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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Adding Video Card Crashed System
hcgirl - Nov 10, 2005 - 8:10 pm
Hi,
I just tried to install an additional video card into my G4 PowerMac so that I could run two monitors, now the original card doesn't work and the system won't boot up. I tried removing the new video card but still the original card won't start the monitor and no boot. Tried zapping the pram too, nothing. I reinstalled the new video card so I could at least see if I was booting up, and tried to boot off a System back up on an external drive, same result, I just get stuck on the apple start up page with a wheel that spins for a bit then sticks.
Help!
Thanks... Heather
I just tried to install an additional video card into my G4 PowerMac so that I could run two monitors, now the original card doesn't work and the system won't boot up. I tried removing the new video card but still the original card won't start the monitor and no boot. Tried zapping the pram too, nothing. I reinstalled the new video card so I could at least see if I was booting up, and tried to boot off a System back up on an external drive, same result, I just get stuck on the apple start up page with a wheel that spins for a bit then sticks.
Help!
Thanks... Heather
ishan - Nov 10, 2005 - 9:47 pm
We need to know what kind of Macintosh you have and the video cards involved for a more specific reply. You zapped the PRAM already, but you also need to reset nvram by booting into open firmware: Apple's infodoc pages tells you how to do this depending on the model of your computer.
Installing the second video card usually means you installed new drivers as well. The new drivers may have overwritten the drivers for the previous video card. This shouldn't happen, but it does.
Try a "Safe Boot" by holding down the shift key during a restart; this will stop most third party extensions from starting up. If you can safe boot from the external drive, run Disk Utility on the internal drive (if it mounts on the desktop), and rerun Disk Utility until you find no more problems. If you have DiskWarrior from Alsoft run that also; if you don't have Diskwarrior, buy it ASAP.
I assume you did the usual stuff before you mucked around with the insides of the Macintosh-grounded yourself, kept the Mac plugged in but powered down (obviously), removed all peripheral, kept the cats out of there, etc.
I think that the bottom line is you have somehow corrupted your system, and my simpleminded approach would be:
1. Reinstall the system from your original install CDs after reinserting your original video card in its original slot. Ideally, if you have a backup of everything important, do an erase/install; otherwise, do an archive/install, but do not save user preferences.
2. Once the system is up, running and feels stable, then install the drivers for your second video card from the CD that comes with it.
3. Reboot with monitors connected to both video cards and see what happens. You may have to tinker with the resolutions setting, etc. but the system should boot just fine.
HTH and let us know what happens.
Installing the second video card usually means you installed new drivers as well. The new drivers may have overwritten the drivers for the previous video card. This shouldn't happen, but it does.
Try a "Safe Boot" by holding down the shift key during a restart; this will stop most third party extensions from starting up. If you can safe boot from the external drive, run Disk Utility on the internal drive (if it mounts on the desktop), and rerun Disk Utility until you find no more problems. If you have DiskWarrior from Alsoft run that also; if you don't have Diskwarrior, buy it ASAP.
I assume you did the usual stuff before you mucked around with the insides of the Macintosh-grounded yourself, kept the Mac plugged in but powered down (obviously), removed all peripheral, kept the cats out of there, etc.
I think that the bottom line is you have somehow corrupted your system, and my simpleminded approach would be:
1. Reinstall the system from your original install CDs after reinserting your original video card in its original slot. Ideally, if you have a backup of everything important, do an erase/install; otherwise, do an archive/install, but do not save user preferences.
2. Once the system is up, running and feels stable, then install the drivers for your second video card from the CD that comes with it.
3. Reboot with monitors connected to both video cards and see what happens. You may have to tinker with the resolutions setting, etc. but the system should boot just fine.
HTH and let us know what happens.
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