visiontek hd 3650 agp 1 gb: drivers unrecognized in fully updated dimension 8300 winxp3

holmzie

Honorable
Nov 5, 2013
3
0
10,510
Tried both hotfix driver (after videoCard autodetect) and the standard driver. Unloaded previous nvidia driver, restarted, installed new driver with catalist. looked very good, normal...but when restart, WinXP refuses to run, see the XP splash screen and then stops, restarts by itself with the safe mode boot menu. vga and safe mode work. Last working configuration works in VGA mode (?) but then crashes. Followed Visiontek's instructions to a T. Dimension 8300 bios is updated, as is intel chipset, and all relevant updates available from dell.

Got a message flash on the screen that the driver is incompatible or wrong one. Stuck in a loop, and to prevent damage, stopped. In safe mode checked Device Manager, there is the drivers, loaded, looked OK, but there was a bad device below with yellow(!) , an audio related device, obviously related to this install, probably for the HDMI audio output?

Obviously the order of uninstall (remove old drivers), reboot, and install new drivers, reboot, must be followed carefully. I am guessing that the AGP on this machine has never processed audio before? I'm stabbing in the dark, here. Looked for a Driver Cleaner/remover but don't trust unless you say it's needed or recommended. I could look in the event log & report to you. I DID get one blue screen memory dump or two, but didn't write 'em down. I have spent lots of hours reading and trying lots of things. I work on lots of older computers gettin 'em running, but this one is for me.

Is this basicly a compatability issue with Dell Dimension 8300? Are there others out there w/ same problem? Is there non-dell chipset or bios updates I can load into this baby and take a chance?

I have 3 gig memory 3 gig hiperthread processor, newer 305 watt psu, (UNTAXED, I put my SCOPE on it and the 18 amp 12 v rails are LOAFING along) This card gives a warning when insufficient psu or drive connector unplugged. No other pci stuff plugged in except Creative audio card which I tried pulling.

To top it off, I plan on upgrade (no choice?!?) to Win7 (if and when I get some money) I am working with a home design program which requires a good video card.

Thank you all in advance for your kind attention!! Any comment would be most welcome!
holmzie.
 

holmzie

Honorable
Nov 5, 2013
3
0
10,510
UPDATE! HEATSINK MISSING!! The AGP chip on the back of the board has the pressure sensitive tape around it...but no HEATSINK! I looked at New EGG and other sites, show the heatsink in place. The Ebay seller didn't notice? how many more out there like it?

Please consider this thread closed.
 
If you bought the card used without testing, you pretty much have your answer :) Get a refund from the seller, he probably removed the heatsink because the card was crashing on him to try to fix it with a new one. A big reason why I have not bought any video cards used without seeing them run first.
 

holmzie

Honorable
Nov 5, 2013
3
0
10,510
Gotchya loud n clear hang. There was no stick left on the heatsink mounting tape. Saw other pics on ebay with same heatsink missing. Informed Ebay and they are gone now...? somewhere in bottom of several PC are heatsinks rattling around. BZZZZITT!! I be more careful about purchases from now on.

Happy bits! holmzie