Graphics card problem

By Groedius on 24/02/2009

I have a graphics card problem that seems to elude me. When i try to update my Graphics card driver when i restart my screen is locked to 600 x 400 in 4 bit colour and all looks messed up. Sometimes when i try to run a disc game this can happen too it gives me an NV4 error or something i will be sure to screenshot it the next time. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the card then put on the new driver and i still getting the same problem. Does this mean my actual card is fucked ?

By Anthonysc on 24/02/2009

Not necessarily, It might just be a bad driver, what gfx card are you using and what driver?

By Samurai-JM on 24/02/2009

sounds like a driver issue, it's not often that the actual card will force you into crappy settings. like Anthony said post which stuff your using and we can probably figure something out.

By RobbieThe1st on 25/02/2009

QUOTE (Samurai-JM @ February 24, 2009 06:50 pm)

sounds like a driver issue, it's not often that the actual card will force you into crappy settings. like Anthony said post which stuff your using and we can probably figure something out.

Yea, most likely driver issue. I have run into this issue a fair amount - usually caused by the driver not being able to run and windows falling back to a default. Note that it *may* be caused by the video card not being seated correctly, wiggle it and make sure its sitting straight in its socket.

Other than that, just get a driver-cleaner util(don't pay for one, get something thats *freeware*), clean off your video drivers, and reinstall em. Perhaps also try different driver versions if you need.

By Anthonysc on 25/02/2009

QUOTE (RobbieThe1st @ February 24, 2009 11:57 pm)

[QUOTE=Samurai-JM,February 24, 2009 06:50 pm]
<snip>
Other than that, just get a driver-cleaner util(don't pay for one, get something thats *freeware*), clean off your video drivers, and reinstall em. Perhaps also try different driver versions if you need.

Or he could just use device manager and check the box to delete the driver

By Groedius on 25/02/2009

QUOTE (Anthonysc @ February 24, 2009 02:12 pm)

Not necessarily, It might just be a bad driver, what gfx card are you using and what driver?

Im using an 8800 GTX OC2 from BFG tech atm im using the original drivers from 2007. I go to the Nvidia site to update these drivers download and install new drivers then the whole thing fucks up 600 x 400 4 bit colour mode until i uninstall and reinstall the card. Sometimes when i play disc games this can happen aswell. I dont know why it happens when i get the driver because im CERTAIN I download the right 1. The only other idea i got left is to uninstall it then use a software like robbie said to completly remove the driver then install the new downloaded one going to attempt this now.

By Groedius on 25/02/2009

Ok well idk how i did it but somehow i installed the latest drivers and its working so no need for this topic anymore and sorry for double post

By RobbieThe1st on 26/02/2009

QUOTE (Anthonysc @ February 25, 2009 06:44 pm)

[QUOTE=RobbieThe1st,February 24, 2009 11:57 pm] [QUOTE=Samurai-JM,February 24, 2009 06:50 pm]
<snip>
Other than that, just get a driver-cleaner util(don't pay for one, get something thats *freeware*), clean off your video drivers, and reinstall em. Perhaps also try different driver versions if you need. [/QUOTE]
Or he could just use device manager and check the box to delete the driver

That works... sometimes. Problem is, that doesn't remove all the installed files & registry settings that installing drivers generally add(usually they come with a control panel of some sort, there are those files and such). For most things, you can generally get away with leaving the junk, but when you are dealing with your graphics card(especially when dealing with multiple major versions of the drivers - it goes without saying that you definitely need to do this if you are upgrading to/from 3rd party drivers), most people recommend using a proper cleaner to completely remove the whole thing, not just removing the driver file from being used.

Note that even simply uninstalling all software related to the driver won't work - Just try this: Uninstall a driver for some piece of hardware you have. Do the best you can to clean up all files associated with it, now have windows redetect the hardware and attempt to find drivers for it. 99% of the time, it will find the (uninstalled but not deleted) driver files deep in the windows folder and install the driver for you. Great.... unless the driver happens to be corrupted.
Also, don't count on never versions of the driver overwriting old ones completely. In theory it should happen, but what happens when it *doesn't*.

-RobbieThe1st

Back to Topic Index