Driver causing Xp to freeze on Startup

Flashing Blade · Apr 11, 2005, 02:30 PM

Looking for help from the experts......This is my story.

I have tried to search for this problem but nothing seems to match. Apologises in advance if I'm wrong.

I had until a couple of days ago been relatively trouble free with my PC.

I had been playing Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (half wayish) for a couple of hours when the whole thing slowed right down, started to lock up. I came out of the game (thinking maybe the card or cpu may be getting hot) and shut the system down. On checking my task manager i could see the system was being loaded up by interrupts. Not being that keyed up I thought that maybe it was a programme of some kind or a virus. I have carried out both virus check and spyware, all clear.

The next couple of times the boot up phase took ages, the first couple of passes of the loading bar were fine then it went really slow.

I have used windows troubleshooter and after working through the config sys issues it became obvious it was the Ati driver.

Now my PC just locks up during startup.

What I've tried

I was using the omega v.2.5.68 which, as i've said worked fine. I have uninstalled them rebooted which loads the VGA adapter (gets me operational) then used the driver cleaner and uninstalled the remaining install files.

Downloaded and installed the latest omega driver v.2.6.12 Same result so I did the same as above with it.

Thought i'd go back the way then Ati Catalyst 3.9 still no joy.

The PC will only boot if no graphic driver is installed.

I've updated to the latest bios.

My system:

Athlon 2400+

Tyan Ati 9600pro

512 ram

Asus A7V266-E motherboard

Windows XP home SP2

Please help

Rasta Monsta · Apr 11, 2005, 02:37 PM

Try reinstalling the VIA 4-in-1 drivers, rebooting, then installing latest CATs.

rasta

Flashing Blade · Apr 11, 2005, 02:45 PM

Great i'll give that a try. Not to hard to do is it?

ChoGGi · Apr 11, 2005, 03:59 PM

easy as installing video drivers

Flashing Blade · Apr 11, 2005, 04:15 PM

I'm afraid it didn't work

I used this version via_hyperion 4in1_v455vp

Keep the suggestions coming.

ChoGGi · Apr 11, 2005, 04:18 PM

use drivercleaner to remove your ati stuff (read the docs)
then try reinstalling your video drivers again

Flashing Blade · Apr 11, 2005, 05:02 PM

ChoGGi,

I have tried the drivercleaner before but i'll give it another bash. How can I check the Via 4 in 1 installed properly? Should it show up anywhere?

ChoGGi · Apr 11, 2005, 08:29 PM

in device manager, under system devices.
you can check the versions of (make sure all the providers are VIA not MS)

VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
VIA Standard PCI to ISA Bridge
VIA Standard Host Bridge
theres also the ide controller driver but it doesnt really apply

Tipstaff · Apr 11, 2005, 11:46 PM

Of note: When you run Driver Cleaner pick all the ATI listings to clean EXCEPT the IGP ones. Those are for systems that have ATI chipsets in them, and are not meant to be run on other systems. If you do clean those listings be sure to reinstall the VIA Hyperion drivers, reboot, then install the ATI drivers.

Also, be sure to stop any programs that watch the registry for changes such as Adwares Adwatch or Spybot S&D TeaTimer as they will put back any changes made to the registry. While it may not be a problem, and only as a test, if possible, unplug your ethernet cable, and disable your Anti-virus software, then try installing. Sometimes strict AV settings can interferre with the installation.. rare.. but it can happen. Just remember to put your AV software back on before you reconnect your ethernet

.

-Tip

nuG · Apr 12, 2005, 12:00 AM

just as a note, the hyperion drivers are optimized for newer chipset, and they have retro drivers which they recomend for older via boards. they are over at www.viaarena.com and its lists all of the chipsets that are supported by both. try out the retros if the hyperions didnt work

Flashing Blade · Apr 12, 2005, 03:45 AM

Hey Thanks,

I'm in Bonnny Scotland......and now at work (bummer) will give these ago tonight.

Any reason you can think why the problem just seemed to creep in? I hadn't made any changes for a couple of weeks or so previously.

BWX · Apr 12, 2005, 03:51 AM

Maybe Starforce? I've heard some stories about how it can cause problems.

Flashing Blade · Apr 12, 2005, 05:51 AM

Hi,

I've checked Chipset under systems, it shows:

VIA CPU to AGP controller
VIA Tech CPU to PCI Bridge
VIA Tech PCI to ISA bridge

I know that is differant to the ones ChoGGi suggested, is that significant?

BMX,

What is Starforce?

BTW appreciate what your doin'

nuG · Apr 12, 2005, 06:44 AM

Starforce is an anti piracy software that some manufacturers use on products they put out. it has one of the most aggressive anti piracry protections on the market. mostly used on games. It actaully lists under the device manager after installing it. i hate it to death, i refuse to install anything with starforce on it.

Flashing Blade · Apr 12, 2005, 06:52 AM

Mmm..Nope just checked the device manager. It can't be that.

Flashing Blade · Apr 12, 2005, 08:32 AM

Well bad news All,

I have followed all the advice so far to a tee.......AND IT'S STILL LOCKING UP ON STARTUP.

I have tried it with the latest Omega driver, is it worth trying the new 5.4 ATI one?

On the bright side, I am getting a good computer education

Rasta Monsta · Apr 12, 2005, 10:35 AM

Drivers can sometimes become corrupted due to disk errors, so that is why we suggested a reinstall of video & chipset drivers.

This is starting to sound like a hardware failure. Is the 9600's cooling fan spinning, and is the heatsink still firmly attached (believe it or not, I have seen both these failures)? Feel the backside of the video card where the GPU is attached. . .smokin' hot, or just warm?

Assuming there were no changes to the BIOS, and the driver reinstall didn't work, the next step in troubleshooting is to borrow a different video card from someone else and see the problem persists.

Good luck,

rasta

Flashing Blade · Apr 12, 2005, 02:48 PM

Hi Update,

No good news. I've checked the card as best I can. The fan functions well the heatsink appears to be working well. Tyan provide on board monitering which has seems to working:

Memory core voltage 2.75 Safe range 2.6-3.00

Memory I/O voltage 2.768 Safe range 2.6-3.00

mem temp1 39 C safe 70 C

mem temp2 39 C safe 70 C

Core Vol 1.28 Safe range 1.05-1.55

I've removed cleaned and replaced the card (don't have one to swap it with

)

One thing I have noticed is that after following the steps with cab cleaner then driver cleaner there appears to be six entries left. If I run driver cleaner close it then run it again the same six entries appear again. All virus/firewalls and switched off. I can't read the full entries either but the base of them is the same:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\current control set\ENUM\ROOT\LEGACY

Is this significant?

Cheers