fecker4

Hi, I tried to make this simple and well organized, please help.

Problem: Spore freezes on startup before splash screen and requests up to date video drivers

Root Problem: The up-to-date video drivers I've tried do not work. These include: Catalyst 8.8, Catalyst 8.9, Omega 48442, and the mobility modded versions of those three. I've used driver cleaner in between every install. With the catalyst drivers, I get the message "setup did not find a driver compatible with your current hardware or operating system." Then, when I try to manual install the driver anyways through device manager, my desktop boots up with major visual corruptions so I can't see anything.

Over at least 10 hours now I've requested Tech support from EA, ATI, Sager, PowerNotebooks, and Intel. They have all blamed another company for the lack of driver support.

I've also tried to update my Chipset drivers in the hope that this will allow the current ATI drivers to install. I have been unsuccessful, for some reason the Intel install for my 855PE chipset works, but doesn't seem to change anything.

The only drivers that work are from Sager, and were made in 2004. The title of their install package folder is "M37EW_M11_810_WHQL". The last part of that "810 WHQL" seems to correspond to an Intel chipset, but I ran Intel's utility and it told me that I have an 855PE. I am baffled.

Specs:
Laptop Model: Sager NP3790 (Clevo M37EW)
Processor: 2.0Ghz Pentium-m
Memory: 1.5Gb RAM
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon Mobility 9700
OS: Windows XP
BIOS: Insyde Software MobilePro BIOS Version 1.01
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c

How can I get more up to date graphics drivers working on my computer?
More importantly, how can I get Spore to work?

Please help, since Tech support has not. Thank you.

fecker4

Update: According to the Version checker, the one driver that DOES work on my computer has a display driver version 6.14.10.6512

I've discovered a thread that may solve my problem. Apparently my laptop needs a 75hz refresh rate and drivers revert to 60hz automatically after the first reboot. I've installed refreshforce and set it up to make sure that the settings will remain at 75hz regardless.

My new problem is that after so many driver installs and uninstalls my computer is not reacting to driver installs the way it used to. I can't install the newest catalyst drivers. When installing catalyst drivers, windows thinks I'm installing omega drivers. Sometimes I select the driver folder and it doesn't even recognize it as a driver that will work with my video card. I'm using driver cleaner, but that doesn't seem to be enough. Is there a way I can revert the damage of several driver installs and uninstalls without reinstalling my OS?


Please help.

Thank You in advance.

fecker4

Update: I gave up and reinstalled windows. Then I tried to install Catalyst 8.9 again. I got the error again "Setup did not find a driver compatible with your current hardware or operating system." I tried to install manually through device driver, pointed it to the unpacked catalyst folder, and it didn't recognize the files as compatible with my computer.

Can anyone help me with this?

fecker4

Well, I solved my own problem... as no one responded.

Steps to fix my problem

1. Reformat and reinstall windows
2. Install .NET framework 1.1
3. Download RefreshForce
4. Download newest Omega Drivers
5. Install Omega Drivers
6. Boot into windows and see corruption, reboot into safe mode
7. Run RefreshForce and setup some resolutions you want to use on each monitor. SET REFRESH RATE TO 75Hz.
8. Reboot, and click through corruption on login screen.
9. Beautiful windows comes up with no problems


WTF happened? The Sager NP3790 requires a 75hz refresh rate. So even though ATI says they support Sager on their download page, they don't support this model, and you have to force the system into the correct refresh rate.

fecker4

Also, I got spore to work by setting it to load in 640x480 and making sure Refresh Force had 640x480 at 75hz selected. Once in game I changed settings to something else.


By the way, when I called EA to ask for support, they wouldn't help me because they said that my specific video card was not supported. The m9600 and 9800 are supported, but they wouldn't help me and wouldn't send me to a higher level tech. I should have downloaded this game.

craig5320

Sorry no one was able to help you mate, glad you got it sorted and had the decency to come back and update us, hopefully your solution and info will be able to help other users in the future, which is our main aim.

Thanks

Craig

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