nVidia 169.25 + Vista 64 - Unresponsive machine - Please Help

Talisker0898 · Jun 25, 2008, 11:46 AM

The Machine:

Newly Contructed, fresh install of Vista 64 Ultimate
Intel core 2 duo E8400 3.0
Gigabyte EP43 - DS3L w/ latest bios
4 Gig Corsair XMS ram
Asus nVidia 8600 GT Top
Seagate 7200.10 250gig
OCZ 500w PS
Soundblaster Audiy2 zs

Nothing but defaultfactory settings

The issue:

Just after I loaded vista I began to work on my graphics drivers. I inserted the asus driver disk and clicked DRIVERS.

1st pass this is what happened:

A few seconds later a box popped up telling me that another installation was underway and asked if I wanted to continue and wait or cancel. I clicked continue. I then got a pop up box that said something like "you can't install 32bit drivers on a 64 bit system, installation will now exit." Hmm, ok. The install window doens't close and then I get a box saying "you are attempting to install 64bit drivers on a non-64 bit system." Ok, so i clicked ok to exit. I then got a box that said. "Drivers have been installed successfully. Restart/" So I restart. Vista never loads. it just hangs in pre load stage. I restart, vista tells me that if failed to start and I load last safe configuration.

2nd attempt:

This time the install seems to be fine. No warning boxes. Restart and I end up in the same place - hang up on vista load.

Neither the 169.25 asus supplied drivers nor the nVidia official 175 drivers will work. I have not tried other older drivers

Is this a vista problem? Is there something in the bios that I should be setting differently?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

***temeteus82*** · Jun 25, 2008, 11:52 AM

Hi there and welcome to DriverHeaven!

Have you tried newest drivers? 175.19 is the newest
Get them here : GeForce Release 175

Talisker0898 · Jun 25, 2008, 12:00 PM

Edit - it was the latest 175 drivers I used. Apologies for any confusion.

axmt · Jul 26, 2008, 12:23 AM

Try using the DEFAULT NVDIA DRIVER PACKAGE FOR VISTA 64. The one you want is the 163.19 OR 169.75 . I had simalar issues using the driver supplied with my card. Used the NVIDIA PACKAGE and have had no Problems.. Here is the link for archived drivers...
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us
If the problem Persists AFTER installing the NVIDIA DEFUALT DRIVER then you most likely have an Issue with the Vid Card..
However, there is one other Possible issue You may be experiencing and that May be a Conflict with SPD (SERIAL PRESENCE DETECT ) I am not sure wheter the CORSAIR XMS memory supports SPD.. If it does nto Support SPD then you may be having conflicts due to this.. VISTA 64 and 32 Seem to be Very Finicky about this Point.. If your RAM does not Support SPD ,, VISTA does not play well..SPD controls the DEFUALT TIMINGS For RAM as well as SETTING the Proper VOLTAGES for the RAM.. RAM that Does not Support SPD has to be Manually Set and May or may not Work as Desired...
Their is one Type of DDR2 and DDR3 that I know Supports SPD and that is RAM put out by KINGSTON. I learned the Lesson of NON SPD RAM the Hard and Expensive way.. i originally Purchased 8GB of DDR3 1333MHz by OCZ and it NEVER worked right,, In my Research into the Issue I found that OCZ DOES NOT support SPD..I switched to KINGSTON which Supports SPD and have had ZERO ISSUES.. I Spent over $ 1,000.00 To learn this Lesson..
Hope this helps. Good Luck..