PC Support

To resolve this issue we recommend you follow the below steps.

Shortcut key

Some computers and displays that have had their displays flipped upside down can be corrected by simply pressing CTRL + ALT + up arrow on the keyboard.

Able to navigate Windows

1. If you are able to navigate Windows with the monitor display as it currently is verify that the display settings for the monitor cannot be changed through a display manager or display utility by looking for any icon in the systray related to your video card. For example, NVIDIA’s utility may look similar to the icon shown here ().
2. If a utility is found in your systray that is associated with your video card, right-click this icon and try to locate any rotation settings. In the case of the NVIDIA utility, the user should locate Rotation Settings and be able to select this option to rotate to 0 degrees.
3. If you are unable to locate any utilities displayed in your systray or any rotation settings, open your display properties by clicking Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double clicking the display icon. Within display properties, check the settings tab for any additional settings or rotation settings that may be able to correct your issue.
4. Finally, if you are still unable to locate any feature of your display properties that enabled the monitor display to be rotated, we recommend you delete your display adapter in Device Manager and reboot the computer to allow windows to re-initialize your video card. Information about the Device Manager can be found here.
5. If this does not resolve your issue, we recommend installing the latest video drivers on your computer.

Unable to navigate Windows

1. Boot the computer into Safe Mode. Because no third-party software utilities are loaded when the computer is booted into Safe Mode, your display should look normal.
2. If you are familiar with what program enabled your display to be rotated attempt, to load the program though Safe Mode and correct your settings.
3. Unfortunately, if you are not familiar with how your display was rotated and because Safe Mode does not load any software utilities, we recommend you delete your display adapter in Device Manager and reboot the computer to allow windows to re-initialize your video card. Information about the Device Manager can be found here.

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Cause:
Video drivers not supported and/or latest service pack is needed.

Solution:
1. Obtain at least Service Pack 3 or the latest service pack available.
2. If, after installing SP3 or higher, the video continues to only run at 16 colors, obtain the latest video drivers from your video card manufacturer.
3. Check the HCL (Hardware Compatibility List) that Windows NT 4.0 supports your video card.

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Note: Unless you’re sure you’re troubleshooting a bad video card before following the steps below we suggest you go through document CH000241 for steps in troubleshooting no display. No display can be a monitor related issue, no post issue, and/or a video card related issue.

If you’ve determined that your video card is bad or that it’s the next likely culprit for your computer issues, you can troubleshoot a video card by following the steps below. Each of the steps will require that you open and work inside your computer. While you’re working inside your computer make sure you’re aware of the potential ESD dangers.

Reseat the video card

If your video card is not an on-board video card, verify that your video card is not loose by removing the video card from the computer and then re-inserting the video card back into the same slot it was removed.

Exchange video

If reseating the video card has not resolved the issue or your video card is on-board and you have access to another known working video card, try an alternative video card in the computer.

Replace video card

If an alternative video card did work or you do not have an alternative video card to try we suggest purchasing a new video card to replace the defective video card in the computer. Buying tips for video cards can be found here.

If an alternative video card didn’t work and replacing the video card with a new video card did not resolve the issue, it’s likely a defective motherboard and should be replaced.

Replace motherboard

If all the above steps have not resolved the issue it’s a bad motherboard. If you feel comfortable replacing the motherboard you can find buying tips for motherboards here. Otherwise we suggest having the computer serviced at a local computer repair shop.

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Microsoft Windows 95, 98, and ME users
Microsoft Windows 95, 98, and ME users can look at their registry to determine the manufacturer and/or model of a PCI device installed in their computer. To do this follow the below steps, if you do not with to edit the registry and want to use a different program skip to the next section.

1. Open the registry by clicking start, run, and typing regedit.
2. In the Registry Editor go into the below registry keys

Windows 95, 98, and ME users
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
Enum\
PCI\

Windows 2000 users
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
SYSTEM\
ControlSet0001\
Enum\

3. Within the above key you should be other folders similar to the below example.

VEN_5333&DEV_8901&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_16

4. As can be seen in the above example you have a lot of useful information that can be used to identify the card. In this example the VEN aka Vendor is 5333. Doing a search for this Vendor on the PCI database shows that this particular PCI device is a “S3 Graphics Co. product.” You can find a link to the PCI database on our Motherboard links.

Other software solutions
If you visit the PCI database page they also contain several third-party solutions and links that enable users to run a program that will help identify a PCI device in the computer. You can find a link to the PCI database on our Motherboard links.

Hardware solution
If you are unable to determine the type of PCI card using software the next best solution is to examine the card. It is common that the card will have the manufacturer and model listed on it. If no model or manufacturer is listed, look for other identification on the card such as a FCC identification number.

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Before getting started
Difficulty of installing a PC network card should be a 4 out of 5.
Write down important information from the top or bottom of the card such as the Model Number, Serial Number and specifications.
Ensure you are familiar with ESD and its potential dangers.
When physically installing the Network Card, ensure the computer is powered down and unplugged.

Set Jumpers
Before installing the Network Card verify that the jumpers are properly set. Today, most computers allow for the Network Card to be setup and configured through software or Plug and Play. If available, it is recommended that this be used.

Install into Expansion slot
Today Network cards are cable of connecting into an ISA, PCI or CRN slot. Locate an available slot within the computer and gently push the card into the slot until it snaps and holds place. Once the card is in the slot, place a screw into the top of the card to hold the card into position.

Attach internal cables
Most network cards will not include cables but it is likely to find a Wake-On-LAN cable which is used with advanced Network Cards to wake the computer when network activity is present. If cables are included with the Network Card and your computer supports these cables, install the cables now.

The Wake-On-LAN cable must also be a supported feature of the computer motherboard. The cable will connect to the Wake-On-LAN or similar connection on the motherboard. Consult the motherboard documentation or manufacturer for additional information if this is a supported feature or where the cable should be connected.

Attach external cables
Once the network card has been physically installed into the computer, place the case back onto the computer and connect the keyboard, mouse, monitor and power to the computer (we recommend that you do not connect all the cables yet, if problems are experienced you may have to disconnect all the cables again).

Next, connect the Network cable to the back of the computer and then to the network outlet, hub, switch or router.

Software setup
Once connected, turn the computer on and install the drivers for the Network card. If you do not have drivers for your network card or the network card drivers included appear not to work, you can find links to network drivers on our network card drivers page.

Once the Network card has been successfully installed, set the configuration values for the network card in the software. The method of configuring this may vary depending upon the type of network as well as its values; if this is a corporate or business computer and you are unsure of the network values, it is recommended you contact the network administrator for the values.

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Before getting started
Difficulty of installing computer sound card should be a 2 out of 5.
Write down important information from the top or bottom of the card such as the Model Number, Serial Number and specifications.
Ensure you are familiar with ESD and its potential dangers.
When physically installing the Sound Card drive, ensure the computer is off.

Set Jumpers
While today most sound cards are configured through Plug and Play or through software configuration, if your sound card has jumpers, verify that the jumpers are properly set. These jumpers are usually used to set the IRQ, IO and DMA addresses.

We would recommend these settings be set to IRQ-5 I/O-1 DMA-220 (unless it conflicts with other peripherals currently installed in the computer).

Additional information about resource settings can be found on our resource page.

Install into Expansion slot
Today, Network cards are cable of connecting into an ISA, PCI or AMR slot. Locate an available slot within the computer and gently push the card into the slot until it snaps and holds place. Once the card is in the slot, place a screw into the top of the card to hold the card into position.

Attach internal cables
Most sound cards have the availability of connecting a CD audio cable to the card itself. If present, connect the CD audio cable from the back of your CD-ROM to the sound card now.

Attach external cables
Place the case back onto the computer and connect the keyboard, monitor and power to the computer (we recommend that you do not connect all the cables yet, if problems are experienced you may have to disconnect all the cables again).

Once the case is back on the computer, connect either a pair of headphones or speakers to line-out on the back of the sound card. The above illustration gives an example of what the line out connection may look like.

If you are connecting speakers to the computer the above picture illustrates how a pair of speakers may be connected to the computer.

BIOS Setup
It is only necessary to enter BIOS setup if your computer has an on-board sound card. If present, the on-board sound card must be disabled before the new sound will work properly.

Additional help and information about BIOS can be found on our BIOS page.

Software setup
Once the sound card has been physically installed into the computer, the sound card should have included software to install the sound card. Use this software to install the card into the computer.

Sound card drivers can be found on our sound card driver page.

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Before getting started
Difficulty of installing computer video card should be a 2 out of 5.
Write down important information from the top or bottom of the card such as the Model Number, Serial Number and specifications.
Ensure you are familiar with ESD and its potential dangers.
When physically installing the video card, ensure the computer is powered down and unplugged.
Finally, verify that the computer has an available AGP slot and/or PCI slot for the video card. If you are planning on taking out your previous video card to install the new video card ensure that the slot will be compatible with your video card. Some computer cases have a proprietary AGP slot causing only certain video cards to be compatible with the computer.

Set Jumpers
While today most Video Cards are configured or setup through either software or through Plug-n-Play, if your Video Card has jumpers verify that the jumpers are properly set. The jumpers generally determine the IRQ resource settings.

Install into Expansion slot
Today, Video cards are capable of connecting into a PCI or AGP slot. Locate an available slot within the computer and gently push the card into the slot until it snaps and holds place. Once the card is in the slot, place a screw into the top of the card to hold the card into position.

BIOS setup
Once the Video Card has been successfully physically installed into the computer, place the case back onto the computer and connect the keyboard, monitor and power to the computer (we recommend that you do not connect all the cables yet, if problems are experienced you may have to disconnect all the cables again).

If your computer has an on-board video card, determine if the Video card can be disabled through BIOS. Turn the computer back on and as it begins booting, enter BIOS setup.

Software setup
After the card has been installed, your video card should have included software drivers for your operating system.

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Before getting started
Difficulty of installing computer mouse should be a 1 out of 5.
When connecting the PS/2 keyboard, ensure the computer is off; if the keyboard is a USB keyboard the computer can be off or on during the installation.

Connect cables
PS/2 Keyboard

Connect the keyboard to the PS/2 port on the back of the computer.
When looking at the back of the computer you’ll notice two PS/2 ports next to each other. Verify you’re connecting the keyboard into the purple connection as shown in the below pictures. If your PS/2 ports are not color coded the keyboard will be the connection closest to the left edge of the computer (when looking at it from the back). If the connections are vertical and not horizontal as shown below the keyboard connection may be either depending on the type of case and motherboard. Look for a small symbol next to the port to identify which one is the keyboard.
Tip: If you are confused what PS/2 cable is what when under your desk, generally the PS/2 cable is thicker than the PS/2 mouse cable.

USB Keyboard

Connect the USB keyboard to the USB ports on the back or front of your computer, or if you are using a USB port hub, connect the mouse to to the hub.

Install Software / Drivers
If your keyboard has any special features such as a built on touch pad or special buttons or is wireless, for these features to work properly, the software and/or drivers for the keyboard must be installed after the computer keyboard has been connected to the computer.

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