Probs after installing new drivers for graphics card - plz help

[ChrisW]

Hi everyone.

I use W98SE, PIII 500 MHZ, 352 MB RAM, NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64 [Display adapter].

I recently downloaded the Detonator XP driver for my graphics card as games seemed to freeze quite a bit too much and upon installing it my computer now freezes all the time, even when Im just opening files on the desktop. My computer will now only run when I have turned my hardware accelaration to none. If it is turned to higher setting my computer freezes and the fonts distort.

I would like information on how to solve this problem please.

Thanks very much in advance.

[Spider]

Originally posted by ChrisW:
I use W98SE, PIII 500 MHZ, 352 MB RAM, NVIDIA
RIVA TNT2 Model 64 [Display adapter].
I...downloaded...Detonator XP driver...upon installing
it my computer now freezes
Hi ChrisW, welcome to Cyber Tech Help.

Let's check a couple of versions on your machine.

On your desktop
Start(button)
Run...
type dxdiag in the Open: cell(fancy name for a place to type)

On that DirectX Diagnostic Tool interface you'll start up on the
System(tab), starting in the middle is a list and the
last entry on the list is DirectX Version:...what version is that?
We want to check your version of IE(Internet Explorer). This will
tell us where you stand as far as versions of libraries and
*.DLL(Dynamic Link Libraries) you have.

To do this;
Open IE in the menu
Help/About Internet Explorer
The first thing that is under the Internet Explorer logo is
Version:*.**.****.****

What Version number are you showing there?

[ChrisW]

Thanks for replying Spider.

I am using DirectX 8.0 (4.08.00.0400) and
IE 5.00.2614.3500.

Any help greatly appreciated mate.

Cheers
Chris

[Spider]

Originally posted by ChrisW:
<STRONG>I am...DirectX 8.0 (4.08.00.0400) and
IE 5.00.2614.3500.</STRONG>
Ok, your a couple of upgrades shy.

DirectX is 8.1 now and IE should be up'd to 5.5 SP2.

Let's update your IE and DirectX.

Open up IE. In the menu click on
Tools/Windows Update, or you
can do it off of the Start(button)/Windows Update.

This takes you to Microsoft. You can trust them. On the
web page that opens click on
PRODUCT UPDATES

You might be prompted to install something....say OK or YES to
the "trust" and follow instructions. Your version of Windows will
be analyzed and Microsoft will know exactly what you have and
what you don't have. S'matter of fact, it will give you a nice list of
things you don't have and those will be ready for downloading.

First thing you want to do is to download any
Critical Updates And Service Packs that are showing.
It's the first category in the list because it's the most important.
The little box to the left will already be checked. A check means
I want to get this. Every time there are issues with bugs,
security problems, or any recently discovered Internet security
issues, Microsoft makes these critical updates available to
prevent any of these bad things happening to you.

Get the criticals, then go back after reboot and get IE 5.5 update.
Then you have to go back and get IE 5.5 SP2(Service Pack 2).
Then you have to reboot and go back for the DirectX 8.1

[ChrisW]

Thanks for the help Spider. I've done all the above as advised but Windows stills freezes when hardware accelerator is on full.

I have no idea what to do next. Is there maybe any way I can delete the Detonator XP driver that I downloaded and start again? Or does it seem as though I need to upgrade something else? What problem has this new driver created?

Again, any help greatly appreciated.

[Spider]

Originally posted by ChrisW:
<STRONG>I've done all the above as advised but Windows stills freezes...
What problem has this new driver created?</STRONG>
Sometimes installs just don't take right. Try reinstalling the
detonator drivers. Don't use the ones you have go back to Nvidia (http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?PAGE=drivers)
and get a fresh one. Sometimes small corruptions happen on file
transfers.

[Dodge]

Spider, do you think the XP drivers could be the problem? I dont think they'll run correctly in 98....

I would recomend going back to 98 compatible drivers...

[Spider]

Originally posted by Dodge:
<STRONG>Spider, do you think the XP drivers could be the
problem? I dont think they'll run correctly in 98....

I would recomend going back to 98 compatible drivers...</STRONG>
Well I'm hoping he is using the Win98 Detonator XP
drivers and not the WinXP Detonator XP drivers.

I can only see at their site under Win95/98/ME the VXD drivers.
Although they have the WDMs those drivers are not for the
vid-card but for Personal Cinema.

I tried Detonator XP drivers on a WinME machine with 32Mb
TNT2 and it didn't work. I did go back to the TNT2 drivers.


Edited because I said 16Mb instead of 32Mb

[ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: Spider ]

[Dodge]

Glad I asked that question. I misread the first post... Sorry bout that...

[ChrisW]

Hi and thanks for the help.

I am still having problems when turning hardware accelerator up to full.

I had downloaded the Detonator XP version for my 98SE edition of windows.

I uninstalled it, re-downloaded it and then opened it with just systray and explorer open. It seemed to be working OK, it certainly lasted longer than before without crashing (I even had a quick go of Worm Armageddon-whcih seemed great), I logged onto the net about to thank you guys and then the predictable thing happened - the fonts became distorted and then it froze - urgh !!

Also, I've noticed something else that may be of note. When I look in Device Manager under the Display Adapter it shows 2 devices - one that isnt named and another that lists my nvidia riva tnt 2 model/model 64 pro card. Is this anything?

Anyway, I dont know what to do. Again your help is really appreciated. Believe me !!

Thanks
Chris

[Spider]

Originally posted by ChrisW:
When I look in Device Manager under the Display Adapter it shows
2 devices - one that isnt named and another that lists my nvidia riva
tnt 2 model/model 64 pro card. Is this anything?

If you could post exactly what the two items say under the Display
Adapter this would help us to see what you have going on there.

Your Riva TNT2 is plugged into the AGP slot and there is only one
AGP slot on the motherboard so unless you have a PCI graphics
card installed it's looking like this second one doesn't belong.

If there is a splat(fancy name for a yellow exclamation mark) beside
the unknown display adapter then for sure it should be removed
from Device Manager.

[ChrisW]

Hi Spider.

Thanks once again for posting.

When I open up the Display Adapter it shows 2 "monitor" icons. 1 of these (the one on the top) has no description whatsoever and the one below says Nvidia Riva TNT Model 64. Should I just remove the "blank" one?

In the meantime I have since uninstalled the Detonator XP 23.11 driver, so now I am running on my old ones and everything is back to normal (even on full setting on the hardware accelerator). But I still have the problem of games occassionally crashing on the system I am using. What would you recommend I do?

Thanks again spider for all your help :)
Chris

[Spider]

Originally posted by ChrisW:

When I open up the Display Adapter it shows 2 "monitor" icons.
1 of these (the one on the top) has no description whatsoever
and the one below says Nvidia Riva TNT Model 64.
Should I just remove the "blank" one?
Yes, remove the blank. When you go into Device Manager to
nuke(delete) the blank display adapter try
highlighting(one click) it and see if clicking on the Properties(button)
gives you any information about it. If there is no information
then nuke it.

In the meantime I have since uninstalled the Detonator XP 23.11
driver, so now I am running on my old ones and everything is
back to normal (even on full setting on the hardware accelerator).
But I still have the problem of games occassionally crashing on
the system I am using. What would you recommend I do?
OK, I'll have to tell you you're talking to the wrong guy.
I am not a gamer. I know the community of games is vast, filled
with very knowledgeable users, and it carries a devoted following
of users who dedicate their comps and wallets to these games.

I have but one trick Grasshopper(that's a 70's thing ;) ). My trick
is for Nvidia only and that trick is a program that seems to
help people like you that seek more out of games + Nvidia.

This guy has some program that tweaks Nvidia cards (http://guru3d.com/geforcetweakutility/). Give it
a whirl. I don't know what to do with it for it's never touched
any hard drive I've had the pleasure of spinning.

Hope that gets you somewhere.

[ChrisW]

Thank you Master Spider :)

I really am grateful for all your help. To be completely honest I don't even play games that much. I just thought I would try to solve the problem with the way my games sometimes crash out. But at least the computer is working now ;)

This whole experience had made me more determined than ever to get a new computer with the latest parts, something I've been thinking of doing for a while.

Cheers.
Chris.