PC Hardware Annoyances

UPGRADE ANNOYANCES

TROUBLE REMOVING OLD AGP CARD

The Annoyance:

I want to upgrade my AGP card with a newer model, but I can’t seem get the old card out of the slot.

The Fix:

A single screw at the chassis secures every expansion card. You did remove the screw, right? Right. Once you remove the screw, ease the card edge connector from the slot. Remember that a fast AGP card (such as an 8X card) may include a retaining clip at the rear edge of the slot. Lift the front edge of the card until the retaining clip disengages and frees the card, or gently pull the clip aside to free the card.

NEW AGP BREAKS DVD PLAYBACK

The Annoyance:

I installed a new AGP card, but now I can’t play DVD movies.

The Fix:

This happens frequently when new video drivers interfere with existing DVD software (such as PowerDVD or WinDVD). First, use the Add or Remove Programs utility to uninstall the DVD playback software. Reboot the system. Now use the Windows DirectX diagnostic tool (dxdiag.exe) to make sure you installed the new video drivers properly. Select Start → Run, then type dxdiag in the Run box and click the OK button. Once dxdiag starts, click the Display tab and check the video driver version and date (see Figure 3-1). Finally, reinstall your DVD player software. The player should automatically reconfigure for the updated video driver.

ODD SOUNDS AFTER NEW VIDEO INSTALLATION

The Annoyance:

I installed a new video card and now I hear a strange crackling sound from my sound card.

The Fix:

This annoying little headache ...