[jr2]

HP's driver site for your model computer, all supported OSes (choose which)

Now get the latest BIOS  or, if you have a hard time with that, here's a direct link to the page pointing to the right file

Do a FULL FORMAT (not quick format, no /q switch if using command prompt) of a floppy and BE SURE there are NO bad sectors.  Once you've found a good floppy, put this update on it and boot from it.

Hopefully this will cure your problem. 

[Davros]

how about these drivers
http://www.bravofiles.com/download/Creative-GeForce2-MX200_2fMX400-LKuhVus9fV.html

ps: do you have the motherboard drivers installed ?

[jr2]

Oh, and any "assign IRQ to VGA" option in the BIOS should be enabled.

[sigtau]

Ugh crap, I got the model number wrong--good thing I checked before I ran the flash program.

As it turns out, the VL5 Series 5 is my computer's model number.  The front of the computer has no visual indication as to what the model number of the machine was, but the backplate of the case did.  Browsing the site shows me that this is the driver page:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=17113&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=32844&swLang=13&taskId=135&swEnvOID=19#220

Unfortunately,

[Ctrl + F] "BIOS" [Enter]

gives me no results on that page.

Any more ideas?  I don't think it's safe to flash my BIOS with the wrong software.

[Davros]

no its not

according to the manual your pc has an onboard s3 gfx chip (or a matrox millenium)
have you tried the s3 chip ? is it disabled in the bios ?

[jr2]

Change the O/S to "Cross operating system (BIOS, Firmware, Diagnostics, etc.)" in the HP selector. 

EDIT: Which would bring you here:  http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=17113&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=32844&swLang=13&taskId=135&swEnvOID=54

[achtung]

Is this a SLOT1 processor in the machine? If so, I might be willing to donate an old PIII (533mhz/450mhz) I have lying around. I may have some old DDR (100/133) sticks lying around too if you're interested.

Just thought I'd offer, they're only taking up space for me.

[sigtau]

I have concluded that the hardware at hand is just too old for this card, and after testing in a known good machine, the card is still functional (but the hardware just fails at using it).  At this point, getting a new motherboard and a good processor for it is an option, but I'm thinking that just buying a new machine with the best of the 'old' hardware in it would be better.

[jr2]

You did try the latest BIOS for that machine already?  (I re-linked to it above when you provided the correct model number.)

[sigtau]

Yeah, successfully flashed the BIOS, no luck.  Pretty sure it's just too old.

[Davros]

does you mboard have built in graphics ?
you never replied ?

[sigtau]

It does have onboard graphics, but with vram of about 1MB.

[sigtau]

what the ****

I don't understand it

after last night's storm (I had to unplug the power for an extended period of time)... the graphics card and its drivers suddenly work fine

the computer works 

next device to tackle: Sound Blaster card

[Mongoose]

"...the only thing that can generate that much power is a bolt of lightning!"

"...what did you say?"

"A bolt of lightning!  And you never know where or when one is going to strike!"

[headdie]

probably an issue with the fact that the mobo is early ATX and the prolonged period without power to the power supply (thus the rest of the computer) allowed something to reset to factory.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Call your computer Frankenstein, why don't you.

[Davros]

when you were getting no picture did you try plugging in to the onboard graphics ?

[sigtau]

No, I didn't, and now that it's working with 3D, sound, and networking, I doubt I need to worry again in the future.

Though, Davros, I have heard that some computers require that both VGA ports be occupied if one is to use the PCI expansion slots as a means of graphics, so you are on to something.

In semi-related news, Descent 3 runs better in OpenGL mode than in Direct3D 7 mode.  Going to try FS1 tomorrow.

[jr2]

How about zeckensack's Glide Wrapper mode?  xD

[sigtau]

It wouldn't load the Glide wrapper for some reason.  Not complaining, since it runs at a full 60 FPS on a Pentium MMX in OpenGL mode.