Bear with me i searched already -installing the video card

[HitmanHearns]

I searched couldnt find answer. Ive looked on several guides on net and searched forum. Its hard to find this stuff.

I got my video card, and i opened my pc and want to take out a card and put the video card in. The card i want to take out is an internal dialup modem which is useless now i have broadband. The problem is, i see this wire coming out of the card which plugs into the card above, which is the card which on the back of my pc i plug in the wires for my speakers. Its probably nothing to worry about and i should just take out the wire and put the video card in but i dont want to mess up my computer and this is delicate stuff.



This is the type of slot im using a pci expansion slot.

Sorry for being vague i try my hardest to search the forums for an answer but couldnt find one.

[yoda313]

Hello,

It is probably the soundcard cable for speaker phone cable. If it looks like it hooks up to the soundcard simply unplug it and nothing negative will happen.

It will have a flat plug at the end of the cable that connects to the soundcard if that is what it is. Shouldn't be a problem at all.

Just be sure to uninstall all of the drivers for it first

Kevin

[canadateck]

Just take it out,Dont worry.

[HitmanHearns]

Thank you. So i just unplug it from the modem card. Should i leave the other side plugged into the sound card or does it matter?

[northcat_8]

The wire is just a speaker wire so you can hear the modem. You modem evidently doesn't have it's own speaker or allows you to use your computer as a telephone and you can hear through your computer's speakers rather than the modem speaker...in any event, you don't need it.

Before you remove the card you need to uninstall the device through your windows device manager.

It's been a while since I've used Win98 so I can't simply walk you through the steps...but if memory serves me correctly:

go to --> control panel > system (may be called Device manager)

Find the modem and uninstall it.

After that, shut down the PC, remove the card.

I always like to restart the PC after removing the card and before installing the new card just to be sure that Windows has freed up the IRQ and memory.

[HitmanHearns]

OK i found i have a free slot im going to use that instead. But problem is, i unscrewed that plate thing, and im scared to death of messing up my computer. Im afraid of touching the video card or the small metal plate on it off the big thing underneath(that all the cards go into). Supposedly this is delicate circuits and one touch could mess up my computer. I cant quite get the video card in without pushing and im not going to push hard seems dangerous.

[HitmanHearns]

Oh yeah also, the gold "contacts" which is the part that goes into the slot, if it touches against a wire or something how dangerous is it?

[yoda313]

Hello,

Just gently rock the card back and forth until you hear it click into place.

Just don't touch the contacts and you'll be fine. If you're this nervous about doing it yourself find a friend who's done it before or take it into a service center and let them do it for you.

But honestly it's not that hard. You could even do a net search for an instructional video if this is your first time doing it

Kevin

[HitmanHearns]

So if the gold contacts touch a wire inside the pc it is ok?

What about the big circuit board which contains the slots? If the metal of the plate on the video card touches against that how dangerous is it?

[HitmanHearns]

My concern is not so much messing up the card as messing up my computer. The card costed $30, the computer costed thousands.

Could you tell me(sorry about it) all the things that could go wrong when putting in the video card?? ESPECIALLY to my own computer.

[yoda313]

Hello,

HERE is a link that might help. It's an instructional page from cnet.com on how to install a 3d card. The steps are EXACTLY identical for a capture card. (the physical steps that is).

Kevin

[HitmanHearns]

BTW i use pci slots not agp this doesnt matter? Thank you for your help.

[yoda313]

BTW i use pci slots not agp this doesnt matter? Thank you for your help.

Hello,

It's the same procedure. For pci slots use the white colored slots. Also pci WON'T fit AGP so it's kind of obvious that way - and AGP are gold I believe PCI is WHITE

Kevin

[HitmanHearns]

My main question is: You see the part of the card nearest to you? The metal plate thing. Well im afraid that while inserting the card the right side of that plate will touch against the big circuit board i think its called the motherboard. This seems extremely likely as that is the way it is placed. Sorry for bothering you.

[canadateck]

It should slip just past the edge of the motherboard.

[yoda313]

Hello,

Those are the connector pieces for the monitor and video inputs. Those face OUT from the computer. The connector nobs will be OUTSIDE of the case when properly installed - not inside

Kevin

[Marty2003]

Dude, Just stick it in and you'll be fine. The odds of something happening that will completely mess up your computer are really low. I've messed around with the power connectors while my computer was on, caused a short circuit, Powered the PSU off and on and everything was fine. Installing a video card is one of the easiest things to do. Just follow the instructions yoda gave. You say your computer cost thousands, but it's no longer worth thousands. You can get a brand new system for a few hundred nowadays in the worst case scenario that something actually goes wrong.

[canadateck]

You are sure that is a PCI video card? Looks like AGP.

[yoda313]

You are sure that is a PCI video card? Looks like AGP.

Hello,

You're right it is AGP it's got that tell tale hook at the end of the prongs

Kevin

[Bodyslide]

The card in the image is AGP. Also make sure the PC is off.

[canadateck]

Dont try to put that into a PCI slot. I know it wont fit but can still rub things the wrong way.

[canadateck]

A AGP slot can be Brown/Green/Yellow maybe, more but i dont think White.

[HitmanHearns]

No i have a pci card. Anyway i tried it. The gold contacts fit into the slot, but the top metal part did not go in fully. It simply refused. I tried the plate i took out to free a slot, it went in fine again. But the video card does not go in fully. Ive tried pushing it it simply wont go in. The gold part fits perfectly into the slot but the whole thing just doesnt fit. Its definately a PCI card and definately a PCI slot.

[Amish Electrician]

OOOO god help this man find $25 to get a real tech to put it in

[D.A.R.J.R.]

Just pop it in. Mine took a little forcing.. but you really shouldn't be this scared.

[northcat_8]

Dude...it's not that complicated.

If it's a PCI card, put it in a PCI slot, usually white

If it's a AGP card, put it in the AGP slot, usually brown.

Or in your case since you are so afraid...load up the PC, take it to Staples, Best Buy, Circuit City, or the neighbor's 10 year old son....and have them do it for you.

And...the card in the picture you posted is AGP.

[gll99]

ditto!
It's agp 4x/8x with svideo tv-out! a dvi connector and of course your trusty little 15 pin vga connector. Probably 128 ddr memory :P

If it's not going in near the back of the case you probably have it hooked on the edge of the motherboard.

What kind of computer do you have that should tell us if you have an agp slot. (it would have to be pretty old not to and wouldn't be worth thousands). edited to cover yoda's comment... (old) unless you have a built-in graphics chipset :P

[yoda313]

Hello,

if you have an agp slot. (it would have to be pretty old not to and wouldn't be worth thousands).

Slightly offtopic - my new emachine doesn't have AGP and it's just a month old :P - and it didn't cost thousands....

Kevin

EDIT - Unfortunately no PCI-express slots

[DVDDave]

i think some people like to post some ridiculous threads just to see how many people will waste thier time replying with instructions. somebody could have built the TAJ MAHAL in the time everyone has tried to explain first--how to install a PCI video card, second--the difference between a PCI and AGP--this is ******* stupid.

northcat8--you hit the damn nail on the head--bring it to the neighbors so some 10 year old can put it in!!!

[tekkieman]

OOOO god help this man find $25 to get a real tech to put it in

Or in your case since you are so afraid...load up the PC, take it to Staples, Best Buy, Circuit City, or the neighbor's 10 year old son....and have them do it for you.

DING! DING! DING! We have two winners!

I can appreciate those who want to learn and to try something new, but if it's not working for you, or you're really afraid of causing damage, take the advice of the two people quoted above. If you're having this difficult a time installing the card, wait until you have to load the drivers!