****ing Drivers...

[Bad^Hat]

So I got my new PSU today, shoved it in along with my shiny new 9800 pro which has been sitting around waiting for said PSU. Install the drivers that came on the disc (it says Ver: 8.01, I'd planned on updating them later, just wanted to see it working first). Drivers installed, asks me to restart, gets to the WinXP boot screen (with the animated logo), and after that it forces a reset. The only way out is to F8 and revert back to my last working settings or whatever.

I used Drivercleaner to clean up old Nvidia drivers, and after this downloaded the 4.11 Catalyst and tried it to the same effect, only during the driver install it came up with the error: "Severe: Zero Display Service Error". Nothing really helpful on Google about that, seems rare. Uninstalled, drivercleaner'd, tried the CD drivers again and now they have this error, too. I'm sure it wasn't there first time I installed from disc, but either way it's not working.

I'm desperate, guys. I'm due to pick up my copy of HL2 this afternoon and things are looking grim for being able to play it. I was hoping for a plug and play jobbie but things are never so simple I guess. Also, I'd like to avoid a reformat if possible.

Thanks...

 

[blahblahblah]

You have the molex power plugged into your new 9800 Pro? Also make sure your card is firmly in the AGP slot.

Did you follow the driver cleaner instructions exactly? Want to make sure everything is removed (and stays removed).

This definetly seems like an odd error.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Molex is the one that plugs directly from the card to the PSU to the C: Drive right? I'm pretty sure I got that in, C: is working

When I slot the card into the AGP I couldn't get the screw into the hole unless I pulled it up onto the side of the case a bit, but once I got it in I pressed it down firmly and it seemed to be in securely... but it might be lifted a bit by the screw.

 

[blahblahblah]

Molex is the one that plugs directly from the card to the PSU to the C: Drive right? I'm pretty sure I got that in, C: is working

When I slot the card into the AGP I couldn't get the screw into the hole unless I pulled it up onto the side of the case a bit, but once I got it in I pressed it down firmly and it seemed to be in securely... but it might be lifted a bit by the screw.

Yeah, sounds like you got the molex in right.

Try going back into your case and reinstalling your graphics card. Once its in, it feels like its in. You will know if you did it properly. Chances are if you don't think it is down all the way, it probably isn't.

 

[Bad^Hat]

It's in all the way, I made sure everything was plugged in securely and did it again, no joy. Also, should the heatsink be hot on the card? It's not incredibly hot, just quite warm considering it hasn't been doing anything yet...

 

[blahblahblah]

It's in all the way, I made sure everything was plugged in securely and did it again, no joy. Also, should the heatsink be hot on the card? It's not incredibly hot, just quite warm considering it hasn't been doing anything yet...

I would be worried if it wasn't hot or quite warm. You want the heatsink to be taking the heat away from your video card.

Did you try the driver cleaner for ATI drivers? Maybe a corrupt part of the driver you initially tried to installed is still on your computer causing problems.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Yup, every time. **** it I'm just gonna reformat... not getting HL2 today either. Shit I'm pissed off...

Thanks for the help

 

[Jerbs]

What's the outpower of the PSU? And what else do you have drawing power?

I got myself a GF 5900XT and had crashes constantly. Turns out my PSU wasn't pumping out enough for my v/card and everything else - numerous fans, h/drives, rom drives etc...

So I disconnected a couple of the fans and everything runs sweet. I need to upgrade my PSU.

If it's a driver issue though, boot up in safe mode. You should be able to add/remove drivers that way with ease.

 

[Bad^Hat]

I just got a new PSU

Doing a quick reformat now so puter will be ready for HL2 today :thumbs:

 

[Bad^Hat]

Okay, I think I made a breakthrough, but not the good kind. I put another HDD in as master and booted WinXP on it. The other HDD (which I was trying to install on before) is connected as slave. Connected the card and installed the drivers, no error during install but still crashes on reset. What the ****? Could it be affected from old drivers on the slave HDD? I'd disconnect it but I'm pretty sure I'd get the same results. This seems like a problem with the card, or how it's reacting to my other components.

Also the other HDD won't boot, I tried to repair windows through Windows Setup (with the WinXP CD) and it all went to shit. Some way through setup it gave me an error and I could only reset. At this stage I installed WinXP to the other HDD (master now) and looked it up on Google. I got my answer but now when I boot WinXP on the other it doesn't even get to the error before it force resets. ARGH!!! Now I can't even get files out of it to backup for reformatting because they're restricted (admin accounts). I'm running out of options here!!!