CrossfireX Splash Screen Crash

Was torn between posting here and in Operating Systems but settled on here in the end.


I'm having serious problems trying to Crossfire my 5850s (in a P8P67). Basically if I install any sort of Catalyst driver Windows will freeze on the splash screen. I then have to boot into safe mode, uninstall the drivers and then the PC will boot fine with the VGA default driver. I then install a catalyst version and we're back to freezing. It also seems that the Catalyst isnt really installing correctly. By that I mean ususally when I install the catalyst it will correct my resolution etc even before the restart after flickering a couple of times during install. However at the moment the screen doesnt really seem to flicker during driver install and resolution stays at 800x600.

I have run various driver cleaners etc and tried using different versions of catalyst but I'm at a bit of a loss now. I know I should have gone for a single GPU setup - but I was lured by the prospect of not having to go through the hassle of selling my existing 5850.

Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

I thought about using the windows driver tool to download drivers but I assumed crossfire wouldnt work with them (although I would at least get a useable resolution)

Have you tried installing catalyst with 1 card, then adding the second? I'd do a complete uninstall of the drivers, use an appropriate third party utility (CCleaner? DriveSweeper? Not sure :confused:!) to ensure all traces are gone, then install the latest catalyst with a single card installed. Then I'd add the second.

Gave it a go, but no luck. I thought it had worked for a minute. The driver installed fine with one card and everything was working perfectly.

Then I add the second card it boots up. Runs "Found New Hardware" wizard and reverts to a default VGA driver for both cards. What should have happened is a Crossfire detected wizard or something. I'm wondering whether its as simple as a fault with either the second card or the crossfire bridge.

Although the second card worked fine in another PC, when I try it as the only card in this PC the VGA light comes on the MB and it wont POST. :S

What driver version are you attempting to install? Maybe try a different one? I've got a thread in the HW section about my 5850 CF install (just last night) and I managed to do it on one go (ie. both cards and bridge installed at once). First I would download and install driver sweeper. I would recommend downloading the 11.2s then, going to add and remove programs to uninstall all ATI drivers, boot into safe mode, run driver sweeper and clean all ATI files out, then restart.

After booting into windows, the standard VGA drivers should install. When thats done install the catalyst, maybe just the driver on its own - to try to rule out if its an issue with CCC. Give that a shot first.

Sounds like a dud slot in the mainboard. Have you tried one card in both slots ?

@Scaryjim - DriverSweeper is the tool for this one.