Video card info displayed when booting

[evosmudge]

Hi,

I reformatted and installed win98 to my old computer that I'm giving to my cousin. I did this using the setup of my newer computer (new monitor, mouse, KB) and everything went smoothly. When I gave it to my cousin, he used another monitor that he had and came across a boot display i've never seen. It said the following:

MATROX POWER GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR
MGA SERIES
VGA/VBE BIOS, VERSION V1.9
COPYRIGHT (c) 1995, MATROX GRAPHICS INC.

The computer doesn't go to the normal boot-up screen with the bios and system info. It only shows the info above and stops. We then tried the CPU with a roomates monitor and everything worked fine. So what could be the problem? The info on the system is listed below. Thanks in advance for any replies.

233 MMX w/256MB
Matrox Millenium video card 2MB
Creative 16 soundcard
6gig HD
I forgot what motherboard it uses. let me know if anything else is needed. Thanks...

D

 

[Kocky]

Try to boot the computer while the monitor is not attached.
When the pc is fully started hook the monitor on and check if you get an image.

Try if the monitor works with a other computer.
The monitor might be dead.

 

[gargouille]

IF kocky's suggestion doesn't work (looks like it should):

While it's hooked up to a computer that works, right click on an open area of the desktop and choose properties and set the monitor to standard VGA...then shut down and hookup the other monitor and reboot...it should work, then.
The message is likely also displayed on a properly working system, it's just completing the test so quickly you don't see it...in this case it's hanging there so you DO see it.

Doubt, tho, that the monitor isn't working...cause it's showing you the message in the POST screen.

 

[paparazi]

Just differant reaction times of differant monitors and setups.
Quite normal for VGA to be displayed at the beginning of boot, nothing to worry about either way. Martin Please let members know if there advice has helped any.

 

[evosmudge]

The problem is still occuring so now my cousin is borrowing another monitor to see if things work. Here is a list of things I tried.

- I tried booting without the monitor attached and the computer doesn't seem to boot without a monitor connected. That was pretty weird because I think it should boot no matter what.

- The CPU did work with my newer monitor so I tried plugging it back to the problematic one without the vga connected. The computer still didn't boot up.

- The monitor did work with another computer but windows could not find an appropiate driver before windows finished opening. When I went to the monitor properties, it was able to find a driver.

- I tried gargouille's idea but i don't know where to set the vga to standard. Mine is already set to plu and play monitor without a monitor name.

Please give me any other ideas.

ok... we tried using an HP mx50 monitor and everything works fine now. So that is a temporary fix until he has to return the monitor. The monitor we did have a problem with was an AlphaScan 711 and an old viewsonic monitor. Thanks guys...

D

 

[gargouille]

Just for future reference, evo, (IF I again see this weird__s problem) I'd like to know some more details about your old computer...what kind is it?
In the end, the old monitor wasn't plug and play and the Alphascan was on the fritz?