I can't get my box to start after installing Geforce 4 MX 420
 

After I put a Geforce 4 MX420 PCI card into my computer, the computer would power up but the monitor wouldn't come up. The monitors amber light was steady. I know that isn't good. I also noticed that the front power switch didn't affect the power off only the power on. I used the power supply direct switch in the back to turn off the troublesome computer. I proceeded slide the old Video card into a free PCI slot and change the monitor connection. I powered the box up and still got the same problem. Only after removing the Geforce 4 card did the machine and monitor come up and normal boot proceeded.

The monitor model is CK-4158 from Action Systems. It's from about 1995 or 1996. I haven't been able to find much information about the monitor specs.

Anyone have any ideas what is going on?

I'm really baffled and kinda upset.

Did you put the 2nd video card in the same slot?
If so then the problem could be with the GeForce card, not Linux..

i too think linux dont cause the error it maybe your mobo
that is incompatible with your new card
After all one should be able to enter a bios when booting up and
still get some screen so that would exclude the monitor too.
I know certain msi boards are incompatble (don't remember the site though)
sometimes a bios can cause this trouble and has to be
flashed, which can be tricky ! (can render your bios to numb)
Some graph cards draw to much power dont know if your
card is one of them so i say check the web for more info
good luck

I know the problem isn't with Linux. I couldn't even see Linux I told you the monitor was blank. How could the mobo be incompatible. It exceeds the minimum requirements. I Have a Pentium 2 350, the card recommends P2 266. Whats an msi board? I did originally pout it in the same slot.

Is it possible for a monitor to not be able to handle a graphics card? My monitor is not that old on six years.

Anymore ideas would be most helpful.

--Thanks in advance

If the only difference is the card, then that points to a problem with the card.

Who makes you monitior? Search for three web site and
shoot them an email.

and search the GeForce webite and/or shoot them an email

For geforce cards (in general) and compatible motherboards check
www.g256.com/guides/geforcecomp.shtml

MSI is a brand motherboard.
Mostly these items of not being compatible causes, strange errors like random freezes etc etc
but what i have seen they are most AGP/chipset/bios related
so your pci device may not be an issue.

Have you tried the card in another computer ?

Monitor should not be the problem, during boot time
freq range is alway in range.

And card could be simple deffective even when its freshly
out of the box ( a doa) seen this often at the job

If I were you, I'd take the card back to the shop and ask them to test it for you _AND_ give you a replacement even if it works. (they might be inclined to test the second card too) they should do this for you as it is illegal to sell somthing that does not work. Well it is in the UK and Aussie I dont know about your neck of the woods though...

The seem to be alot of challenges in using GeForce with Linux base on the number of messages posted on this
site

Pickledbeans, I'd guess that thats because heaps of folks are buying them. by all accounts Nvidia are good to linux users in general. but I still hate them for bringing down 3dfx, glide forever baby...

And "heaps of folks" of people are having problems getting
them to run under Linux including the lastest releases of
RedHat and Manddrake...

I just want to put the thread back on track and straighten out the problem. The Geforce 4 card seems to not work at all because I can't get a display to appear on bootup. Not to be confused with a problem with X. The problem seems to be with my motherboard but, I don't understand what it could be. My motherboard is fairly good. Asus makes a good board. I looked through the specs that the graphics card requires and my board should be compatible.

--Thanks to anyone who replied to this thread

If the problem was with you motherboard then neither video
card would work, as the previous poster said SEND the CARD back.

If your motherboard has on board video then you may have to disable this in the bios and/or set it to display from pci first.

Good guess though. My motherboard does not have an on board video. My best bet is to take the card back and get them to get it working. Do you think they will get it working for free since it's their card I bought?

I shot both Asus, and VisionTek an email detailing to the best of my ability, the problem. I have yet to receive an answer.

--Thanks