Trying to install a new graphics card but it wont fit with my wireless card - Can I simply remove the wireless card?

Yes.

Just remove it and let Plug and Pray figure it out.

@YoKoolAid Feel free to yank the wireless card. If you ever need wireless, there are USB wireless units that are inexpensive and leave the insides of the box completely uncluttered.

Thanks guys. I yanked the wireless and dropped in my video card. I thought I did it right and was going to put the disc in to install the drivers but when I go to Device Manager > Display Adapters it only shows my integrated Radeon 4250. Did I do it wrong? What should I do now?

Did you forget the pray part of plug-and-pray? No matter. Install the drivers. That should automatically alter the system’s BIOS files to point it to the new card instead of the integrated graphics card. If that doesn’t do it, you have to change the settings in the BIOS by hand. Consult the card manufacturer’s info for how to do that.

Does the card you installed need additional power. Mine requires the PCI-E four pin power cord to be plugged in. That cord should come out of the Power Supply.

And if your monitor is plugged into the card and working (probably at a low resolution) I would just install the drivers and see what happens.

No the card didn’t require a connection to the psu.

After I installed the card the monitor would not show a picture when connected to it. I have it connected to my on board graphics. Should I go ahead and install the drivers?

If you aren’t seeing anything when the card is plugged in in POST something is wrong. You should at least get some text when it boots.

I would try pulling the card out and putting it back in to make sure it is seated properly. And also double check the connections on the cable to the the monitor.

Actually this is what I first did:

Installed graphics card, hooked up monitor to graphics card, but no picture when I booted. I switched to the on board and the resulting picture was lo resolution, then restarted and it was normal.

not sure if that matters

I would install the drivers and see what happens. You are kinda running out of options.

And are you by any chance hooking up to your monitor with HDMI?

ok, I will install the drivers and then….restart hooked up to the graphics card?

It was connected with DVI to HDMI converter cable, but I also tried the VGA cables with same effect.

It is entirely possible the new card is just DOA. If the card has a fan I would check that it is spinning.

What a mess this turned out to be! I spent yesterday and tonight just trying to get the damn expansion slot open. Ok thanks for the help, I’ll check things out and maybe try re installing the card.

Based on all you’ve described above, I would not install the drivers unless you are sure you are able to return the system to the correct BIOS settings and drivers to work with the original on-board graphics chip.

I re installed the card and everything worked out great. I appreciate the help guys. Score one for Fluther!

Wow. That’s great news, @YoKoolAid. I can quit worrying about a malpractice suit on that one.