Simple, stupid question about video cards

Hello! I've found a lot useful information on this site so I thought I'd post a question and see if someone could help me...

So I've got this pc with an Nvidia 5200 card in it that isn't being recognized as a display adaptor in device manager, windows xp. This is strange to me as I have my monitor plugged in through it and can see what I'm doing. When I switch the card out for another one it is recognized in device manager and seems to work fine.

1) Is this a sure sign that something has gone wrong with this Nvidia 5200 card and that is broken?

2) Can you plug your monitor into a broken card and still see what you are doing? Is that what's happening here?

3) If it is possible that this card still works what steps can I take to get my computer to recognize it?

I'm just trying to get this thing running for a friend of mine and the 512mb Nvidia 5200 card would definitely trump the alternatives I have on hand.

Thanks for reading, whatever advice you have will be appreciated.

 

Ok I found a solution to my problem after visiting a chat room lol.

Let me boil this down into a curiosity.

If you plug your monitor into the back of a (mostly) non-functional video card is it possible to see your system's display on the monitor?

Thanks!

 

Hi Zcat,

If you get a picture from the card then it is probably not completely blown. It may be partially defunct. When no driver is loaded or the driver is corrupt the a driver in the BIOS will be used to run the card. That's how you are able to set up a new build before you can load a driver. You will get very low resolution and color until a proper driver is loaded.

Hope this helps a little,

Jim

 

Well, in my experience, they work or don't work. Or work until they over heat, then the computer shuts off. If you are able to see a display, the card is probably OK. Have you tried downloading the Nvidia drivers for that card and installing them?

Geforce drivers: http://www.geforce.com/Drivers

Some cards windows likes better than other cards. XP is an older OS. I would try the drivers.

 

I agree with the work or don't work.
Might try safe mode is you can post but XP is not showing up. If the resolution is wrong for your monitor it can act like a bad video card.