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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

By ideafixer ·
I have loaded windows 2000 on a new PC. It is from the MSDN library so I need to load some drivers manually. Unfortunatly HP's driver on the web site does not work for the video. I am stuck with 16 colors. The video card is on the motherboard. Is there any way to figure out what kind of driver I need? I have looked through the documentation, looked at the board and used belarc advisor. I types the number serial number Belarc gave me into yahoo and did not turn anything up.

1) Is there a simple way I am not aware of for determining what kind of driver is needed when the video driver is mounted on the board.

2) If I get another video card, can I just install that one. In this case, should anything specific be taken into account?

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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

by quintar51 In reply to Cannot determine video dr ...

What is the model of your system board? Also, you can try using windows update. Sometimes it will find a updated driver for a device.

If you do plan to purchase another video card, make sure you disable that built-in one in BIOS.

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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

by ideafixer In reply to Cannot determine video dr ...

Thanks for your input. It was helpfull unfortunatly I had to state that it was not to get this comment in. Trying to locate the driver for the board via model number has been unsuccessfull. I typed it into yahoo and found nothing. Are there any sites that have a search utility just for this. I went to HPs web site and the driver does not work from there.

If I have to spluge and get a new video card due to this, how do I disable the old one in the BIOS? Will the new one plug and play with the windows default until I update it with the appropriate driver?

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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

by TheChas In reply to Cannot determine video dr ...

If this is an HP motherboard, then they really are your best source for both drivers and information.

Most manufactures of OEM motherboards do not offer any support for the boards. (Some won't even acknowledge that their OEM boards exist!)

Canyou identify the graphics processor used on the board?
Intel
SiS
S3
ATI
are all common graphics processor mfgs.

If you can identify the specific graphics processor, you may be able to use the chip manufactures 'reference' drivers.

You maybe able to see the IC on the motherboard, or look at the system specifications for the PC.

If the graphics are AGP, you may need to install 2 other drivers before Windows will recognize the graphics processor.
1. AGP mini-port driver for the chipset on the motherboard
2. DirectX (from Microsoft) Although, I don't believe you need DirectX for W2K.

Chas

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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

by ideafixer In reply to Cannot determine video dr ...

Interesting you say this. I am sorry about the Unacceptable answer but it's the only way to get my comments in. Anyway, I am pretty sure it's a sis driver. I downloaded the Win 2K "softpack" for the video driver from HP's website and installed it. It bombs out and says something about an invalid table reference. I think it's a problem with the softpack install utility. That's why I am hunting for the driver.

I tried using all of the sis windows drivers and none of them worked. I guessI could look at the system board for another clue. I am going to make another go at trying to hunt down a clue and get the correct driver tomorrow. Another option I am kicking around is to install another video card. Unfortunately I am not sure how to disable the on board one in the BIOS. Is this a simple procedure? I know it’s all relative really. I looked around on the net for some instructions and have come up short. Hopefully I will luck out and find the driver.

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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

by TheChas In reply to Cannot determine video dr ...

I agree with switching to a plug-in video card.
Most of the on-board systems are slow and hog memory.

As to disabling the on-board video, check if HP has a manual for your system, or an article on installing a video card.
(They do for most systems.)

There are 3 different methods in use:

Jumper on motherboard.

BIOS switch.
(you want to check BIOS settings anyhow)
Make sure that the first video device is set to the slot type of your video card.
(if available.)

Auto-detect.
Some boards simply auto-detect a plug-in card, and disable the on-board video automatically.

There are a few that use both a jumper and BIOS switch.

Chas

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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

by ideafixer In reply to Cannot determine video dr ...

Thanks. I ended up installing XP. I had an XP driver that worked.

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Cannot determine video driver on win 2k

by ideafixer In reply to Cannot determine video dr ...

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