GPU not recognized

[puffaSmoke]

Hello All!, another noob here

I would try SEARCH, but one of my newest troubles makes that most challenging. The browser, as well as other windows, closes unexpectedly while I'm working, going back to the desktop with nothing on the toolbar. I have installed a new HDD after suffering a major malware infection on the old HDD.. got so bad system wouldn't boot.. planned to install new HDD then slave to old to salvage some old files.
The new hard drive is in with XP installed. I can't get the thing to recognize the grafix card.. even with BIOS set for INIT AGP.. Devices Manager only shows the onboard (VIA/S3 UniChrome PRO).. I even disable it and it makes no difference. Everest indicates:
AGP Status Enabled
as well as
AGP Device VIA/S3 Unichrome Pro Integrated

What am I doing wrong?
I'm asuming that the Radeon X1300 XGE is a plug and play device, so shouldn't windows give me a 'found new hardware' msg??
I thought perhaps that I had a bad graphic card so I bought a new one and the symtoms are identical.
Using Everest to indicate Total Physical Memory I sometimes see 447MB.. sometimes I see only 197MB (I have two 256MB sticks installed!)
I expect that the RAM issue is causing tasks to close without warning (and I'll upgrade to 1GB if the GPU can be made functional), but why doesn't Device Manager show the Radeon card under Display Adapters

Thanks,
Mike
Jetway PM9MSR2, Intel P4 Northwood HT 2.8GHZ, 2x256MB RAM (generic), XP Pro SP2, WD800JBRTL, Radeon X1300 XGE

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

Did you install the drivers that came with the card?

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[puffaSmoke]

I've tried installing from the CD that came with the old GPU (is only a couple of months old) and I've tried the CD that came with the GPU I bought yesterday.
Is there some way to check to make sure they actually DO install?
What I would like to know is why don't I get a 'found new hardware wizard' after I plug in the GPU?

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

What does it show you under device manager?

Did you try to manually install with the hardware wizard?

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[kiddpete]

Did you reinstall all of the MOBO drivers?

You may need to totally clean out your video install before attempting to reinstall. ATI has a program to do this. Do not let Windows download and install video board updates.