Detecting My PCI Slot Nvidia Video Card

[Ramchu]

When running The PCLinux Live CD KDE it always selects my VIA onboard graphics instead of the
PCI slot mounted Nvidia graphics card.

I downloaded and can run the live CD from the Ub#ntu 12.04 LTS and the Linux Mint 13 Maya
and they detect and use the Nvidia card properly.

I wonder what it is that they do differently from PCLinux ?

Hardware Specs : Sempron 3000+ 2.0 GHz: 333 MHz - Chipset: Via KM400A - Motherboard: A7V8X-LA - Memory 2 GB DIMM PC 2700
                             184 pin, DDR SDRAM - Hard Drive: WD 250 GIG 5400 - PCI Slot Mounted Nvidia GeForce FX5200 256MB 128 BIT DDR
                             Graphics Card.

I am not knocking PCLinux here it is and will remain the only linux distro that I have installed on my computers.

[scoundrel]

Did you set it in the BIOS to use the Nvidia card  ?

[Ramchu]

Did you set it in the BIOS to use the Nvidia card  ?

Yes - the only option to set the video card in BIOS is use PCI .

Thanks, scroundrel for your reply !

[Ramchu]

Ok I guess I should be a Little clearer

It does detect my PCI mounted Nvidia FX5200 Graphics card but it still chooses the
onboard Via graphics drivers.

I get a black screen with only a mouse pointer and a Cashew - no desktop background - no panel
- no system tray and no desktop Icons.

I have to right click on the desktop and add widgets - there I add the PC launcher and go to
configuration and click on configure your computer - enter the root password - then click on hardware -
configure video card  and then set it to use the Nvidia FX driver then I have to logout and back in again
to get to a normal desktop.

With the other Distros I mentioned in my starting post I do not have to do all of this, they correctly take me to
a usable desktop configuration.

[CaptainSarcastic]

I'd check the BIOS for a setting to disable the onboard graphics.

If that doesn't work, I'd uninstall the VIA drivers using Synaptic and leave it with only the proper Nvidia driver installed.

[Ramchu]

I'd check the BIOS for a setting to disable the onboard graphics.

There is not an option to completely disable the onboard graphics in the BIOS.

If that doesn't work, I'd uninstall the VIA drivers using Synaptic and leave it with only the proper Nvidia driver installed.

You will have to explain to me how to do that within a downloaded ISO that is burned to a CD/DVD.

[horusfalcon]

Is this link relevant to your motherboard?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00069442

If so, it has an AGP 8X slot.  Please check your CMOS Setup again, and see if the AGP slot is enabled.  It should not be necessary to disable the onboard video, but the AGP slot may be keeping PCLinuxOS from recognizing that a PCI video card is installed.

This might also interest you:  "On my HP system, pressing F11 at the logo boot screen will get me into any advanced BIOS settings that exist."

It may be you're overlooking some of the capabilities of your BIOS?  Source:  http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/19966/  Look for a post by Don Ziehm about four or five down in the linked thread.

Have you tried the video card in each of the three available PCI slots?  It may work in a different slot if you haven't tried it yet.

Later ON,
D

[horusfalcon]

Just checkin' for a pulse here.  Has their been any progress on this issue, Ramchu?

Later On,
D

[Ramchu]

horusfalcon,
Thank You for your replies.
Yes that is my motherboard that you linked to.
In the BIOS all that I get as far as video is the selection of PCI or Onboard/AGP.
I have PCI selected.

As far as progress the short answer is - NO.

But all is Good as I do know how to get the live CD up and running.

Again - Thank You !

[horusfalcon]

Just re-reading the thread and saw this afresh:

It does detect my PCI mounted Nvidia FX5200 Graphics card but it still chooses the
onboard Via graphics drivers.

Can you get the system to come up on a monitor attached to the onboard video port?  If so, set up that way, then get in PCC and select the Nvidia from "Browse and Configure Hardware", swap the monitor over to the PCI card, and reboot.

Might do the trick for ya?

Later ON,
D

[Ramchu]

Running the Live CD and doing a reboot looses all modifications .

[horusfalcon]

Running the Live CD and doing a reboot looses all modifications .

Yup, that's right - no persistence for PCLOS live CDs.  Not sure how to proceed from here - can't ya still set up the system as I described to test it?  That, or just install it to  USB drive just to test it out.

I gotta run - three o'clock in the morning is gonna come early.

Later On,
D