Installation Question?

Silverfox

I purchased the AIW 800XT and plan on installing it soon but possibly due to my existing 9700 Pro causing problems I cannot load windows in plain old F8 SAFE MODE. It gets stuck at this line [ AGP440.sys ]

Windows WILL load up in SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING, so my question is, will it be allright to install the new 6.7`s in this mode after running Driver Cleaner 1.5 ?

Thanks for any replys.

Regards, Silverfox

temeteus82

So you can't boot normality to windows? You can’t install drivers in safe mode. If nothing else helps re-install windows…

Dyre Straits

What might be the best thing to do first would be to run CHKDSK on the HD to make sure there are no errors. Then follow that up with DEFRAG.

If this doesn't fix the problem getting into SAFEMODE, you need to do a REPAIR installation of Windows. This doesn't require a formatting of the HD and you won't lose any programs and/or data. Something has become corrupted to cause the SAFEMODE to halt there. It's actually NOT AGP440.sys that's causing the halt, it's the next one.

It would be wise to get this matter corrected before proceeding.

However, there's no reason that you cannot simply Uninstall the video drivers from the ADD/REMOVE program, shutdown the computer, exchange the video cards and boot back up into Windows. SAFEMODE isn't required to do hardware changes. Might be a good practice, but not required.

Silverfox

I was always under the impression that you should always install new drivers in Safe Mode only.


Like I said, I can load windows up from the F8 key if I select [SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING] And I assume if I have no anti-virus app running,etc., the install of the new drivers should be pretty much be the same as in only [SAFE MODE].

The pc loads windows just fine in its normal mode. Only in the [SAFE MODE] does it hang.

Anyways, Thanks for the replys.

Regards, Silverfox

Dyre Straits

I very rarely ever install upgrades via Safemode. I know it's recommended by many others, but, it's really not necessary. The only instance where I would agree it's necessary is when going from one manufacturer to another. But, then I would do a complete Windows Repair or....complete format and new installation.

Be sure to do the CHKDSK and DEFRAG. There's definitely something awry on the system to keep you from getting into Safemode.

Silverfox

I did run the chkdsk and it came up clean with presumably no errors found and afterwards ran the defrag which I normally do once a month anyway.

The problem still exists with not being able to enter into safe mode alone. The pc will still boot fine when I select [safe mode with networking] though.

I am reluctant to insert my original Windows XP cd on boot up to do a repair because it contains SP1 and I have installed SP2 on the pc a year ago. I don`t know if that would screw anything up, but I don`t want to take a chance. What do you think?

I quess I could uninstall SP2 and then reboot with the original SP1 XP cd and do a repair, but what a pain !

Thanks for the replys & help.

Regards, Silverfox

temeteus82

Get nLite and use it to create SP2 cd
http://www.nliteos.com/

I use it, you can add drivers, software, hotfixes and sp's with it. And there is tweak part where you can aply some performance tweaks

Silverfox

Thanks for the tip on using nLite ! Never knew that existed.

I went ahead and installed the AIW x800XT and everything went just fine using the ati uninstall utility in add\remove programs, re-boot, cancel the hardware wizard, ran Driver Cleaner 1.5, re-booted & installed the 6.7`s & CCC with anti-virus disabled, re-booted, and everything looks just fine.

The only thing I haven`t figured out yet is when I checked everything in Device Manager the only thing that is showing up as an error which I didn`t have any before the install, is under the [Sound,Video, And Game Controllers] is a yellow exclamation ! marker next to [ RADEON PROBE DRIVER]

Could you tell me what the radeon probe driver is?

I haven`t installed ATI Tool Trays as of yet.

Thanks for any replys.

Regards, Silverfox

temeteus82

Radeon Probe Driver is a driver installed by Radlinker to allow the overclocking on the graphics boards.

Silverfox

Thanks for the info on what the radeon probe was !


Do you advise installing this radlinker program or which one in your opinion is the best one for at least monitoring the gpu temp on this x800xt board. I don`t plan on doing much OCing anymore.

I did install the ATI Tool Trays and wasn`t very much impressed.

Thanks for any replys.

Regards, Silverfox

Dyre Straits

I've been using ATT to monitor temps for quite some time now. It can be setup to show the temps in the taskbar near the clock constantly. You can also set it up to show intermittently during 3D gaming.

If you're use to Radlinker, though, that may be your better choice.

Glad to hear you got things working.


As for doing a Windows Repair installation: My own Windows CD is XP Pro SP2. I also have a system using XP Home SP1. Doing a repair with SP1 would require that you do all the updates again after the repair installation.

However, slipstreaming the updates is a better option.

Enjoy your new video card.