoft?s OS are overpriced.

If you could not guess from my video card, I am a PC Gamer foremost. If it were not for that I would go Linux all the way. I very much prefer it. Last I paid attention though, WINE was more of a "trail and error, hit or miss" style emulator. And I found putting up with Windows to be much simpler than trying to get games to work under Linux.

I all but refuse to go XP. Between the unnecessary security vulnerabilities, and the poor implementation of the network software, it is far from a suitable OS. I have been avoiding 2K as well. Friends I know who are knowledgeable users tell me for gaming, it really isn't a good choice.

I might end up with a "recycled" version of XP, so I might end up with it after all. Relax, it is all legal like. A friend is a high placed person in the statewide college system. The college recently decided to remove all copies of XP from their campuses and go 2K. No XP allowed on a college computer. (I assume personal computers using the network are allowed.... But I am not certain.) So he will end up with about 3 licensed copies of XP, and will distribute them among the needy.

But we have digressed from my original question:

Does anyone have any idea of what I might try to fix the PCI compatible problem with my video card?

 

[DOSfan]

Well.... After a frustrating web search, I have stumbled upon my problem.

It turns out that the OS needs a driver to fully access the AGP slot. Silly me. I thought that was the job of the Video driver. :Q

For anyone else who might be looking on, the ECS K7S5A mobo, needs an AGP driver to access the AGP slot in anything other than PCI mode.

The driver can be found here, or you can just skip the website and download the driver. (The driver is for Win98 to 2K)

But I do have stability issues, so now I move on to getting an OS for a clean install. Thank you to all for your atempts at helping.

 

[lucky9]

slightly off subject. but i ran a stable 98 then 98se for years (98se=3yrs) . they don't hold a candle to xp for stability. steve gibson's site (i know you know it) has some fixes for security issues that work. course, i use a router and a firewall too. xp home (i used the full version=199 less on sale) is the way to go. with the connection you have don't pass it up.

 

[KillaBong]

Wow, I never realized they want that much money! I paid $40 for a legit xp pro on mine. My friend has some special home version that installs on many comps, and the educational pro upgrade was 40. Otherwise I would probably use 98se also.

 

[sswingle]

You can find OEM copies of Home for about $100 and Pro for $150 on many internet sites. All you need to do is buy some piece of hardware with it, such as a $10 mouse.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: pwddesign
You can find OEM copies of Home for about $100 and Pro for $150 on many internet sites. All you need to do is buy some piece of hardware with it, such as a $10 mouse.

or a free y-splitter w/purchase of microsoft sotware from newegg.com. (when they have them in stock)

one thing to note, you would have been better off with a motherboard upgrade, and a slightly cheaper video card, as far as performance goes. The ECS K7S5A isn't know for it's speed, it's a cheap mobo mostly used for system builders to compete with the el cheapo's that dell/gateway/etc. build. your next upgrade should definatly be to at least a kt400a board or an nforce2 of some sort....and it's not that hard to upgrade a mobo w/win9x all you have to do is go into device manager and uninstall all the devices, the shut down the pc and upgrade your mobo, the new devices will then be detected minus the devices that require the mobo's installation cd.\

an upgrade to at least xp home edition would be recommended when upgrading you mobo as well.

 

[DOSfan]

Well you guessed it, lobadobadingdong. I got the basic computer for $450 at a fair. I knew all of the components would be a little sub standard at least, but for the deal I could not complain.

As I get the money I am upgrading the pieces that need to be upgraded first. I am just starting to get into the pieces that only should be upgraded. Barring any major problems with the mobo, I do not intend to upgrade for a while. When I do, I will just upgrade the processor and memory at the same time. Probably throw in a case as well, so I could really run two computers if I want. Or more accurately, make a "hand me down" for someone I know who might need one.

But on this topic: Is it common to have to install drivers for the motherboard? Or is that a sub-standard mobo thing? Not only was I not aware that the K7S5A needed a driver for the AGP slot, I can not tell you how hard it was to search for the fix on the internet! I am curious if this is something I should expect from most, if not all, current mobo's?

 

[amdskip]

I just install all the drivers on a motherboards cd, nothing too unusual.

 

[DOSfan]

amdskip:

I just install all the drivers on a motherboards cd, nothing too unusual.

Hehe... Maybe not for you!

I have built around 40 or so computers in my lifetime, and this was the first motherboard that even had drivers! (Almost all of those computers were built about 15 years ago. )

But I take it is something I should expect from now on.... Okay.

Thanks for your input.