AGP card slots

[MargeB]

Can these just die and leave a video card intact? Can you replace them without changeing the motherboard?

[dodgyshirt]

Most unlikely that the slot itself would become faulty unless a contact became dislodged by inserting the video card incorrectly. The circuitry connected to the slot could fail or even the Northbridge chipset which controls it but as this also controls the CPU you would undoubtedly suffer other problems too.
Why do you necessarily think that the fault is with the AGP slot rather than the video card or even the fact that the drivers may have become corrupted (something which easily happens with some cards if you use Microsofts Windows Update)
Repairing a motherboard, if you are correct in your diagnosis, is not really cost effective as it would still necessitate completely dismantling the computer to repair it plus down-time returning it to the manufacturer for the repair which would end up costing as much as a new board anyway.

[MargeB]

Thanks dodgy. No video out from unit, but card works in another machine. No video card works in this machine, but seems to "power up". Hmmmm. Sparks did jump from screen cable to VGA out when I tried to hot-connect them :-(

[dodgyshirt]

Oh dear Marge, you really have b******d something up well and truly, never hot-connect anything on a pooter unless it's USB.

You have either ruined the motherboard or the monitor. You can tell if its the monitor if it still shows the POST screen. If it does then it looks like a new motherboard.

Maybe an opportunity to upgrade????