[SOLVED] (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem

Kalypso · 08-30-2007, 06:19 AM

About two years ago I got a computer from CyberPowerPC with 2x e-GeForce 7600 graphics cards linked with an SLI bridge. That only caused problems, so I removed the bridge and one of the cards, reinstalled some drivers and stuff, and it worked well for the most part. However, off and on I'd have computer freezes and lockups. I tried everything imaginable to stop them, and they persisted. About a month ago the motherboard on that computer fried, so I took another I had available, put one of the e-GeForce 7600's in it. Lo and behold, computer lockups.

There's no way this exact same problem can exist on two computers at once where the only common denominator is the Video card and RAM (I took two 512 sticks from the old computer to the new computer, however I've switched these out with 256's and identical freezing problems exist). It can't be the video card itself because I have two of them, and have switched them with identical freezes. I've ran spyware sweepers, virus scanners, uninstalled the drivers, used driver sweeper, reinstalled them, found other drivers that might work, nothing ever does. I still get freezes, and it's still really getting on my nerves.

Can't be overheating (Had that once on an older comp), the computer is sitting next to an enormous fan which cools it down quite a bit.

The computer is a Sony VAIO VGC-RB30 model, running Windows XP home. The driver I *believe* I'm supposed to have is here-
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_162.18.html

The ancilary sections of both NVidia and VAIO's websites are essentially useless, and my only remaining idea is to buy a new video card or take the computer to a place to get fixed, either way it'd cost 150 bucks.

Any ideas as to what's going on, is that the wrong driver, are there other drivers I need to install?

dai · 08-30-2007, 10:51 AM

check what your voltages are listed as in the bios and post them

Kalypso · 08-30-2007, 03:16 PM

I have the updated BIOS from VAIO but I'm not sure how to run it to check the voltage, how do ya do that?

dai · 08-30-2007, 03:25 PM

look for something like hardware monitor in the bios
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...oad-29890.html

Kalypso · 08-30-2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

look for something like hardware monitor in the bios
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...oad-29890.html

It says 'sensors not found' for voltage, shows HD0 at 33 degrees C, HD1 at 32 degrees C

dai · 08-31-2007, 09:00 AM

what power supply are you running and what was the one in the other computer
see if you can get a friend to check the cards out in their computer

Kalypso · 08-31-2007, 02:40 PM

I'm not sure, it doesn't say on the comps information, nor in my device manager, how would I find out what power supply it is?

At this point what do you think the problem is, if it's narrowed down to a hardware problem I'll just take it in to someone to fix.

dai · 08-31-2007, 03:11 PM

look on the label on the side of the psu
we are still trying to isolate what the problem is

Kalypso · 08-31-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

look on the label on the side of the psu
we are still trying to isolate what the problem is

Heh, sticker is in a very inconvenient place, my bad.

Bestec
Model ATX-300-12EB3

There's a lot of other stuff on the sticker, tell me what ya need to know

Kalypso · 09-01-2007, 02:08 AM

Crashed twice today and displayed the error message "nv4 disp driver not working properly, when your computer is restarted windows will be prompted to report this problem" or something of the like.

dai · 09-01-2007, 11:18 AM

d/load the latest video drivers and save them to the desktop where they are easy to find

in the device manager uninstall the video cards
reboot tapping f8 and choose vga mode
when windows finishes rebooting
disable a/virus
install your drivers
reboot the computer

you are underpowered,you need a quality larger wattage power supply

Kalypso · 09-01-2007, 02:58 PM

Alright I believe I did everything you said, and now (Good sign?) an NVidia thing is showing up in my taskbar, that wasn't there before.

Uninstalled my drivers in add/remove progs, restarted comp, mashed f8, started in VGA mode, disabled virus scanners, reinstalled drivers, restarted computer.

I guess we'll have to wait and see whether it still freezes, what do you recommend I do about the power supply, buy a new one and have someone install it or somethin?

dai · 09-01-2007, 03:18 PM

you would expect to find a 550w min in the computer they are simple to fit normally
but i think the vaio has a propriatary diamension you would have check

Kalypso · 09-01-2007, 03:23 PM

it appears to be fixed, opened 3 windows of wow, vent, firefox, itunes and some other stuff and it's not freezing (Before opening any 2 of those programs at the same time led to slowing => freezing => restarting). Thanks a lot for the help, saves me infinite headache.

dai · 09-01-2007, 03:45 PM

i will mark it resoved then

Kalypso · 09-02-2007, 01:07 AM

It's still freezing, just less frequently and for less periods of time.

08-30-2007, 06:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kalypso Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	[SOLVED] (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem About two years ago I got a computer from CyberPowerPC with 2x e-GeForce 7600 graphics cards linked with an SLI bridge. That only caused problems, so I removed the bridge and one of the cards, reinstalled some drivers and stuff, and it worked well for the most part. However, off and on I'd have computer freezes and lockups. I tried everything imaginable to stop them, and they persisted. About a month ago the motherboard on that computer fried, so I took another I had available, put one of the e-GeForce 7600's in it. Lo and behold, computer lockups. There's no way this exact same problem can exist on two computers at once where the only common denominator is the Video card and RAM (I took two 512 sticks from the old computer to the new computer, however I've switched these out with 256's and identical freezing problems exist). It can't be the video card itself because I have two of them, and have switched them with identical freezes. I've ran spyware sweepers, virus scanners, uninstalled the drivers, used driver sweeper, reinstalled them, found other drivers that might work, nothing ever does. I still get freezes, and it's still really getting on my nerves. Can't be overheating (Had that once on an older comp), the computer is sitting next to an enormous fan which cools it down quite a bit. The computer is a Sony VAIO VGC-RB30 model, running Windows XP home. The driver I believe I'm supposed to have is here- http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_162.18.html The ancilary sections of both NVidia and VAIO's websites are essentially useless, and my only remaining idea is to buy a new video card or take the computer to a place to get fixed, either way it'd cost 150 bucks. Any ideas as to what's going on, is that the wrong driver, are there other drivers I need to install? Last edited by dai; 08-30-2007 at 10:50 AM. Reason: language

08-30-2007, 10:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,609 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem check what your voltages are listed as in the bios and post them __________________

08-30-2007, 03:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kalypso Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem I have the updated BIOS from VAIO but I'm not sure how to run it to check the voltage, how do ya do that?

08-30-2007, 03:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,609 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem look for something like hardware monitor in the bios http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...oad-29890.html __________________

08-31-2007, 09:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,609 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem what power supply are you running and what was the one in the other computer see if you can get a friend to check the cards out in their computer __________________

08-31-2007, 02:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kalypso Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem I'm not sure, it doesn't say on the comps information, nor in my device manager, how would I find out what power supply it is? At this point what do you think the problem is, if it's narrowed down to a hardware problem I'll just take it in to someone to fix.

08-31-2007, 03:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,609 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem look on the label on the side of the psu we are still trying to isolate what the problem is __________________

09-01-2007, 02:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
Kalypso Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem Crashed twice today and displayed the error message "nv4 disp driver not working properly, when your computer is restarted windows will be prompted to report this problem" or something of the like.

09-01-2007, 11:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,609 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem d/load the latest video drivers and save them to the desktop where they are easy to find in the device manager uninstall the video cards reboot tapping f8 and choose vga mode when windows finishes rebooting disable a/virus install your drivers reboot the computer you are underpowered,you need a quality larger wattage power supply __________________

09-01-2007, 02:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
Kalypso Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem Alright I believe I did everything you said, and now (Good sign?) an NVidia thing is showing up in my taskbar, that wasn't there before. Uninstalled my drivers in add/remove progs, restarted comp, mashed f8, started in VGA mode, disabled virus scanners, reinstalled drivers, restarted computer. I guess we'll have to wait and see whether it still freezes, what do you recommend I do about the power supply, buy a new one and have someone install it or somethin?

09-01-2007, 03:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,609 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem you would expect to find a 550w min in the computer they are simple to fit normally but i think the vaio has a propriatary diamension you would have check __________________

09-01-2007, 03:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
Kalypso Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem it appears to be fixed, opened 3 windows of wow, vent, firefox, itunes and some other stuff and it's not freezing (Before opening any 2 of those programs at the same time led to slowing => freezing => restarting). Thanks a lot for the help, saves me infinite headache.

09-01-2007, 03:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,609 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem i will mark it resoved then __________________

09-02-2007, 01:07 AM	#16 (permalink)
Kalypso Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: [SOLVED] (What I Think Is) An extremely annoying driver problem It's still freezing, just less frequently and for less periods of time.