67_GTO

So i just got a new 6600 GT because i thought my 5700 Ultra had crapped out. It kept giving me errors and said Direct 3D wasnt avaliable. I figured the 5700 had died but it was time to get a new card anyway. Now that i have this 6600 GT, it is telling me the exact same thing.

When i run dxdiag, It wont allow me to select or deselect Direct Draw, Direct 3D etc. Now im wondering if the AGP slot hasnt crapped itself. I'd hate to have to buy a new mobo since the one ive got isnt more than a year old. If some pimps could give me some info, I'd appreciate it.

Dex

I take it you've installed the latest nVidia drivers after cleaning your system of the old ones, and also re-installed DirectX 9.0c?

HigHTecHReDNecK

just curious, you wouldnt have just updated to SP2 would you because i had that problem with my 5700Ve and it was SP2 causing the problems, i had to uninstall sp2 and reinstall it. If not then im no help

TYCOON

Re-Install your pc

I do it every month, takes 3 hours out of my day but it keeps everything running perfect.

67_GTO

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex I take it you've installed the latest nVidia drivers after cleaning your system of the old ones, and also re-installed DirectX 9.0c?

Yea all drivers have been updated and direct x. And no ive had SP2 for a long time without any problems.

Every time i start my computer, the new hardware wizard comes up but when i install the software, it gets part way through and then has an error. It also says "The parameter is incorrect" whatever that means.

I am currently looking at a line up of new motherboards because i havent found much hope in the search engines or other forums.

$SOLID$ Necro

Quote: Originally Posted by 67_GTO Yea all drivers have been updated and direct x. And no ive had SP2 for a long time without any problems. Every time i start my computer, the new hardware wizard comes up but when i install the software, it gets part way through and then has an error. It also says "The parameter is incorrect" whatever that means. I am currently looking at a line up of new motherboards because i havent found much hope in the search engines or other forums.

First thing you need to do is "Clear CMOS" and start over in the Bios, run it at default settings, only change what is absolutley neccesary to get it to boot up. If the problem goes away, you might have had something set wrong.

Now I know your gonna hate this, but before I call any hardware bad, I format the Hard drive and start over fresh, it clears out any cobwebs left from software installs and other garbage it collects along the way. Don't install any service packs untill after you have the video working!!!!

Windows has a way of brainfarting...never rule it out!

You can also try going to PCPITSTOP.com and run the "Full tests" it may flag something... you'd be surprised how many PC's I've run through it over the years that it found the problem

67_GTO

thx for the tips, i was just thinking of reseting CMOS and that sort. I figured it would come to this so i was prepared for bad news. Im glad you mentioned PCPitstop, i totally forgot about that.

The strange thing about it is that my old crappy video card works fine. Direct X works and i can play some games. Its an ATI Rage 128 so i cant play much. its pretty much equivalent to onboard video.

I currently have the 6600 GT in now and it works ok for normal desktop activity except for the fact that the monitor is running at 1 hz!!!!!! and i cant even change it.

Damn it.

BZA

I'd make sure the ATI drivers are gone, gone, and GONE completly. Pick up an app at guru3d.com that kills all old drivers before you install the new card.

*shrug*

67_GTO

Well, I thought i had this thing figured out but apparently not. I realized recently that there is an xp service enabled on my pc called VGAsave. It can prevent users from installing other video drivers. After reading this i figured i would just disable it but that was a big mistake. I get a black screen of death on the next reboot so i set to the last known good state or whatever.

After a search on google i found that VGAsave is a last resort driver program for video on XP. Many other people have had the same problems as me and most all of them got the same answer:

"Install chipset drivers for the motherboard and then reinstall the video drivers."

I got my hopes up when i saw this solution and i thought it would work fine until i finished installing the video drivers. Right at the very end of the process i get an error that reads:

"The drivers could not be installed. The parameter is incorrect"

What parameter? I thought for sure that this would fix my problem because everyone else i read about solved the problem this way.

If anyone has some helpful hints on the topic it would be great. I am suffering from a severe case of CSS withdrawl at the moment... Its been almost a week and a half. Please help me.

Albedo

Quote: Originally Posted by 67_GTO thx for the tips, i was just thinking of reseting CMOS and that sort. I figured it would come to this so i was prepared for bad news. Im glad you mentioned PCPitstop, i totally forgot about that. The strange thing about it is that my old crappy video card works fine. Direct X works and i can play some games. Its an ATI Rage 128 so i cant play much. its pretty much equivalent to onboard video. I currently have the 6600 GT in now and it works ok for normal desktop activity except for the fact that the monitor is running at 1 hz!!!!!! and i cant even change it. Damn it.

Wow.. does that like KILL your eyeballs?

Spectrum

A reinstall would take care of everything. That's 3 votes for a fresh format and reinstall now.

67_GTO

Thats what i want to do but i have no place to put all of my files. I have over 100 GB's of stuff i dont think i can live without. My dads backup drive has 50 gigs of free space but the question is... what to do with the other 50? I was thinking just now of buying a new hard drive since you can get them for so cheap right now.

And yes it does hurt a bit... Its not so bad if i turn off the hardware acceleration for some reason.

BigAkita

Then live with it until you can afford the $50 to get another hard drive to back all your data on to. You need a clean install.

67_GTO

Well, I took all the advice and reinstalled. I had to part with alot of files but it was worth it. The 6600 GT is awesome. I almost crapped my pants when i saw how much better the 6600 is than my 5700.

Thanks for the help.