Will my HP Pavilion a307x automatically detect & use an agp 8x card instead of integrated graphics?

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cinner74

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Jan 9, 2014
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I have a HP Pavilion a307x upgraded to 2GB RAM (ancient/made in 2003 yes but WAS working wonderfully before this!) the display has stopped working. Monitor works when hooked to another computer and I will be checking to make sure everything is seated correctly in CPU later tonight & also picking up a friends' loaner monitor today to hook up to make sure it's an internal problem but wanted to know ahead of time - will this PC automatically detect & use an agp 8x card instead of integrated? Is there a way to "Force" it to use the agp card instead of the integrated? There is a slot for for the agp - and here is the link to my PC specs:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c00041243#N105

I have No display so I can't disable the integrated in BIOS. Not sure how else to fix this? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Cindy
 
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coozie7

coozie7

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It's been a LONG time since I used an AGP setup but yes, it should use the AGP card as the display when the system boots.
If I remember correctly, you'll need to:
Fit the AGP card and connect any extra power leads it needs then connect it to the monitor.
Boot into the BIOS and there set the primary adaptor to AGP.
Save the change and boot normally.
This bit I'm unsure about but I think you'll next need to uninstall the integrated drivers then reboot before you install the card drivers and, if I recall, the AGP GART software.
Reboot.
Crossed fingers, should be done.
(Gentle sarcasm): Why are you using such a relic? Are you expecting a visit from Lara Croft? ;)
 
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cinner74

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Should I try to reset the BIOS first? or only after installing the apg?
 
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cinner74

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Oh boy. This may just turn my hair gray overnight! I am not exactly tech-saavy lol! I upgraded my own memory but that's about as far as I've ever gone inside a pooter. I'll be googling quite a bit to understand everything you just said - haha

All my business stuff is on this relic, along with kids baby pics - which were backed up but backup failed :( This thing has never given me a bit of trouble (besides replacing the monitor a couple years ago) and now this. Meanwhile, I'm on my 4th laptop since 2002 and this old girl has outlasted them all! Def slow but has always been reliable ;) Praying I can bring her back to life - with help from you all! :)

 
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cinner74

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BTW - Lara Croft? LOL! Wish I had some of her moves ;)

Also, as soon as I boot normally, won't pooter automatically start downloading the agp drivers before I get a chance to delete the integrated ones?

 
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maxwellmelon

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put a agp card in and hook a monitor up. it will answer ur question, from my experience with hp computers at that time it will work but there are some motherboards that did require changing in the bios to switch over then u would be out of luck (though windows still may be usable if it enables it in clone setting).

assuming u have xp here or newer your computer, assuming u get an image, windows will boot using basic video resolution and refresh rate automatically without any issue. for windows xp that will be 640x480 8 bit color (oh the memory's) windows 7 does a little better at 800x600. anyways to get to a normal resolution u will need to first go to device manager and delete ur old card( if it shows up if its not listed then don't worry about it there would be no issues as windows detected it as not being installed anymore)then install drivers for the new card follow by a reboot.
 
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maxwellmelon

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ok the results of my test say yes if u install the agp it will autodetect it and all u will have to do is install the driver after windows loads. its actually out of a different model so it may be slightly different but first boot off of integrated graphics Normal. put in agp card that I had laying around and it automataically disabled intergrate and ran only the agp card. hope it works on yours. (ps make sure the card seats down all the way when I first put it in mine it was kinda felt down but wasn't.)
 
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cinner74

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Yes, it has XP on it. Thanks so much for checking that out for me! Now I just have to get the agp card. WHY does looking for an 8x agp card online look so much like trying to pick a cold medicine at Walmart??? OMG... there's a million of them!
 
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coozie7

coozie7

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Glad to hear someone out there was able to test for certain about the autodetect part and clear that point up for you.
A spoonful of Newegg helps the medicine go down: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130452
Without getting technical, this card is designed to run in later 4x and 8x slots which is why it has tow cutouts in the edge connector, if I'm reading the photo of your system board correctly this will be a 'plug and play' part.
 
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cinner74

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Ok, finally got the agp card yesterday that coozie7 recommended (THANK YOU!) and installed just now. Powered on pooter & this is what came up on monitor:

Award BootBlock BIOS v1.0
Copyright (c) 2000, Award Software, Inc.

BIOS ROM checksum error

Detecting floppy drive A media...
INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER_

I tried just pressing Enter - nothing happens. Can't put AGP Driver CD in because when I try to open CD/DVD drive, light goes on but it won't open. HELP?! Thanks in advance!!
 
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cinner74

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Did this and still getting same message :(

 
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cinner74

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Anyone else have any other options to try? I'd hate to right this off - pooter was working perfectly before display died :( I understand it's outdated, but it has had only light use it's entire life, no gaming, upgraded the RAM...I just really love this old girl!
 
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maxwellmelon

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my last idea would be to reflash the current bios but don't know if that model can be done though a floppy disk as apparently that works based off of your message. you have to go though the support site for your model and see if a bios is still available for download that runs in dos mode
 
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