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Nvidia Geforce 8400 Gs - Driver Installation Breaks Xp

Discussion in 'Graphics - GPU' started by n00bster, Jun 14, 2012.

  1. n00bster

    n00bster

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2012
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    UK
    Operating System:
    Windows 8
    Hi,​


    I am currently in the process of trying to install Win xp onto a Packard Bell J2414. The PC came with Vista pre-installed but the owner has no recovery media and if there was originally a recovery partition it has been deleted.



    I have installed windows xp on the PC and everything works fine except that when I install the graphics card driver the PC stops booting up and freezes on the win xp splash screen.



    The PC has been fully updated to service pack 3 + all updates, all hardware except the graphics card has been installed and works correctly.



    Windows update sees the graphics card as a GeForce 8400 GS, AIDA64 agrees with this. Belarc advisor did not recognise the card and when I try to use the nvidia software to automatically find the drivers it does not recognise the card either.



    I have physically looked at the card and all I can see is a nvidia logo.



    When GeForce 8400 GS drivers are installed it seems to install ok but windows will no longer boot. Safe Mode works and I have a system restore point before driver installation that seems to work ok.



    Anyone got any ideas?



    Thanks
     
  2. KenB

    KenB Registered Members

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2010
    Messages:
    1,223
    Location:
    Wirral UK
    Operating System:
    Windows Vista Home Premium
    Hi,

    Boot up ( in Safe Mode if necessary )
    Start > Run ....type in .....devmgmt.msc ........ENTER
    Click the + next to Display Adapters

    What is listed ?

    Are there any yellow exclamation marks or red Xs ?
     
  3. n00bster

    n00bster

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2012
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    UK
    Operating System:
    Windows 8
    Hi,

    Thanks for the help.
    Device Manager shows NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS. No exclamation points or crosses. The drivers are currently installed but the PC only boots in safe mode.
     
  4. KenB

    KenB Registered Members

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    Location:
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    Operating System:
    Windows Vista Home Premium
    Hi,

    Right click on the driver > Update Driver Software
    Let Windows use the internet to search for updated drivers.

    Do you have 2 PCIe x 16 slots on the motherboard?
    If so - try the card in the second slot.
     
  5. n00bster

    n00bster

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2012
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    Location:
    UK
    Operating System:
    Windows 8
    Hi,

    Windows installing the drivers causes exactly the same issue. There is not a 2nd PCI-e slot but I can test it in my PC. Might not be able to do this for a couple of days but thank you for the ideas!

    One more thing I noticed earlier, I was playing around with the PC and in the BIOS I turned on the manufacturer splash screen over the POST (now displays Packard Bell instead of POST info). When I did this I realised the Packard Bell logo is showing graphics artifacts. Is this an indication that the graphics card is faulty?
     
  6. BeeCeeBee

    BeeCeeBee ADMINISTRATOR IN MEMORY

    Joined:
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    I am by no means the hardware expert that KenB is but since you appear to be here right now I will give you the short answer.
    When you start getting graphics artifacts on what you know to be something as clean as a splash screen it is normally a hardware issue and not a driver issue. While it could be the card itself it still may be caused by the PCI slot so you really need to continue and follow up as Ken suggested. If it does work well in another PC you may have to start looking at the motherboard as a possible cause.
     
  7. KenB

    KenB Registered Members

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    Location:
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    I agree with BeeCeeBee.

    Test the card in another machine.
    This will, at least, let us know if the card is OK.
    If it is then the problem lies elsewhere.

    Ideally - if you have a spare card - put that in your machine and try that.
     
  8. tecknomage

    tecknomage Registered Members

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    Messages:
    140
    Location:
    San Diego, CA USA
    Operating System:
    Windows 7
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H
    CPU:
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4690 CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Memory:
    8gb
    Hard Drive:
    4tb
    Graphics Card:
    NVIDIA Corporation GK104 [GeForce GTX 770] 1990mb memory
    Power Supply:
    750w
    n00bster,

    Have you used nVidia's Driver Update page before?

    Used [Automatically find drivers for my NVIDIA products] with sucess?

    Also, what version of nVidia driver works?


    If this is the first time you did the above, the problem MAY be that your Packard Bell is NOT communicating card identifier correctly.
     

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