This is a help document to give you advice on how to install a new video card into your computer. If it is not in this document, it will most likely be answered in some of my other documents in the gaming section of this website.

So you bought a new video card. You have to be thinking, how do I go about installing this thing the correct way. Well do not start getting a head of yourself and throw the video card in your computer. Hopefully, your old video card is still working or you may be able to still get display by putting in the new one. What you want to do first is boot into windows. Go to start, control panel, add/remove software or programs and features in Vista. Find your video card listing and uninstall the drivers for your old video card. It will not always be a option in add/remove programs, but it is the best way to remove old drivers, when possible. Your probably looking for ATI, TNT, Nvidia or something of that nature. Do not be scared to uninstall it; Your video card will continue to work on some level even with out drivers.

Now shut down your computer, take apart the case, and pull out the old video card, if possible. Odds are, there are a couple phillips head screws holding the side panel of your case on and one to hold the video card in place to your mother board. There is also likely in some cases a lever to push/pull. Otherwise, it is similar to old nintendo cartridges; The card should just pull out. Most video cards these days are PCI express. Don't be to scared, your card is only going to fit into the right place. In the case of PCI express, it may fit into another white slot too. However, it will not do any damage. Do not force it! You may have an older AGP slot or nothing at all. They may still sell traditional PCI video cards if you look. If you don't have a brown AGP slot or a PCI express slot. You are probably gonna need to look into a new computer, if you want to play newer games. Back to installing the card, screw the card in. Make sure that it is in firmly. Make sure to hook up the monitor to the new card. If you get no display see my help document on it. Hopefully everything is good and you can boot up your computer normally and get into windows. Odds are, everything is going to be huge and it will be a little harder to navigate. When possible, do not use the CDs that came with your video card. Put it into storage and never use it. You want to download and install the newest drivers. Yes even your brand new video card can have out dated drivers on the CD. For anything Nvidia, including BFG and their other manufacturers. Get the drivers from www.nvidia.com . For anything ATI get the drivers from www.ati.com . I recommend not installing to many extras, such as, Nvidia desktop and what not. It's just gonna slow down your computer. Save the file, do not run the file from the interenet; It is best to make sure that is completely downloaded and then double click on it from the desktop or where ever you save stuff. Simply double click the file and follow the on screen directions. If you run into trouble at some point, you may simply need to reboot your computer. If you run into trouble still, check some of my other help documents to get you going. A simple way to check if your card is working is start, run, dxdiag.