Video card woes

  • Thread starter Thread starter mark
  • Start date Start date
M

mark

The AGP video card in my PC got hosed, and I'm getting a "no video" beep code
when I boot.

So I removed the AGP card and replaced it with an old Matrox Millenium PCI card,
the only video card I had available.

When I boot, the XP splash screen comes up, and then a BSOD:

STOP: c0000218 {registry file failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file)
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\DEFAULT
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

The KB for this error says to check if the hardware is supported. Yes, the card
IS supported by XP.

I then tried a repair install. It copies the files, then exits with the error:

Setup can not set the required Windows XP configuration information. This
indicates an internal setup error. Contact your system administrator.

I've also tried the recovery console,
enable vgasave SERVICE_SYSTEM_START
It says that vgasave is already enabled. In any event, it doesn't help.

It's obviously still looking for an AGP card that's no longer there. Putting the
card in again doesn't help, because it's not being seen on system initialization
anymore.

I'm guessing that my next option is to do a parallel install, load the original
registry, and somehow tell it, hey, ignore the AGP card and use either the
Matrox, or (probably easier) straight VGA.

That's where I'm at now. Anyone know exactly what I would need to do to fix
this?

Thanks in advance….

(man, do I miss Win '98)
 
It may not be XP. Depending on your motherboard, you may have to change
settings in the BIOS setup to disable the AGP slot and enable a pci graphics
card. If you have a manual for your Motherboard, check there. Or download
one from the motherboard makers site, since you apparently have access to
another computer.
 
Hi,

The system has an Award BIOS.

The only BIOS option that would apply is:
Advanced / PCI Configuration / Primary VGA BIOS
The choices are PCI VGA card and AGP VGA card.

I set it to PCI VGA card. It had no effect. Same problem as before.

There is no option to disable the AGP slot.

I'm quite sure the problem is that XP is trying to access a video card that no
longer exists. I need to get at the registry and tell XP to ignore the AGP card.
Anyone know how?

Thanks
 
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