Motherboard or Video card problem?

Just finished putting together a new system for a friend, and I'm running into a problem.

Device Manager lists the "Nvidia nforce2 AGP Host to PCI Bridge" as not able to find necessary resources, and as such will not list a display adapter--obviously not allowing the video card to be installed.

I have turned off unnecessary on-board divices through the BIOS to free up IRQ, and i cannot see ANY conflicts that would not allow the AGP bridge to work.

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the nforce drivers to no avail.
next step is to try a different video card as he did not buy a new one, and is using a pretty crappy one.

system specs are:

Windows XP Pro sp1a
Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe
Athlon XP 2800+
512MB OCZ pc3200
Kyro 64MB Video Card
420w Raidmax PSU
Lite-On 16x8x40x CDRW

 

That ASUS motherboard normally doesn't have any problems with video cards or the AGP GART drivers. The Kyro is a fairly old and unconventional card, which I've not personally played with.

Googled around and found other cases of the same conflict with the Kyro & nforce2 based mobos. Lots of complaints, no clear solutions. Kyro is an AGP2X card, and some said that the new 4x/8x boards don't like it, found one comment about a bios flash + a solder job on the circuit board that would make it 4x, but there's confusion over more than one circuit board layout, and I didn't see reports back that it cured the problem.

Bottom line looks like it's the Kyro, and it's an old slow card about equal to a GeForce2 IIRC. I'd replace the card.

 

I flashed the latest BIOS, and made sure everything was in order, and normally i dont do windows updates untill i have the video card installed (because i HATE working in 640x480 ) but i'll give that a shot and see if that helps any.

thanks for the research. I told my friend it was likely the video card, as I've never run into such a random error, especially since the chipset drivers installed fine. It's nice to its probably something simple like that.

he was already saving up for a new card, I guess now he'll be more eager to buy one... hehe or my old one...

 

What???

How in the world are installing (for example) the .NET framework or WMP9 KB837272 update going to have any effect on this problem?

 

DirectX is never going to affect resource allocation. In fact, no Windows Update will.

Drivers update from Windows Update is a fool's errand.

If this is happening on a clean install, with the latest manufacturer drivers, and bios updates... In Years to Come, you have a conflict at a hardware level.

We aren't sure if its the motherboard or the video card, right?

With this being an Nforce2 board, we have the advantage of onboard video built in.

Take out the Kyro card, and boot up with the onboard Geforce chipset.

If you still have a resource conflict, then you might want to try a clean install (The Kyro drivers are still in the registry and the device is still in the enum keys).

If you STILL have a resource conflict, then I think you have your answer--its the motherboard, most likely.

If not, chances are it was the video card.

 

Missed the fact it was an -E. I'm not too big to apologize for the mistake. I was also under the impression the -E had the same features as the Deluxe. (non E)

However, laugh all you want, there is not one thing directx will do to change resource allocation.

Laugh away bud, it only makes you look silly.

 

I stand doubly corrected. The A7N8X Deluxe doesnt have it either.

Sorry for my mistake.

 

alright, as suspected, with a different video card in, it works just fine.
hes buying a new video card, so all is well.

out of curiosity, i know agp 2x cards run on 3.3v whereas 4x and up run 1.5v. I know some agp1x and 2x cards also were able to run on 1.5v, but were all able to do so? if not, maybe thats the problem, since the most I could specify in the BIOS on this board was 1.7v... just a 'what if'