Driver update question (motherboard and video card)

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Have your tried uninstalling the driver

by glb613 Oct 28, 2005 11:19PM PDT

through the device manager? Go to the control panel, system, hardware then device manager. Open the display adapter, driver and select uninstall. Once that is complete, install the new one.

Before you do anything, create a restore point.

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yup, that was what I did the first time

by tuppens316 Oct 29, 2005 1:25PM PDT

I uninstalled the original display drivers, and tried installing the new ones, and it didn't work. So I used the recovery disc to reinstall the drivers so I could get my screens back to the way they're supposed to be. I tried mailing eMachines for tech support, and they just told me not to install updated drivers unless I'm installing new hardware? In which case, why did the other site recommend I install the new driver in the first place? I downloaded it directly from nVidia's site, but they offer no support.

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update

by fridaymourning Oct 29, 2005 6:31PM PDT

What error messages were you getting? Its silly to ask but did you download the xp version of the driver? Sometimes Emachine system wont let you update or up-grade what came with the cpu. You can get a new video card for under 50.00$. Updating these wont be a problem. Most games will reccomend what type of video cards will work but the cheap ones will work for a lot of games. Also the video card is only as good as te rest of your comp.....ie..processor,ram,etc....

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Ok, let me see if this clears it a bit...

by tuppens316 Oct 30, 2005 4:29AM PST

I'm not upgrading my actual video card (though that is an option in the future, because I have an open AGP slot available). I was just trying to figure out what updating my driver was about. I was directed to the nVidia site to do so, and it says it's an XP version, but it's for my current video card, not a new one. I followed their provided directions, but it didn't install. The install wizard began, and failed. So in order to receive tech support on the issue, I followed the instructions and went to eMachine's site. They told me not to bother updating my driver unless I'm upgrading my card. Yet they also provided an updated driver for my current motherboard on their site (and I recall reading something about making sure you have the most current drivers installed for the motherboard for some of these updates to work). But if I don't need to install new drivers for old hardware, THAT is where my confusion lies. Why am I encouraged to install new drivers, for old hardware, if it's not going to work?

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Tuppens, When It Comes To Drivers..If It Ain't Broke,,,

by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Oct 30, 2005 8:14AM PST

...then don't fix it...It appears like you're experimenting with something before you know it won't already work..Generally, the nVidia site will update it's drivers because new cards have become available or there are "fixes" for problems on old cards.. Some of them are somewhat experimental and when I install video and motherboard drivers, I try to choose those that indicate they are "Windows Hardware Compatibility Certified". It means a better chance of the driver working with your particular computer. If your computer, it's motherboard and it's video display aren't having a problem, normally, there's no reason to update them..

I'm not sure why the new drivers wouldn't install but believe me, just because they're new doesn't mean they will work better than the older ones.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Thanks Grif...

by tuppens316 Oct 31, 2005 2:28AM PST

That helps clear things up a bit. I was getting confused as to why I was being encouraged to update something that I thought was working just fine to begin with.

Thanks again.

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RE:

by Cursorcowboy Oct 29, 2005 9:56PM PDT

I have an eMachines T2825 running Win XP Home with AMD Athlon XP 2800+ processor, nVidia GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU. So I toddled over to nVidia's site and downloaded the 81.85 version. Followed the directions to install (including disabling antivirus and uninstalling previous drivers), and got error messages galore. So after reinstalling my previous drivers, I did some searching and found an updated driver for my motherboard (nVidia MCP2 driver set v 3.77) on the eMachine's site.

Note: You've already receive several reports of situations concerning the machine you use. Below, you'll find some research concerning the basic question itself and hopefully you'll understand the complexity of the problem and how overwhelming it can actually be -- especially when it comes to a machine that is factory structured. This is not to say it cannot be done but that sometimes the $ spent may be worth more than insanity.

PART I:

1. Typically, Driver Verifier is used by device driver developers to make sure that their driver passes the hardware quality test. Drive Verifier begins with a screen which allows you to select one of the following five tasks, that if changed, will take effect after the next boot, [Q244617].

Warning: Microsoft recommends that you use this tool with caution.

? Create standard settings - this will select a standard set of Driver Verifier options and then allow you to choose which drivers will be verified.

? Create custom settings - this allows you to activate any of Driver Verifier's actions and choose which drivers will be verified.

? Delete existing settings - this will cause all of Driver Verifier's options to be deactivated and delete the list of drivers being verified.

? Display existing settings - this will display the nonvolatile Driver Verifier settings the options selected and the drivers selected for verification.

? Display information about the currently-verified drivers - this will display statistics related to Driver Verifier's actions.

2. The article [Q314464] explains not only is it possible to block the installation of device drivers that do not contain a digital signature but it also explains how to view a list of device drivers installed on your computer that are not digitally signed. Use this approach when you want to prevent any deliberate attempts to destabilize the computer.

3. Supplemental reading:

Note: Please ensure all appropriate internal links from each reference is noted.

a. ''Fatal System Error: 0x000000C4 If Deadlock Detection in Driver Verifier Is Turned on and Norton Antivirus Is Installed (Q325672).''

b. ''The Verifier Utility'' - an MSDN article explaining its use.

PART II:

Drvmain.sdb is a prepackaged database file saved in the ''systemroot\AppPatch'' and ''system32\dllcache'' folders that contains a list of device drivers and their associated Application Help messages - usually .dll files containing the code segments that run when an application requires an application compatibility fix or mode.

This is only a WAG since there have been few reporting the anomaly, but somewhere in the recent past either something installed requiring the use of a compatible driver or an update to a file which is used 100% of the time and Service Pack 2 just can't deal with it. Possible avenues to approach this problem could be:

1. The Driver Protection feature prevents the operating system from loading drivers that are known to cause stability problems and are listed in a Driver Protection List database. Driver Protection checks this database during Windows operating system upgrades and at run time after the operating system is installed. Driver Protection, which cannot be disable directly (click Start, Settings, Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, Services and in the details pane, right-click Upload Manager, Properties. Click the Log On tab, then click the hardware profile that you want to configure, and then click Disable), relies on Windows Update and Dynamic Update to update the database files so that users are presented with the most current information available on protected drivers.

Important: When this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start subsequently and should then be reenabled.

a. ''Programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality when they run on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer.''

b. ''Driver Protection List for Windows XP .''

2. The article [Q310602] suggests using the Recovery Console to shutdown a service or device driver started automatically. Perhaps the following utility will assist in first determing what is loaded/used on a system and the possible cause for the described anomaly:

When Windows starts, dozens of programs are run - many of them invisible and running in the background. ''AutoStart Viewer'' not only allows you to see every autostart on your system, all on the one screen, you can readilly see from where such loads. In addition, it gives you complete control over the autostart references, and allows you to modify or delete them at will. Key Features:

- Over 50 different autostart locations monitored!

- Right-click menu allows you to take complete control over each autostart

- Add New Autostart feature allows you to add new programs to automatically start

- Save/Print functions allow you to take snapshots

- Resizable, easy-to-use interface that shows every autostart on the one display

- All sizes, positions and settings are remembered

3. ''In the task manager I see that gearsec.exe running on my computer.''

PART III:

1. The article [Q314854] describes procedures that you can follow to troubleshoot difficulties with video drivers when you start your computer in Windows XP. Specifically, this article describes how to find out which video drivers are loading.

Note: Generally, video problems can stem from two common causes:

? the wrong video driver is installed.

? the settings made by using the Display options in Control Panel are incorrect -- such as setting the wrong monitor type, a mismatch that can result in distorted images if the monitor cannot synchronize with the video card's resolution or refresh rate.

2. The Microsoft article ''Resources for Troubleshooting Display Problems in Windows XP (Q307960)'' is intended to assist you in using the Video Display Troubleshooter that is included in Windows XP Help and Support Center, provides a list of online support services, and recommends other articles that may help solving video problems.

3. The article [Q286350] discusses Autodump+ (ADPlus.vbs) a new tool from Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) which is a console-based Microsoft Visual Basic script that can be used to troubleshoot any process or application that stops responding (hangs) or fails (crashes).

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Like Grif said ,don't fix something thats not broken!!

by Earth911 Nov 4, 2005 7:13AM PST

You start downloading wrong drivers or even new drivers with flaws in them,you'll have a screwed up machine.you see where people saying update drivers and thinking its a good idea but, its more than likely you need well enough alone.

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