Question for Admin or MTU SUPPORT

[Wallymeister]

My friend purchased MTU built rack mount computer a few years back. Well recently it quit working. Would not show anything on monitor through boot sequence. I told him to take it to Best Buy Geek Squad because I thought it might be Video card but wasn't for sure.

He took it to them and they diagnosed bad video card and installed new NVIDIA G-Force card. They said it's fixed and he picks it up and calls me and says that his 2nd monitor isn't working. So I check it out and sure enough the card that's in there is dual monitor capable but Display Properties doesn't show and Themes, Desktop, Screensaver, Appearance, or Settings tabs. Just I think a General tab only. So he takes it back to Geek Squad and they have the computer for over a week and they reformat the hard drive and re-install Windows and they are still scratching their heads and are now saying something about the way the hardware is configured something isn't compatible with the new card. I know that the motherboards display properties are overriding the installed graphics card, but no one can seem to understand why. Now they are wanting to charge him another ridiculous fee.

My question is this, "Is there something special about this computer hardware's configuration that would be helpful to know in trying to get this problem fixed." Any help at all would be appreciated.

My fiends name is L. Lankster so you can look up his file.

Thanks,
Wallymeister

[Beavis]

The Dork Squad probably just put the card in and said let windows install the software rather than going to the website and getting the latest drivers.

[marklwood]

I see what you are doing. You are trying to take over his business by sending him to Geek Squad, thereby disabling his computer so you can take over his gigs......Just kidding.

Is the second display plugged in when you boot the computer? It should also show the boot sequence. If it doesn't show anything check the bios. When you boot it will say press F10 or some other key to go in to bios. From there you can disable on-board video and/or select the Nvidia card. After that, make sure to check the hardware settings in my computer, then hardware. Look for a yellow exclamation point to see if the driver was installed properly. If not, did the card come with a CD? Try re-installing the drivers. Then get online and look for updated drivers. Then you should see the Nvidia style properties when you right click on the dektop and select properties. From there you can set the dual display as extended desktop.

[ddouglass]

Nvidia has a software program that comes with the cards that has to be setup for the dual screen mode, otherwise Windows won't see it.
Second trip to Geek Squad may have screwed it up good if they reloaded everything. My bet is they didn't do any of the updates either.

[capnvic]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

Nvidia has a software program that comes with the cards that has to be setup for the dual screen mode, otherwise Windows won't see it.
Second trip to Geek Squad may have screwed it up good if they reloaded everything. My bet is they didn't do any of the updates either.

It is most unfortunate that the computer was taken to the Gak@!Squad, would have saved your friend the time and effort had he contacted the forum first.

[Wallymeister]

Originally posted by capnvic
It is most unfortunate that the computer was taken to the Gak@!Squad, would have saved your friend the time and effort had he contacted the forum first.

My friend will never get on the forums, for he would not understand anything in this forum. He has the computer and knows how to input songs from cdg discs and operate Hoster software and that is the extent of his computer savvy. He doesn't run any shows to speak of. Every once in a great while he might run a show for reletives wedding or something like that. Otherwise it's just for personal fun and enjoyment.

You criticize it being taken to Geek Squd but you offer no suggestions of what the problem might be. However, everyone else that has posted has some constructive comments or insight.

Wallymeister

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Wallymeister

My friend will never get on the forums, for he would not understand anything in this forum. He has the computer and knows how to input songs from cdg discs and operate Hoster software and that is the extent of his computer savvy. He doesn't run any shows to speak of. Every once in a great while he might run a show for reletives wedding or something like that. Otherwise it's just for personal fun and enjoyment.

You criticize it being taken to Geek Squd but you offer no suggestions of what the problem might be. However, everyone else that has posted has some constructive comments or insight.

Wallymeister

Ouch!

[Skybird74]

Originally Posted by Wallymeister

My friend will never get on the forums, for he would not understand anything in this forum. He has the computer and knows how to input songs from cdg discs and operate Hoster software and that is the extent of his computer savvy. He doesn't run any shows to speak of. Every once in a great while he might run a show for reletives wedding or something like that. Otherwise it's just for personal fun and enjoyment.

You criticize it being taken to Geek Squd but you offer no suggestions of what the problem might be. However, everyone else that has posted has some constructive comments or insight.

Wallymeister

I have to ask.......... if the computer was purchased from MTU, why didn't your friend go directly to MTU before taking it to anyone else? (gee, you don't take an HP to Dell and expect them to fix it!)

[Beavis]

it is what it is !!

[Skybird74]

Hey, Wallymeister accuses another person of just "criticizing" when somone only made a simple suggestion. In my opinion, this is becoming all too common behavior on this Forum.

Most everyone is here to help while asking questions of their own.

I just think all this arguing, belittling and downright rude behavior should stop.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Skybird74

I just think all this arguing, belittling and downright rude behavior should stop.

It usually does after the elections.

[Skybird74]

Originally Posted by bryant

It usually does after the elections.

LOL - Thanks for the humor! Guess I needed that.

[Wallymeister]

Originally posted by Skybird74
Hey, Wallymeister accuses another person of just "criticizing" when someone only made a simple suggestion. In my opinion, this is becoming all too common behavior on this Forum.

I don't know about common behavior, I see much more helping and constructive posts than anything else. As for someone making a simple suggestion, "I don't think so."

Originally posted by Skybird74
I have to ask.......... if the computer was purchased from MTU, why didn't your friend go directly to MTU before taking it to anyone else? (gee, you don't take an HP to Dell and expect them to fix it!)

I'm stupid, my friend is stupid, end of story! Thanks for your help Skybird74!!!

Originally posted by Skybird74
I just think all this arguing, belittling and downright rude behavior should stop.

If you are so against belittling then why do it yourself?

Originally posted by Skybird74
(gee, you don't take an HP to Dell and expect them to fix it!).

I'm done with this post. To everyone who tried to help in a constructive way, "I THANK YOU"

Wallymeister

[Skybird74]

I'm stupid, my friend is stupid, end of story! Thanks for your help Skybird74!!!

I don't believe that for a minute. If you're smart enough to be able to work a computer at all, you're smarter than you think.

If you are so against belittling then why do it yourself?

I'm sorry you feel that way! Having said that, my statement was directed at everyone whose posts do more complaining rather than asking detailed questions making it easier for others to give detailed answers.

And it is sad that having a computer requires so much technical understanding of how it works. I believe that is why Vista was invented. Although it's causing a lot of problems with some programs, all the things that happen automatically in the background are really there hoping to make life easier for the majority of people who do not have that kind of experience.
I wish you all the best.

[capnvic]

Originally Posted by Wallymeister

My friend will never get on the forums, for he would not understand anything in this forum. He has the computer and knows how to input songs from cdg discs and operate Hoster software and that is the extent of his computer savvy. He doesn't run any shows to speak of. Every once in a great while he might run a show for reletives wedding or something like that. Otherwise it's just for personal fun and enjoyment.

You criticize it being taken to Geek Squd but you offer no suggestions of what the problem might be. However, everyone else that has posted has some constructive comments or insight.

Wallymeister

I could offer the same information that has already been mentioned. More than likely the issue could have been resolved with the video card replacement and the proper video driver installed. I won't offer any assistance to this matter since those two suggestions were already made.

Sorry you took the comment literally, but I have seen too many people go to the Geek Squad and get nothing in return but a charge of 150 dollars or more.

I will offer this comment. I have been using this software for the last six years. Next time something happens, have your friend give MTU the benefit of providing a solution to the problem. They may have a small staff, but they are most responsive, and they are willing to work with anyone, regardless of knowledge.

[Skybird74]

Originally Posted by capnvic

Sorry you took the comment literally, but I have seen too many people go to the Geek Squad and get nothing in return but a charge of 150 dollars or more.

I will offer this comment. I have been using this software for the last six years. Next time something happens, have your friend give MTU the benefit of providing a solution to the problem. They may have a small staff, but they are most responsive, and they are willing to work with anyone, regardless of knowledge.

Very well said.

[Wallymeister]

OK, one last post and this can be put to rest.

1st - I personally have not bad experiences with Geek Squad, although I admit it has not been very extensive. Never felt like they overcharged me or gave me sub par service.

2nd - Again, my friend comes to me for computer problems and I am not always available to help him as fast as he needs help. He would not know what to ask in these forums, he's the kind of guy that when something goes wrong he wants it fixed and he wants it fixed now. He doesn't have a problem paying a price as long as he gets good service. I'm the reason he bought the computer with Hoster in the first place. It took me a long time to convince him that he should move to computer karaoke. He's my friend, and the best friend I have ever had, but like I said, unfortunately, I was too busy with work and school to help him so my expertise told me that the graphics card went out and Geek Squad could surely fix that quickly and easily. Well, that's where the problem started. Evidently, they either did something wrong or the new card they installed is not compatible with this computers configuration. I don't really know what the problem is yet, but I definitely don't feel warm and fuzzy about Geek Squad now.

3rd - I don't believe I'm stupid either, although I am more of a software guy (as in programmer, VB, Access VB, Excel VB) than a hardware guy.

Lastly - I will fix my friends' problem one way or another.

Smile, and the world smiles with you!

Wallymeister

[admin]

Wallymeister, I would make two suggestions.

1. I have worked hard to get the "Dual Display" topic in the manual as down to earth as I can. You or your friend should read it as a first starting point. As Marklwood mentioned, you MUST have the second display turned on and the cable plugged into the computer #2 display video port before powering up the computer/Windows.

2. MTU has phone support. We prefer our "Web Email Form" that creates a Support Ticket we can track and answer when we have time (telephone interrupts), but... we do answer our phone. We may have been able to help your friend try some things. However, if the graphics card failed, then it needed to be replaced by someone who could do this locally.

I don't think they should have gutted the system. I think that was a "brute force" that should have been the last resort. Replacing a video card and driver is not that bad for experts to do.

I think the support you have received by your peers is superb. I'm sorry Capnvic ruffled your feathers. Obviously he (and others in MTU.Community) have had some bad experiences with the Geek Squad, but they are there, and usually are trained. Capnvic usually has excellent suggestions, so I'd ask you to forgive his comments, as he may have had a bad day as I do some times.

[Wallymeister]

Admin:

Thanks for your comments. I am not a total novice when it comes to getting dual diplay to work. The problem with my friends computer when it went to the Geek Squad was it had no display at all. (would not boot on either screen)
My diagnosis at that point was video card fried. I suggested he take it to the Geeks because I wasn't available for at least a few days and he wanted it fixed now and I never thought it would be a problem as I have never had a problem changing a video card ever. (done it 3 or 4 times, either as upgrade or because old one fried) When the computer came back from the Geeks it would boot but nothing would show on second monitor. Display Properties didn't show any tabs, such as Themes, Desktop, Screensaver, Appearance, or Settings. At this point, the obvious thing is to take it back to the Geeks, as it was something they didn't do right. (or so I believed whole heartedly)
It is my assumption that the motherboards display was overriding the installed card for some reason. The bad part is that the Geeks thought that wiping the hard drive clean would fix the problem and maybe it did, I haven't heard the latest yet. This was not a real problem for my friend for he doesn't have a lot of software on this computer except Hoster, Microstudio. I made sure that his MTU download files were saved to his secondary drive before they wiped C" drive clean. He can at least re-install everything he had.

BTW, all is forgiven.

Again, Thanks for your comments.

Wallymeister

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by Wallymeister

Admin:
Display Properties didn't show any tabs, such as Themes, Desktop, Screensaver, Appearance, or Settings.

It is my assumption that the motherboards display was overriding the installed card for some reason.

Wallymeister

That would be my assumption too. Here are the most common keys to hit during boot to get in to the bios that I can remember.

The Delete key is the most common.
Press Delete during boot = AMI, Award BIOS
Press Esc during boot = Toshiba
Press F1 during boot = Toshiba; Phoenix;
Press F10 when cursor jumps to top right-hand corner of screen = Compaq
Press F10 when logo screen is displayed = Compaq
Press F2 during boot = NEC
Press Tab during boot = Emachine
Press Reset button twice = some Dells
Ctrl Alt + = Misc computers
Alt Enter = Dell
Ctrl Alt Esc = AST Advantage, Award, Tandon
Ctrl Alt Ins = Zenith, Phoenix
Ctrl Alt S = Phoenix

Check to see if the computer even sees the additional video card. If not, it may be a bad/incompatible card. If you can see it, select it. If you are still having trouble, re-install the driver/software for the card and try again. No matter what extra cards you have installed, the bios can maker them invisible in windows. The only way to know for sure is to check the bios.

Also it would help to know more about this particular computer. Download and run http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html this will give you a comprehensive list of the hardware and software installed on the computer. Even if you don't continue in this thread, this is a very handy program to have.