I8000 Video Upgrade to GF2Go Problem

Question

Yes, I Know, I have read the forums for the past two days but have not run across a post with the same symptoms as my problem. I'm not a newbie.. nuff said.. Anyway.. I decided to finally upgrade my old I8000 from the ATI M4 32MB to the GeForce2 GO 32MB (4D597). I purchased a used card off eBay that was said to be from a working system ($25, what the heck). Received the card and here is the process of install... - Downloaded and installed latest BIOS (A23, 1/21/2004)- Powererd off/removed battery- Opened up laptop, removed ATI M4, installed GF2 go, closed up laptop- Powered system up... When I power the system up, the power light comes on, the hard drive spins up and then the hard drive (IDE activity) light then stays on also. The screen stays black. Thats all that happens, the power light and hard drive stay on, the laptop does not shutdown, just stops and sits there. I also noticed that when you first power it up, there is no flicker of the screen like when it normally first boots with the ATI M4 installed. I can put the ATI M4 back in and she boots right up, no problems (I'm typing this on it now). I ahve swapped the cards back and forth 5 times now, each time no boot with the GF2, boots fine with ATI M4. Tried hooking up external monitor with no luck. I have since tried resetting the BIOS (CMOS, whatever you choose to call it) by pulling the connector that goes up under the touchpad with the GF2 installed, no luck, exact same symptoms. I know it reset because when I put the ATI M4 back in, it gave the message configuration info message.. blah blah.. Went into the BIOS and set the date, etc.. It is not a driver problem since it doesn't even get close to loading Windows. So, I have drawn the following conclusions and here is where you guys come in!  1 - The GF2 card is bad, perhaps when it was shipped it was damaged. This would not surprise me since it came in an ESD bag (good), but tossed in a bubble wrap envelope with no rigid support (bad!). The eBay seller has agreed to refund my money (good), but I just don't want to give up on it (bad). 2 - Perhaps my mainboard is not compatible with the newer GF2? I saw some posts with something about an A02 revision, but could not find any other info about this, or where the revision info is located on the board. This may also be more problems for me if this is the case since I am awaiting the arrival of a PIII 1Ghz (SL53S) CPU to upgrade from the PIII 650 currently installed! IF this is in fact the case: Would it be worth swapping the mainboard for a newer version? Can a newer mainboard be purchased from Dell parts? Price? 3 - I've missed something easy and you guys are gonna tell me what It is!  Here are the major system specs:I8000, A23 BIOSPIII 650Mhz, 192MB PC100 SDRAM (64 original)IBM 20GB Travelstar 5400 RPM HD (replaced original 10GB 4200 RPM Hitachi)ATI M4 32MB15' Sharp UXGA LCD Display (per Dell specs)8x CD/DVD Drive, Floppy DriveWin XP Pro Any help/advice is much appreciated! Thanks!Bill

psybersyde · Answer

i doubt the motherboard is the issue. its probably the card. does the m4 still work? it might be the cable to the lcd panel. maybe it wasn't seated right. i had the same issue with my old i8000 when i upgraded it to a gforce2go 32mb. i had to reseat my lcd cable a few times before i could get it to work. i still have the gforce2go 32mb card and it works if ya wanna buy it off me, make me an offer!

also: i had a 700mhz p3 in mine w/ 256mb RAM.

Message Edited by psybersyde on 02-03-2004 10:50 AM

wfhillman · Answer

As I said in the original post, I can put the ATI M4 back in and she boots right up, no problems (I'm typing this on it now). I have swapped the cards back and forth 5 times now, each time no boot with the GF2, boots fine with ATI M4 every time.

I don't think it is a seating problem as I really explored that idea the first couple of times I swapped the cards out and looked for any reason it might not be seated good.

Thanks for the reply!

wfhillman · Answer

I am going to get another GeForce 2 Go card and try it out. Will post results...

TDunn · Answer

I remember reading that some of the I8000 mobos wouldn't take one card upgrade or another.
I put an ATI R9000 64MB in my I8000 only losing recover from standby. Otherwise it works
great and is of course much better than the M4............TD

ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 video board part numbers - 4U284, 5U427, and 5X659 - ~$129 (I8200)

baheinrichs · Answer

How does a person upgrade if the screen is black?  My I8100 went black and won't even boot up in safe mode.  ANY IDEAS?

wfhillman · Answer

Not sure if I understand your question, but your problem doesn't appear to be quite the same as an upgrading problem. My problem with the blank screen is ONLY when I try to install the GeForce 2 Go card, it works fine with the ATI M4 installed. And no, I certainly can't upgrade it when all I get is a blank screen.. I see you have started a new post with your problem, hopefully someone will provide you with answer...

On an additional note: I have successfully upgraded my CPU from the PIII 650 to a PIII 1Ghz. Still waiting on another GeForce2 to arrive.

wfhillman · Answer

I received another GeForce2 Go (inside a plastic bag in another bubble wrap envelope , ugh!). After installing the card she booted right up! I installed the new drivers and it works great! Have not tested it out fully to really get a real feel of the improved speed but it is allot smoother in Warcraft III.

I'm happy now with my old laptop.. well.. except for the amount of memory and the hard drive RPM speed. But that will be another day...

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