GEEK! Please! How do I identify a video card??

[aquart]

I do not mean how do you tell it's a video card because the monitor plug sticking out of it does that just fine.

I mean, how do you tell which card it is? Because, stupid stupid stupid idiot that I am, I failed to backup the cabs file or copy down the identity of the card before I crashed and reformatted because of the evil worm which had infested my pc, scrolling across my screen saying "I love you, my sweet sexy pooooooooooooooooo!" But that's over. The worm is dead.

But neither Gateway nor I have been able to identify the card. The Gateway drivers for the pc's original card have been warned off. I get a notice saying these aren't the right drivers do I still want to take the risk of installing them? Which I don't. So what now?

If I pull the card out and gaze at it carefully, will there be some telltale mark which will tell me????

PS, I'm not the original owner which is why I don't know what's been replaced and what hasn't. Gateway identified the new modem I put in, but comes up blank on the video adapter which is now running on the standard adapter driver which comes with Windows. Not a joy.

Can I be helped?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. What model Gateway... what processor speed?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. Don't know?? When your machine first boots up... description of

your video card should be listed at the top.... as well as your processor type and speed... you have to be quick to get it... or you can hit pause I believe so that you can write it all down.

[scottcsmith]

2. Some ideas

If you purchased a Gateway system it probably uses on board video. I would guess an Intel chipset. If you can tell me what model your Gateway computer is, I can tell you what video chipset you have. I'm assuming you did not purchase a separate video card, but are using what originally came with the computer?

[aquart]

5. See, that's what seems to be wrong.

My imperfect memory suggests this thing is a 16 Mb card, but the pc shipped with 8 Mb. Did the last owner upgrade? No way for me to tell if I can't identify the card.

Gateway has all kinds of stuff for identifying what you've got, but every bit of it has failed to detect the video card.

[scottcsmith]

8. I'm betting it's an Intel graphics card

Unless it's a REALLY old machine (like from 1995 or 1996) then it probably has an ATI graphics card.

Is there an actual video card you can pull out, or is it onboard video?

If you can pull the video card out I can tell you what you have if you can just write down what it says on the card.

[frylock]

3. belarc advisor..

The Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your Web browser. All of your PC profile information is kept private on your PC and is not sent to any web server.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

[WillyT]

16. Yep... Belarc Advisor Should Do The Trick !!!

:hi:

[salvorhardin]

4. Look for a FCC ID on the card

and then search on it here:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid

That should give you a start.

Alternately, if you have an OS on the machine already you may be able to tell what video card it is from that. For instance, in Windows bring up the Device Manager dialog and choose to view the properties for what's listed under Display Adapters. That may also give you more information.

[aquart]

6. Device driver: Standard PCI Graphics Adapter

That's all it picks up, the driver Windows installed in default.

[scottcsmith]

9. Are you running Win 95 or Win 98? n/t

[donco6]

7. Do this:

Put your computer back together.

Under Start/My Computer select Control Panel

In the Control Panel directory, find System

Under System Properties, select the Hardware Tab

Select the Device Manager button

Select the Display Adapters line

You should see a list or maybe just one item that lists your video card.

[dolo amber]

11. Yep, exactly

Thanks for saving me the time of typing all that out. ;)

[donco6]

12. I just had to do it recently

to see if I can run Sims 2.

[Princess Turandot]

15. psst...

the windows key plus the pause-break key (if you have one, it will be northwest of the number pad probably) will also launch system properties, more quickly.

[donco6]

18. Thanks.

I learned something, now, too.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. Go here and download this utility

http://www.voodoofiles.com/11075

It identifies ALL hardware in a Win32 computer. I've used it for quite a while, and it's never failed me yet. And it's freeware!

(Download from Mirror 3)

[Princess Turandot]

14. Try this website..

for recommended freeware, as well as a lot of other great info:

http://www.aumha.org/freeware/freeware.htm

Scroll down to Everest Home Edition, and install it.
It will provide a lot of system info. Launch it and expand 'display' in the left pane window. The various items under that will tell you everything you need to know. You can have a video card which uses Nvidia for example as its adaptor, but is manufactured by someone else.

Are you sure it's Gateway warning you, or Windows?

[gmoney]

17. It's the one in your wallet that says "BLOCKBUSTER"

or maybe "Cheech's House of Pr0n Rental"