AGP failure?

[booman]

I'm working on a co-employee's computer and here are the symptoms:
Turning it on and there is a scrambled display, but at least there is a signal.
By the way, there is no onboard video, so the AGP is all I got to work with.
1. So I took the PC home and tried a different Video Card and received the same results, scrambled screen. There is a signal, but not enough to actually see something.

2. I thought that I had a PCI video card, but I don't. I think that may be the only solution...

3. I also tried connecting the PC to my network and seeing if I could connect to the shared folders or Remote Desktop, but my other machine won't find it.

Any other ideas? I was thinking there may be some dust in the AGP port, but I don't have any compressed air. Would dust create this kind of result, or maybe some of the pins are not touching correctly....

[robbie]

Put the card in and pull it out a few times. That should take care of anything down in the slot.

[booman]

I'll try that and even compressed air. Otherwise any other ideas? Where can I get a PCI video card? Goodwill?

[booman]

I used compressed air and Slid the Video card in & out a few times, but still scrambled.
When I plug in the network cable I get an amber (orange) light instead of blinking green. So its not receiving packets.
I tried to find it on the server in DNS but no unrecognized computers.
I even tried DOS: net view
but no computers I didn't setup.

I'm thinking a PCI video card is the only way to go...

[Rondog]

I think there may be an issue with the mainboard. Particularly if you are having network issues, and video issues. Although, it may just be coincidence and it may only have a manually assigned IP address from a different class.

A PCI video card would definately determine the systems fate though.

[booman]

PCI card it is then....
I told my client that it may be a failing motherboard.
Its a nice computer though:
Dell Dimension XPS

[booman]

My co-employee got a PCI card and BAM, we're in! I've re-installed XP Home and his computer is fully functional. By the way, the PCI video card is a GeForce4 MX 4000.
I also noticed before I formatted, windows recognized the Radeon 9800pro installed in the AGP port. Should I try the original video card again?

[booman]

does anyone see anything wrong with this Radeon 9800pro?
notice the dark areas?
when I pulled the heatsink/fan off the plastic punches just crumbled...

[dabaerman]

I'd say it's toast as long as the PCI vid card is sufficient no need to change.

Ron

[booman]

finally someone replied...
I told my buddy the same thing. If the PCI is sufficient then lets stick with it.
I wonder if the AGP is really fried though?
I tried an AGP card of my own and got the same artifacts but I tried that same card on a different computer and what do ya know... artifacts. Looks like I have two bad cards. So maybe the AGP port on the Dell is perfectly fine....