Vista - ATI Radeon HD 4650 1GB Graphics Card/Driver Troubleshooting Without Video

Ok, I'm trying troubleshoot the new computer I recently bought. The problem is either the driver or the graphics card.

Computer: Gateway DX4300-03, 64-bit Windows Vista, ATI Radeon HD4650 1GB graphics card
Monitor: LG Flatron W2361V

The problem is: No video output, monitor tested to be good (used a 32-bit Windows laptop)

Details:

When I first got the computer (late July 09) I couldn't see the BIOS startup screen. The monitor would only turn on right before the Vista login screen. NOW, I don't see ANYTHING on the monitor at all. I can still hear the Vista log-in screen. I input my password without seeing the screen and I can tell it logs in. I've been using Windows Narrator and the keyboard to roughly navigate through Windows.

I've successfully ran System Restore, restoring it to the first restore point (when I could not see BIOS, but still see Windows), but still couldn't see anything on the screen.

I tried installing the latest driver from ATI's site (it's not easy navigating the web through Windows Narrator), but I couldn't successfully get through the program. Most likely the install program doesn't have Windows-recognized buttons so I can't tell and I can't see to use my mouse.

I tried to start Windows using safe mode (rapidly pressing F8 at system startup), but I can't tell if I'm successfully getting into Windows.

I tried to use the monitor drivers in the disk I received, but once again there aren't any traditional buttons to select and I can't get through it.

Unfortunately I can't return it back to the store I bought it from (Best Buy) because I didn't buy any protection packages and I don't want to pay to turn it in. I contacted Gateway but we only got so far as the operator to email drivers to me.

Any tips, insights?

tjp7154, welcome to the forums.

This is going to sound like a stupid question, but after looking at the specs for your computer,

Gateway Official Site: Shop - Desktops - DX4300-03 Product Details - DX 4300 03 Product Details

do you have the monitor connected to the card and not the onboard video connections? Reason for asking is that according to the specs the motherboard has the AMD RS780 chipset, also known as 780G, which comes with the HD3200 onboard video (I know as I have a board with the same chipset). If it is connected to the card and not the onboard connector, it is possible that it isn't configured properly in the bios (onboard disabled, and add-in card set as primary). Just to check here is what the back of mine looks like with the onboard video connectors circled (there is also a HDMI port just to the left of them),



Also grab CPU-Z,

CPUID

and on the motherboard tab it should provide the manufacturer and model number. Then I can look up the manual for it, and hopefully gateway has hacked the bios too badly and can point you where to look to make sure that the onboard is at least disabled.

Thank you for the response. When I disabled and reenabled the graphics adapter it finally came up. I did indeed connect the VGA and HDMI cables in the onboard connector as opposed to the card itself. I found this was the reason I couldn't see the BIOS screen. As soon as I connected to the card itself I was able to see the BIOS screen from the VGA AND the HDMI connections. Thank you.

It is good to see simple solutions to simple problems, sometimes the simple problems can cause the most chaos.

I am having similar problems with my gateway ( same model, same video card). My monitor is a gateway FHX2300. I went in to the BIOS and disabled the onboard video as was suggested and I am plugged into the ATI card and not the onboard video. I saved my changes in the BIOS and rebooted and am still having the same problem. I can operate for about 5 - 10 minutes and then the screen goes black and the system reboots. I've checked for the latest drivers and I am current.
I bought this system from Best Buy a few days ago so I may bring it back to them.

I thought I would check the forum for thoughts before I go that route.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Ed