Davidhoff having tech problems

[willhoff]

Ok, here's where I'm at:  I bought a Radeon HD 5550 video card (not exactly the one that Lon said to get, but they were sold out of the 5670's).

I followed the instructions to install it.  I went into Safe mode (because I have to), and unistalled the previous drivers for my old video card using the add/remove programs (I think I removed the right one).  I disabled my old video adapter using the windows device manager ( I hope I disabled the right ones).  Then I opened the computer and looked for a place to put the new card.  The only card slot that looked like the right fit was already occupied by an existing card that I never use.  So, I took that one out and put the new 5550 in its place.  I'm still not sure what that old card I removed was for; it had a plug-in extension that was a bit larger and it was white not blue; so didn't seem to be for the monitor.  But that one is out now and the 5550 in its place.

Then they said to put the CD in to load the drivers...that's where I'm stuck.  If I use safe mode, I get part-way through the installation process and it stops and says there's an error "failed to detect load detection driver".  Not sure what this means, but I'm guessing that being in Safe Mode is causing me problems because not all my drivers or what not are being accessed.  *sighs* Then if I try to use the CD and load the drivers in Regular Mode, I get part way through the process and I get (you guessed it) Blue Screen! and the computer is locked so I have to shut it down.

So, I'm really a tiny bit frustrated now.  I worried that old driver I pulled out is necessary some how, or maybe I unistalled or removed the wrong programs earlier on.  I'm really not sure.  Think I'm going to look for a practice dummy to go whack at for a while.

[Hellblazer]

Nope I don't think so. Since the video card is out, it's more likely that your problem lies with corrupted ram. Have you tried to take out the ram and only leave one stick at a time in? Alternatively if you're not sure you have taken all the nvidia driver out there's freeware utility that deals with uninstalling unused drivers. You might want to download those on your bro's comp and then transfer it to your comp.

[willhoff]

Somehow I "think" I managed to download the drivers for the new video card in Safe Mode.  I think this because when I boot up in Regular Mode, now the pixel setting has changed (all my icons look tiny, etc).  I also checked to see what driver was active in the System Display tab, and it said ADI something (I think thats the name of the driver I installed).  But, I only get so far in Regular Mode and I get Blue Screened.  So, looks like even with the new video card in I'm still having problems. *stretches back and grunts*

One thing I might mention.  For a while now, before I had all these problems, I would always get some error message when I started my computer.  I have been just exiting out of those hoping they were bogus.  The error messages would say something like "Error with System 32".  Well, I'm pretty sure C:system32 is the file location of the video drivers.  Also, when I boot up in Safe Mode, for about 15 seconds I get a black screen with line after line of System 32/driver...bla bla bla script.  Then it goes to my desk top.  Not really sure how this plays into any of this, but maybe there's something wrong with my System32 files?  Heck I don't know.  I'm pretty lost what to do now.  Its looking like a full system restart may be my only option...but I really dont want to lose all my information and add ons.  *sighs*

[willhoff]

Oh and to HB..thanks for the response.  I don't know where to look for my RAM, let alone how to pull it out stick by stick.  Maybe you explain to me like I'm a 3-year old how to find and remove sticks of RAM?  Thanks

[Hellblazer]

Alright here's it is.



Depending on the model of your mother board you may have less or more long strips or ram. What you need to do is usually there are two push pins on each side of the strip for each ram stick. You nee to push on these to take the stick out.

This is what a common ram stick looks like



Now all you have to do is take your sticks out but leave one in. Usually the one closest to your cpu is the first slot, which is where you should leave it.

So all you have to do, is to remove the sticks but leave one in, close the computer casing and reboot the computer into normal mode. Work a bit if the computer goes into BSOD again check the message if you can and write it down. If it does and you still have the same message as before then take that stick out and try an other one. You should of course test all of them out to be sure you got the culprit.

Be careful to always keep one hand on the casing or your power supply so that you don't discharge static on your motherboard. And don't work in your computer over a carpet.

[davidhoff]

Well, I removed the one of two memory sticks and I'm able to get onto Layo forums for the first time!  I'm not going to call this a success yet, because I know how things go.  But I will say its progress.

I still got an error report when I logged in (not a blue screen).  It said the system has detected a serious error or something like that.

It could be I'll get shut down at any time now...but right now its working.

Thanks HB...thanks alot.  Let me mess around with a few things and see how long I can stay on.  BRB *grins*

[Hellblazer]

The system will usually tell you upon a reboot when it restarted or was able to get through a problem on your system. The details of what it tells you can help you determine what it was.

If things are working for the moment, try to download this to make sure all the drivers for your nvidia are removed. Don't select the check box for the nvidia chipset drivers.

Once that is done, then you can install your ATI drivers.

[davidhoff]

Ok HB I think you did it!  Muchas Gracias!  Wow, I can't tell you how thankful I am for your help and everyone else that helped me brainstorm this thing!

Alright, I just restarted my computer and I didn't see the error message this time...which is really really good.  I still get that Systyem 32 error message, but I've been getting that for like over a year or so..so no biggy there.

I have to say I'm not really liking this new video card, the Radeon HD 5550.  I logged on to layo and played Griff a bit.  It looked about the same, but it was almost too clean and newish.  It seemed more like I was playing a Playstation game than what I had before.  My brother called it "Atari-ish".  Hard to explain, but the creatures seemed to be more planted or added to the background than before.

So, if the RAM was my issue/problem, then I guess I'd like to go back to my old video card.  I guess I can retrace my steps but I'm really afraid to screw things up.  I can figure how to take out the 5550 from the card slot and put the other back ok.  I'm a bit worried about adding back the old driver and "activating" the old adapters.  So some advice on that would be nice before I go in with my chainsaw.

Also, I still have one of my RAM sticks out.  I guess I'll need to go buy another RAM stick.  Do I need to transfer data from the old memory stick to the new one?  What's the process for when I switch out memory sticks like that?  

I can't say how much you guys have helped me, especially HB *nods*.  Thanks again!  I respectfully await any replies *grins*

[Lance Stargazer]

Don't worry about the data , mate.

The data is stored on the hard drive , the RAM only stores temporal data, so it only serves to make faster the processes on your PC, so worry not about it. just make yourself sure, the new memory you got is exactly the same type of the one you removed

Once you got that , your pc should be the same  as before.

[davidhoff]

*salutes the captain* Aye Aye...will do.  So I'm going to work on it tonight as is, then tomorrow I'll return the 5550 driver and pick up a new memory stick.  Then try to activate my old video card.  Thanks so much.

[Hellblazer]

Actually Lance is pretty much right, but if you want to avoid any trouble, I'd buy a kit of ram. It's multiple sticks sold together. They have been tested and are supposed to be identical, to prevent problems and ensure the same reliability and performance. Bring one of your old sticks with you so they can actually compare what you have so they give you something that works on your motherboard.

Once you get that, just take the old stick out and place the new ones.

As for installing the drivers here's the order.

Uninstall the ATI drivers.
Run the driver cleaner to make sure the drivers are fully uninstalled.
Close the computer.
Take out the ATI card
Place in your old card
Boot the computer
Then insert the driver disk and install the display drivers
Reboot the computer.

As for the new too clean thing. You have an HD card and depending on which connector you plugged if you LCD screen is HD then you are playing in HD quality which would give you polished feel compared to a non HD card. Better quality is usually desired

Happy to have helped. Keep us updated plz.

[Hellblazer]

I wouldn't mind them peeing in my RPG-Cheerios quite so much if they hadn't shelled out big money to put their personal logo in the splash screens of said titles!  They gave me a personal guarantee of "Best played with Nvidia!" on those games, and they totally dropped support in less than 6 years of paying for that advertisement.  If a video game graphics company is going to use their money and their influence to vandalize my favorite games' splash-screen with their personal guarantee that it will not only work, but work better than any other brand in the world, they better well deliver as promised!  That's 8 seconds of my life wasted by their splash screens every time I started up those games, only to have it go choppity choppity click whirr boom, pixelflux on me, to be frustratingly restarted again and again and again, fuming as I stare at their accursed emblem as its actively mocking me.  Laughing at me.  Waving a fistful of dollars and splashing a high quality cognac into my face, paid for with my own blood sweat and tears.  It's because of that I shall never forgive this evil corporate entity known to mortal men as Nvidia, and possibly Cthulu Ktaga to others.

Lol I can see you've had quite a bad deal. Just so you know, usually if a game has a videocard chipset splash screens two things happens. The game ows money to the said company as they are using a copyright, second the game has been made to work with that chipset particularly (coded with that chipset on their workstations. Then later on tested with other chipsets for compatibility). I've never heard of a chipset company (aka Nvidia or Ati) paying for their logo to appear on a game splash screen. Of course usually you can press escape to skip those :p

[davidhoff]

I'd buy a kit of ram

So, you think I should replace both of my two sticks of RAM, instead of just the one I pulled out?

Uninstall the ATI drivers.
Run the driver cleaner to make sure the drivers are fully uninstalled.
Close the computer.
Take out the ATI card
Place in your old card
Boot the computer
Then insert the driver disk and install the display drivers
Reboot the computer.

Ok, I never really took out the old video driver (the driver that my monitor cord attached to).  I removed another card that had a female plug, but wasn't pluged into any cord..only sitting in the card slot.  But I guess I'll put that card back since it might have been serving some purpose.

When you say insert the driver disk and install the display drivers, I guess you mean I have to hunt for my original driver CD's (back from 2004)?  I think I may have them, but I was hoping I could just click some buttons on the computer to reactivate the old drivers?

Thanks again HB

[Chazzler]

No need to hunt for the old drivers, you can download a driver software for your Nvidia card from Nvidia's webpage here's a direct link to their newest driver that works with all of their GeForce revisions.

And don't worry about being afraid of zebra horses, metallic humanoids and so forth, that was a problem with a few revisions of the Old drivers they had (but which were then, new-er than the ones that were found on many Original CD's that came with the older cards), and the the problems have been fixed a long time ago.

Hoping it helps!

Oh and on the RAM, if you have a 32-bit windows, which I think you might have, you don't need more than 4 giga bytes of the RAM, that's 4000MB, because a 32-bit operating system does not have the capacity to recognize more than 3,6gB of RAM at a time (yeah I know, it's stupid but that's the way it is).
A 64-bit operating system could handle more than the 3,6gB, but then again, judging by your remark of the graphics adapter cd's being from 2004, I'd still go with only 4gB of RAM, since many older Motherboards don't have the capacity to (either) handle very much RAM (probably would not boot if you'd have too "big" sticks plugged in).

The way to see if you have a 64-bit operating system or a 32-bit Windows, is simple.

Check the drive you have Windows installed on, (usually C:) and if you have only "Program Files", you have a 32-bit operating system. If you have "Program Files" And "Program Files x86", you have a 64-bit Windows.

Edit: Oh, and yeah, do take the removed RAM stick with you when going to the store to buy new one and ask them to give you a similar one, there's a multitude of different revisions of RAM being on the market, the good old days had SDRAM, now there's that, and DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 etc etc, all which are not compatible with each other... So having a example of what you really want with you, is a good bet to have :-)

[Hellblazer]

So, you think I should replace both of my two sticks of RAM, instead of just the one I pulled out?

Yes because putting mix match ram can actually have adverse effects on your computer. Having a kit of ram ensures that the ram are from the same lot and are identical.

Ok, I never really took out the old video driver (the driver that my monitor cord attached to).  I removed another card that had a female plug, but wasn't pluged into any cord..only sitting in the card slot.  But I guess I'll put that card back since it might have been serving some purpose.

So your old Video card (the nvidia one) is still in your computer? Or you just didn't uninstall the drivers?

I was talking about your old video card, I'm not sure what you took out but could find out if you write what the name on the card is.

When you say insert the driver disk and install the display drivers, I guess you mean I have to hunt for my original driver CD's (back from 2004)?  I think I may have them, but I was hoping I could just click some buttons on the computer to reactivate the old drivers?

Thanks again HB

yeah I meant the original disk that came with your video card as it may have utilities that goes with the card. But like Chazzler said you can always download the legacy drivers from Nvidia.

[davidhoff]

Thanks Chaz and HB.

I'm really not sure what make my old video card is/was, but I guess it could have been a Nvidia.  Maybe based on something I wrote you can tell, but I think it was called "ialmrnt5.dll" when I looked on the display tab.  I never removed what my monitor cord was originally plugged into.  I looked at it and it seemed too internal to be messed with.  I did remove a card from my computer that no cord was attached to, simply because that card was occupying the only slot that looked like a good fit for my Raedeon 5550 card.  The card I removed was made by Silicon Image and has the following writing on it: ORION ADD2-N DUAL PAD x 16 Card.  So, I'm not sure what the card was doing sitting there.

I found two old CD's which might contain the old video drivers.  One is labeled "Dell Color Monitor User documentation" and has contents "HTML User Documentation Drivers (INF, ICM and CAT files).  The second is labeled "Drivers and Utilities already installed on your computer" and has contents "Device drivers, diagnostics and utilities and online documentation".  You think one of those will contain the video card drivers?  Seems like it makes since to use the drivers that came with the computer if I can?

I checked the C: drive and all I have is "Program" files, and didn't see any Program x 86" files.  I saw something called "I386".  So, I guess I have a 32-bit system.

My computer had two RAM sticks in it and I pulled one of them out.  Looking at the one out is says it has 512MB.  So, with two I have 1024 RAM.  Are you saying I should get a RAM kit and just put two new 512 sticks in, or you think I should try to fit more than two sticks on there?

Sorry if I'm confusing things, I'm trying to keep up with you guys.  You've been alot of help and I wana try to get this right  :p

[davidhoff]

I'm starting to get tired so heading to bed for now.  I was curious what the ialmrnt5.dll was and I found this on the web that describes it.  It looks like the ialmrnt.5 is a microsoft display operating system and not a video card, but that's what was listed when I looked at my display tab on the control panel.  I thought it was interesting that the article said that BLOD (blue screen of death) could result if this file was corrupted.  So, I'm kind of confused now as to what was causing my BLOD's to come up, a corrupted ialmrnt.5 or corrupted RAM?  I'm still thinking it was the RAM, because all seemed ok once I pulled that one stick out.  So, tomorrow I'll try to put new RAM in and reinsall the drivers of the old card and hope that does it....thanks

[Hellblazer]

The card you removed that had nothing plugged into it(?) is a dvi expander card for you on board graphic chip. A dvi is a connector that allows screens that are compatible with HD to be used with HD graphics but it does not transport the sound portion that would normally go through A hdmi connector, like the one you have on a HD flat screen tv. Your New ATI card has a DVI connector, and if your screen has that same connector (dvi), you could then plug your new card on it and actually play and watch video in HD on your computer screen.

The ialmrnt5.dll is a driver for an integrated graphic chip from Intel.

You should be using a non integrated video card, like the one you bought, when you have the option to do so, you would get better graphics. If not it's your cpu and ram that is taxed to run your graphics which usually slows things down and also doesn't provide much quality for your graphics.

Now for the ram.

Are you able to tell me what mother board you have so I can check what kind of ram you can get. 1 gig of ram is low, very low and if your mother board support it, you could seriously take advantage of better ram (speed) and extra memory. It tends to help things run more smoothly. But for that we'd have to know what mother board you have. You can check the mother board it self usually the brand is written somewhere on it, or if you have your documentation it would be in there too.

[Chazzler]

Testing if it was the RAM is easy, just plug in the RAM stick you removed from your computer and start the PC up, if the problems re-occur, then it was your RAM.
If not, then it could have been the integrated graphics card's (Intel Graphics Card you have in your motherboard, not a removable one) drivers going haywire.
Do check this option if you haven't already, could save you money! And if you don't play games that require a lot of power from a PC, then you don't need to upgrade your RAM or whatnot. This all of course, if it was just the drivers...
(Phew, tech support on forums sure is tough!)

[davidhoff]

Alright, shutting down and putting the RAM stick back in to see if I get BSOD.  Also will check mother board stats (the manuals I have are pretty useless).  Will post back soon.