Driver problems up the arse!

[KillerSkaarj]

So I finally got my PSU, and after an entire year of waiting and saving up to upgrade my computer, I finally have the parts to do so. I install everything, boot up Windows, then about 10 seconds in, the computer BSoDs and restarts.

My first thought was that the video card was messed up. Then I booted it in Safe Mode, and when nothing happened, I knew it was the drivers. During my previous attempt to get the card running on an old Enermax, the computer shut down while the drivers were installing. That's the problem.

So since I can't install the drivers when in normal mode, I had to fully install the drivers in Safe Mode. After the installation is complete, it says that some service couldn't be started and that it requires a reboot. So I reboot. I start up Normal mode, it happens again. Then I thought "I'm an idiot, I have to remove the old ones first!" So I did just that, and then I installed them again, but this time through the Device Manager via the "update drivers" option. That didn't work either. Instead, while the OS is loading at the Welcome screen, I hear the Error sound. Then the computer either freezes or the screen either goes to some random color (black, dark green, light blue, etc.)

So I went in and installed the drivers from the disk again, still in safe mode. I boot the computer up in normal mode, still freezes.

I'm at a loss as for what to do. The troubleshooting portion of the install disk tells me that I have to remove old drivers. I did that already, but it still won't work. I'm at the point where I'm out of options. I hope you guys can help me.

 

[ZenPirate]

You have a hardware problem. Will the machine run from a live linux cd, such as Ubuntu?

 

[SkaarjMaster]

sounds like you need to RMA the video card

 

[KillerSkaarj]

DAMMIT! I should have KNOWN not to install an old as **** Enermax!

Goddammit, and here I was thinking I was so close to finally upgrading my computer.

And, since I uninstalled the older drivers, my chipset no longer works. Yay. I hope you're happy, Murphy. You and your stupid "law."

 

[NRG]

Do a fresh install of Windows. If the VGA drivers that come with Windows don't work at all, then you have faulty hardware or a compatibility problem somewhere.

 

[SkaarjMaster]

Did you confirm the PSU was your problem before? If it is hardware, then try the video card in another system and see what happens; I believe all you have to do is try getting into the bios and if you can't do this, then the card is toast.

 

[KillerSkaarj]

Wait, I'm able to boot up into Windows perfectly fine in Safe Mode, and the system loads up just fine all the way to the user log in screen. The only problem is, when I enter my password, as it's signing me in, the screen changes to a random color and the computer freezes. I don't think it's the video card, I think it might be something else.

Here's two things I've come up with:

1. Remove the Molex-to-SATA adaptors that came with the PC and use the SATA cables included with the PSU (already tried, didn't work)
2. The fact that I'm using all 24-pins on the 20+4 pin connector

The last one I'm suspicious of, since my computer ran perfectly fine using a 20-pin connector. Maybe if I remove the extra pins, it'll work?

Oh, and how do I get into the BIOS again? It's F5, right?

By the way, I couldn't reinstall Windows even if I wanted to. The stupid computer didn't even come with a Vista disk (might be a Hewlett-Packard thing...)

 

[SkaarjMaster]

How many pins does your MB take? That's how many you should use. If the other 4 pins are not plugged in right next to the 20, then you only need 20. There is also a CPU 4-pin plug, which I think you already know about. It still sounds to me like the video card. Can you try it in another system? I wonder if our friend Skakruk has any ideas?

 

[KillerSkaarj]

The motherboard takes 24 pins, but my old power supply was using 20 and it still worked. But now, I don't think that's the problem.

I think the problem IS video related, but... uhhh... was I supposed to disable my integrated video chipset BEFORE installing the new card?

I think that might be the problem. The card works perfectly. I booted into BIOS, safe mode, etc. successfully, but the only thing that doesn't work is normal mode. Once I reinstall the chipset drivers, I will remove the card, disable the chipset, then reinstall the card. I will come back to you guys with news once I initiate all of this.

Just waiting for this DVD to format so I can transfer the installation files to my computer. Haha, if this works, that means that 431W Enermax was good after all. Oh well...

EDIT: Does anyone know if it's possible to install drivers in Safe Mode? I installed the chipset drivers, but.. it doesn't seem to be working.... nothing appears on the display in normal mode...

EDIT2: Okay, that wasn't it either. Actually, that WAS kind of the problem, but there's a new problem as well. When the OS is loading during the Welcome screen, it makes an error sound and then the whole system locks up. It can't be the video card since I'm able to boot into BIOS and Safe Mode. It has to be a software problem. I'll ask my brother about it. He knows way more about computers than I do.

 

[KillerSkaarj]

OKAY! Sorry for double post, but I think I'm making progress!! I had no idea VGA Mode existed until my brother told me about it, so I used that, installed the original integrated graphics chip drivers, and now I was able to boot into normal mode. I installed the latest Nvidia drivers from the website and properly disabled the chipset. Now I'm gonna install the video card. Wish me luck.

EDIT: No, it didn't work. That's it, I'm refunding this thing. Like hell I'm spending another $70 to get a replacement.

EDIT2: Okay, I may have [FINALLY] found the problem. It looks like my integrated video chipset reenables itself randomly. Wtf?

Edit3: YES! IT WORKS! I TOLD you it was a driver problem! Haha, no, seriously, you guys were pretty helpful, despite me amost actually paying twice the price for a working video card. WOOH!!

 

[NRG]

Did you install the Nvidia drivers BEFORE putting the video card in? I don't even know if it'll let you do that anymore personally. If that's the case, try uninstalling the nvidia drivers, disabling onboard video, and just allow the video card to run off the Windows VGA drivers. It'll be incredibly slow, but it works with any functioning video card under the sun, literally. This way, it will help confirm if it's the nvidia drivers (definitely not out of the question) or truly a faulty card.

Assuming you're not so fed up with and haven't already returned it

 

[SkaarjMaster]

Also, if you're still having problems with the silly integrated video enabling itself randomly, then check the internet for problems with your MB......maybe you need to do a bios flash. I would go into the bios a few times and change it back to disabling onboard video and try saving it a few times first though.

 

[KillerSkaarj]

Did you install the Nvidia drivers BEFORE putting the video card in? I don't even know if it'll let you do that anymore personally. If that's the case, try uninstalling the nvidia drivers, disabling onboard video, and just allow the video card to run off the Windows VGA drivers. It'll be incredibly slow, but it works with any functioning video card under the sun, literally. This way, it will help confirm if it's the nvidia drivers (definitely not out of the question) or truly a faulty card.

Assuming you're not so fed up with and haven't already returned it

I already did all that. Looks like I posted a little too late.

And personally, it was my fault for not knowing to uninstall every single driver in the first place. But doing this, I finally got it to boot into Normal mode. And wow, UT3 looks AMAZING!! Who said the 9500 GT wasn't a gaming card?

 

[SkaarjMaster]

That's cool you got it running. What "screen percentage" thing does it show in the settings? (it usually sets this automatically and I wouldn't change it; yes, I forgot exactly what the setting is for sure)

 

[NRG]

That's cool you got it running. What "screen percentage" thing does it show in the settings? (it usually sets this automatically and I wouldn't change it; yes, I forgot exactly what the setting is for sure)

It's sort of like in-engine downscaling. Anything but 100% will make your game a hideous, pixelated mess.

 

[KillerSkaarj]

It's sort of like in-engine downscaling. Anything but 100% will make your game a hideous, pixelated mess.

I know this from experience :X

Everything is at 100% detail with nearly all other settings turned on. I had frames that hovered around 30 FPS with bloom and DOF, and 60 without.

Honestly, without Bloom and DOF, that game looks very realistic. I honestly did not expect this card to handle all of this. EVGA and NewEgg RULE!!!

 

[SkaarjMaster]

My latest card is EVGA also!

 

[KillerSkaarj]

Awesome! I know who I'm buying my stuff from now. Corsair, EVGA, and NewEgg.

EDIT: I bet I can make a good UT3 map with this. TO THE EDITOR!