Mac Pro 1,1 8800GT Upgrade/ No Windows Boot

[COTheProducer]

Hey Everyone!

I am having a bit of trouble since my ATI Radeon x1900 512mb video card was replaced in my Mac Pro 1,1 with a Nvidia GeForce 8800GT 512mb by Apple since the x1900 issues finally surfaced. My 8800GT has been working great except for the fact I can't get it to boot into anything that has to do with Windows....

I had a Windows 7 install on my spare HD in my Mac Pro that was running beautifully until i installed the 8800GT. I tried booting into Windows via Boot Camp partition and it showed nothing but a black screen. So i tried to boot into the Windows disc.... black screen.... I even erased the entire Boot Camp partition and created a new one and tried to re-install windows but still nothing but a black screen... It won't even enter or start installation....

Anyone have any ideas on what might be going on?

 

[TTNZ]

I had a similar Problem on a 2008 Mac Pro

Booting to windows 7 on Bootcamp with a 8800GT - boots into a black screen. (It was not possible to install windows using this 8800GT.)

I Installed a ATI 5770 and it worked fine. Installed windows into boot camp, and all working well.

I have installed the 8800gt back into the Mac Pro. If I try to boot into windows 7 I just get a black screen.

Now this is were it gets interesting

1. In windows (using the 5770 card) both cards are displayed in device manager -ATI 5770 and Nvidia 9800GT - (The card is a 8800gt, but essentially the same card as a 9800)

2. Booting into Windows through parallels 6 works fine with the 8800GT

3. If I boot into bootcamp with 2 monitors... The monitor with the 880GT is a black screen (however I can see the mouse cursor). The 5770 monitor displays the login screen. Once i login on the working monitor. Windows starts on both screens, all work fine.

So the problem with the 8800GT seems to be that it just can't display the initial start up and login screens. Once logged in, it works.

This is my third 8800GT, all have had problems. I suggest trying ATI instead.

 

[zerojake]

Hey guys, I am using a MacPro 1,1 with a 9800 I reflashed into an 8800... Anyways when installing Windows 7 the installation process works fine. The problem is when I update windows or install bootcamp booting back into windows always leaves me with a black screen. After searching around I found a way to make it work though any game that checks your graphics card will return an error as the card will be "unsupported"...

Anyways this worked for me:
1. reboot from your computer from the Windows 7 disk

2. When the installer comes up chose your language and then click on "repair your computer"

3. After windows scans select the drive windows is installed in (usually "C")

4. Windows will then give you "system recovery options" which you select the bottom option "Command Prompt"

5. When the console opens type: (depending if a ATI or NVIDIA card is installed)

DEL C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ATI*.SYS
DEL C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\NV*.SYS​

Where C: is the drive windows is installed into

6. Close the command prompt window and restart.

These steps worked for me though be warned, doing this will make Windows 7 treat your card like a generic graphics card...

 

[MaxiTiger99]

I had a similar Problem on a 2008 Mac Pro

Booting to windows 7 on Bootcamp with a 8800GT - boots into a black screen. (It was not possible to install windows using this 8800GT.)

I Installed a ATI 5770 and it worked fine. Installed windows into boot camp, and all working well.

I have installed the 8800gt back into the Mac Pro. If I try to boot into windows 7 I just get a black screen.

Now this is were it gets interesting

1. In windows (using the 5770 card) both cards are displayed in device manager -ATI 5770 and Nvidia 9800GT - (The card is a 8800gt, but essentially the same card as a 9800)

2. Booting into Windows through parallels 6 works fine with the 8800GT

3. If I boot into bootcamp with 2 monitors... The monitor with the 880GT is a black screen (however I can see the mouse cursor). The 5770 monitor displays the login screen. Once i login on the working monitor. Windows starts on both screens, all work fine.

So the problem with the 8800GT seems to be that it just can't display the initial start up and login screens. Once logged in, it works.

This is my third 8800GT, all have had problems. I suggest trying ATI instead.

You have no idea how much you saved me from going insane. I could not figure out what was wrong for the life of me. 5 days and 6 DVDs later I found this forum post. I love you so much. Thank you