Ok here's the situation; I've just got Windows XP and a brand new Hard Drive, I've installed the hard drive then set up Windows XP. I did all this with the graphics card out of the computer, to ensure I didn't get any problems. So fine, windows XP is working perfectly, I've gotten onto the internet, yada yada yada.

Now it comes to putting the graphics card in. It's a GeForce FX5200 128mb. I stuck it in there, booted up and BAM, graphics problems. I get into Windows XP and the screen is fuzzy, and I can hardly read anything. Random fuzzy colours follow my mouse and this is the best I can get it. I tried installing drivers, no luck. I've tried 4 sets of drivers with the same results.

Now I've come to believe it's something to do with the motherboard. It's a Matsonic MS8308EP(266). On matsonic's site it says that it doesn't support the FX5200 graphics card, even though it worked fine when I was on Windows 98SE.

I've tried almost EVERYTHING and I can't sort it out :/ I had the same problem when I tried Windows 2000 and gave up very soon -.- I want to stick with it for Windows XP, or else it's quite a bit of money down the drain...

So does anyone have a clue what to do? Anyone met this sort of problem before? Can anyone identify specificaly what the problem is? Any help is well appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

about the only time i ever had any problems installing a geforce card, was when i forgot to reset the graphics to its lowest level prior to installing the drivers.

you almost have to set them to nothing before the new drivers will take properly.

tis something to consider.

Right, thanks for the help. I'm almost certain it's the motherboard that's the problem. I have 2 choices now :/

I can either get a recommended graphics card for the motherboard (GeForce 3 at highest) or find a new motherboard -.- That'll be annoying, since this one uses SDRAM and a good one will probably use DDR RAM...

I'm thinking of staying put and getting a real cheap graphics card, since I don't have that much money to throw away at the moment

Thanks again.

i think he pegged it when he mentioned his older motherboard.

perhaps, its just to powerful. *shrugs*

Ever thought that maybe your card is broken? Got damaged in the packaging or just after they checked it. It is never the case that 100% of all stock shipped from the place of manufacture is working. Never know, might be an idea to say its broken and never worked to the people you got it off, get a new one and if that doesn't work then start blaming other things.

But don't blame windows, its what people who don't know what they are doing blame. Personally I like windows. It has taken me over 6 years, but I've finally started mastering the skills of keeping windows good n' fresh. It just takes a bit of thought. Defragging and good organization and maintenance are the key (and tuneup XP ).

PS. As for motherboards, I think you'll find it cheaper to get a new mobo than a GFX card. Alot of websites sell good motherboards for around the ?50 mark (about $100 nowadays cus of the crap exchange rate... haha would of cost you $75 earlier this year).