What am I doing wrong? (Radeon 9600 question)

[Drakon]

Ok, I'm starting to get fed up with ATI and AMD. Just bought my computer two days ago and have had problems since. I didn't assemble it, the store did by the way.
The thing I don't get is that my computer freezes in some 3d games, such as Blackhawk Down or doesn't even start at all; Battlefield 1942 (when I choose a map and start it, the game loads but just when it's ready the computer freezes.)
First I had the drivers that came with the computer, a Radeon cd, but I thought I ought to download new ones so I did. The problem is they don't work.
After first uninstalling the previous drivers according to ATI's own procedure, I try to install the news ones and the controllpanel (that I also uninstalled). At first everything seems to go as planned but when I reboot and restart Windows I get a message that the Controllpanel can't load since I have no drivers installed or they are not working. When checking Device Manager I can see that they are, and assumingly working properly. But if I check the Display settings I get nothing.
I tried to reinstall them a couple of times. I even downloaded older drivers to try but they didn't work either.
I'm at loss here, I actually feel so sad that I regret buying a computer after 2 days.

My specs are:

Amd 3000+ Barton
ECS KT600-A MoBO
ATI Radeon 9600 PRO 128MB
512 DDR PC3200 400mhz
120 Gb 8mb Harddrive
Windows XP

What should I do? I'm actually thinking on returning it, 'cause allthough I'm used and know that things doesn't allways work out with computers all the time, I was kind of hoping that my completely new would work...

/Drakon

[blubomber]

Which Catalyst version did you download from the ATI site? I tried downloading the latest version a few weeks ago and i ran into the same problem you are describing. I think that 3.9 is the latest, so try downloading and installing 3.8 from ATIs website.

Give that a whirl and let us know.

PS. You have a nice system there. Dont give up just yet.

[washe]

Well, new drivers has a utility to remove completely from the system any previous drivers, it cleans up all even the registry keys.. Use it and the reboot and install the new ones.... check out if there is a new set of drivers for your mobo chipset sometimes it helps a lot being updated...

I heard that 3.9 were not very stable drivers, go for the 3.8 they work very well.

Altought next version of the Ati drivers are going to be released soon..

[Drakon]

Nope, just installed the 3.8 drivers and it's the same thing. I have another question so I might just ask: when I check device manager I't says I have 2 cards: Radeon 9600 Pro and Radeon 9600 Pro - Secondary. What's the secondary? Might that cause the problem, because when I installed both of the new drivers 3.9 and the 3.8, Windows first, as it should, that it found a new hardware, and the another one, and when the installation was complete and I was about to reboot it stated that the hardware wasn't installed properly and might not work (and I get the feeling that it was the Secondary device that was found...).
I don't know. Nothing seems to work

Yeah, maybe I shouldn't give up that easy but it's frustrating.

/D

[blubomber]

Try booting into safe mode. When you start the computer and you get the white lines at the bottom and it says "Starting Windows" above the white lines, hit F8 to go into boot options. then select "Safe Mode". This loads windows without driver support, so your video will look bad. From there, go into your device manager and remove both cards. Do not reboot after removing the first. After both are removed, reboot again into safe mode. Install the 3.8 catalyst drivers from there and see if that fixes your problems.

Dont worry though. The good people here at TechIMO will help you get that thing running like a champ!!

[Drakon]

Nope, it didn't work. Tried to install 3.7 also, but that failed to. It seems to be Radeon 9600 Series - Secondary card that's wrong or doesn't function with the updates. What I don't get is why it works when I install from the ATI CD... It should be the same thing, but apparently...

Well I'm at a loss.

Ps. I couldn't install the drivers in safe-mode. Got some kind of error with VGA....

[Xtreeme]

"I't says I have 2 cards: Radeon 9600 Pro and Radeon 9600 Pro - Secondary. What's the secondary? "

My 9800 is the same! Its dual ramdac card-meaning it can support two diff monitors same time with diff refresh rates etc. In Dx it can game on both displays-Open Gl it can only one-thats a OGL bug somtimes too. Can only use sfotware render on secondary in Ogl. Anyhow it means you can support two monitors independently not just mirroring one. Its o.k. and that how it should list-but sounds like your drivers are HALF installing or that wouldnt read that. It would say standard VGA since this video is newer than XP. Thats what mine does with no driver installed.


Start clean....if device manager recognises the card-its still partially installed, thats bad.
Go to start> control panel> add remove programs. Reomve the ATI control panel-Remove the ATI drver_ reboot. upon reboot it finds devices-CANCEL. THis will force standard driver.



Now install the ATI driver (not control panel) REBOOT NOW dont install or run anything else.

Upon reboot isntall the ATI control panel app. REBOOT NOW.

Should be o.k. now.


P.S. TURN off virus scanner whilst uninstalling and Intalling the ati drvier and control panel. ANTI-vir can majorly interfere with driver and app un/installs

[Drakon]

Thanks for the advice Xtreem but the problem is I've already tried it that way. I've been trying for the last 3 hours to get it to work and it won't. The only time there doesn't seem to be any installation problems is with the original cd, but then my games f**k up and freeze or like a couple of minutes ago: the computer just "died" so the monitor went black like when the computer isn't on.

[blubomber]

At this point, i would suggest reinstalling windows XP. Reformat the drive and start fresh. Are you using winXP home or Pro? Does it come with SP1?

Also, is your 9600 Pro made by ATI or another manufacturer? You may have a bad card on your hands. See if you can RMA it.

If you reformat, go to ECS's website and get the latest VIA drivers for the chipset. Also, what version of the board do you have? I have checked ECS's website and it has not mentioned any problems with ATI cards.

Has anyone asked if the fan on the card is spinning? Almost sounds like classic overheating.