No display adaptor in device manager

I'll start off with a bit of backstory before I get to the problem (as it may or may not be related).

Over the weekend I was summoned upstairs by my wife to investigate a problem with the PC. Turned out it wouldn't boot , it gave an error about not being able to find a required system file (can't remember which one now).

Anyway booted into recovery console and did a scan disk - no major problems, and in any event didn't fix the problem.
So after that failed, I used the XP disk to try and repair the windows installation.

This seemed to sort everything out, apart from the fact that it now doesn't recognise the graphics card (a Sapphire Radeon 9600).
The monitor is still plugged into the card, and the display feeds through fine, but has limited resolution, jerky scrolling, video is dreadful - the sort of performance you've expect from having no card at all, and none of the driver options available.
To cap it all there is no mention of display adapters in the device manager (which is probably the cause...)

The things I've tried so far to resolve:
1) Uninstall / reinstall graphics drivers - Install gives the following error: "Setup was unable to complete the installation. Try to setup your display adaptor with a standard VGA adaptor before running setup."
2) Attempted to scan for hardware changes - nothing.
3) Removed Card from board and reseated.
4) Reset BIOS settings to default (which reverted graphics to PCI, so then changed it back to AGP)
5) Checked hidden devices in device manager - nothing useful

Anyone got any other ideas I can try?
There's no on-board graphics and I don't have any spare card lying around to compare against unfortunately.

Hopefully looking to get a new machine in a few months time anyway, so any dirty hacks welcome if it can prop the thing up until then.

I suppose I could fork out for a cheappo card to tide me over, but I'm reluctant unless I know for sure that's the problem.

Any help much appreciated.

got any Unknown Devices in device manager? If so that's probably the one - uninstall it, reboot and run the driver installation rather than going through the wizard.

Nope, no unknown devices I'm afraid

Uninstall the driver for your 9600 via Add/Remove in CP. Reinstall your motherboard drivers; it's probably missing them, and without those, it probably won't handle an AGP card properly. THEN reinstall the drivers for your 9600.

Already uninstalled the original driver, but it hadn't occured to try the drivers for the mobo.

It's certainly worth a shot

you tried booting to safe mode to see if it lists your graphics card as a device in there? If it is try removing it and then booting back into normal mode.

You could also try using a ati driver removal tool (search google) to make sure all traces of your old drivers have gone before you try the new ones.

Thanks muchly nichomach that nailed it.
Re-installed mobo drivers and everything else went exactly as expected.

thanks also to anyone else who helped out.

Yippeee! :D HTH, HAND!

i know this post is quite old but i am having the same problem and i dont know how to re-install a motherboard device or delete drivers (by graphic/ video driver does that including having to delete directx? ) i am having the exact same problem but i cannot get it resolved no matter what i do or who i talk to please help :(

Hi Bahnana; you'll need to give more details I think - specifications of your machine, what OS you're running would be a start.