mightymap

I'm on a dell optiplex gx620. Everything works except the video card (ATI Radeon X600 256mb). I can use the onboard graphics fine but after I install the ATI drivers and reboot I get that flippin' black screen and I hear the windows startup tone at which point I restart in safe mode and remove the ATI drivers and try again...very frustrating any help is appreciated.

Zardon

are you disabling the onboard graphics?

Can you go into a little more detail as to exactly the procedure you are doing everything?

mightymap

hmm..well I've been messing with it for hours have formatted windows twice in the last 24 hours. I've tried everything it seems...the last thing I did was download ATI Catalyst Software Suite version 8.7 from the home page and installed it. It did its thing and asks me to reboot which I say yes and then it starts to reboot and right before windows fully loads the screen goes black and I hear windows continue to load with nothing but a black screen. I then reboot in safe mode and remove the ATI Display drivers that weren't functioning properly and reboot using VGA graphics once again. Don't know if this was the detail you were looking for...let me know what you think.

mightymap

Also, I've tried like 10-20 different video drivers to get it to work a few go to the black screen a few give me an error that reads something like: "inf error: video driver not found." and another error message comes after that like set up can not install the drivers or something...

mightymap

Forget to answer your first question...No, I haven't been disabling the on-board graphics...

Zardon

ok, well if you are using onboard graphics on a motherboard there will be a vga or dvi port on it I take it you are plugging your monitor into this?

You need to firstly go into the bios, disable the onboard graphics (this varies from motherboard to motherboard) then plug the monitor lead into the ATI card you have installed in the system.

mightymap

ok...I tried installing the drivers, restarting, then going to bios and disabling the on-board graphics. Saved the settings hit escape or whatever then it restarted and went to the black screen of disappointment. I think the only reason I'm using the onboard graphics is because the ATI video drivers won't install properly.

The plug has been going into the ATI card since I got the card it has not been plugged into the on-board graphics. I reformat my computer pretty often (at least once or twice a year) and the last time I don't remember having any trouble with the video drivers which is perplexing.

What's next...?

ChoGGi

this sounds like the problem i had with 8.6 (black screen after booting)
8.7 fixed it for me though, you could try the 8.5 version and see if it makes it go away
also are you overclocking anything?

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specs
Common Problems and Fixes for your Radeon

OldBuzzard

Is it possible that the card is set to a resolution/refresh rate that your monitor won't accept, and your monitor isn't displaying that?

Also, does the X600 have dual monitor support? If so, have you tried BOTH outputs?

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Maru

Hi guys. I've been searching for help on this forum for my problems. I had a AGP issue, it was disabled, and smartgart switched it off every time after reboot when i tried to switch it on. so then I did a repair install, that didn't work well because i god BSOD and finally i did a clean install of windows. that came through, but now, when i install ati drivers the screen goes black at logon, same as mightymaps problem. I've tried latest ati drivers, v7.6, v5.7, v7.11, omega drivers, and everytime the same result. I run drivercleaner and ccleaner everytime when i'm installing a different version of ati. So I'm wondering through the net searching for a solution. Some suggested using microsoft uagp insted of via's agp. Mixed results are reported. I didn't try that myself yet. as for my specs here's the post where they are written http://www.driverheaven.net/windows-...st1194440.html
I also have digital and vga output, i'm now on digital. not sure it that's the problem, because as i said, driver was installed and i didn't get a black screen issue prior to formatting. ofcourse exept the agp speed issue. So I thought you guys might have some fresh ideas to this desparate situation of mine!
Thank you