Graphics card issue - done all the normal things.

[cpfc]

Hi all.

If anybody has any ideas on this I am very grateful.

System: Asrock mobo - 4CoreDual SATA R2.0, Intel E2220 at stock 2.4 Ghz, 2GB Crucial RAM PC5300.
Radeon X1650 AGP [ board does PCI and AGP slot] M Audio Delta 44 Soundcard.

O/S: Win XP SP3.

Issue:

Will not play any games, that's GRAW 2 and Colin McRae 4. Does not play sound on video.

There were big issues when the card was bought from dabs, and had to get drivers from site, not using cd suppiled as it just fell over...BSOD type. Sorted it in the end. Played games no problems.

13 months later...no gaming at all, tried new drivers, messing around with changing ASIO drivers for soundcard as I thought it might be sound related. NO go.

Now cannot get older drivers, so I put in the card I replaced, a Radeon 9600 Pro and still no sound on videos and no games...just freezes still on games and no sound on videos or viewing BBC clips.. Put back X1650 and windows said on blue screen there was an issue with the ati drivers file.

Apart from getting a decent card [] I can only see a reinstall of XP.

I have tried new drivers, thought it might be the soundcard, so new drivers there too. Re installing the bits doesnt do it. Logic says it's the driver issues/and or card. Tried the 'Repair' option on XP, but having looked can't see any usefuls paths to go there either.

If someone knows.... I'll do some skill swaps! Music production. guitar lessons, slavery, selling soul to devil.

Thanks

[Zak33]

how about trying System Restore as faaaar back as it will go. and then fresh new ATI drivers.

DONT FORGET YOU NEED MICROSOFT'S .net FOR THE LATEST DRIVERS TO WORK.

[Zak33]

I presume you're taking the ati drivers out before reinstalling and rebooting first?

[Ferral]

After uninstalling the drivers restart the system in safe mode and use something like Driver Sweeper which is a free download from Guru3D to tidy up the remnants. Then reboot as normal and install the drivers again.

[blueball]

Might be worth reinstalling DirectX - get it from Microsoft's website

[cpfc]

@ Zak:

Yes I did uninstall the drivers first each time. Stystem restore was something I had overlooked though, so I'll try that thanks.

@ blueball: Had'nt thought of that either, so that goes on the list.

@ ferral: I normally do check the pc and registry for remmants but hadn't this time. I'll try the sweeper as well, been using CCC to oclean the reg after deleting progs.

Thanks all for your suggestions so far. Very appreciated.

Edit: Lovin' Saracens comment on our earstwhile leader on Zak's sig.....

[Zak33]

Edit: Lovin' Saracens comment on our earstwhile leader on Zak's sig.....

hehe... right you,,., carry on fixing your PC man! Stop being side tracked

[Zak33]

OK.. moving this, with a Redirect timed for 1 week, to the Hardware Forum.

[cpfc]

The issue was a duff graphics card. All games now work with a new 9800GT. Now all I have to do is get a mobo that won't throttle it. Ahh, the never ending upgrade.

Thanks Zak for your help, and others who contributed.