nvidia geforce 6600 - help needed

nino · 10-22-2006, 01:46 AM

Hi,

A few months ago I bought a geforce 6600 AGP (not "GT") and since then I'm having problems with it on Windows. I've tried different drivers versions (also the so recommended 84.21) and the symptoms are *always* the same.

1st problem: Sometimes while installing the driver the monitor is shut off and the computer freezes. To continue I have to turn off my PC by holding the power button 5 seconds. Next step is to boot windows in vga mode, uninstall the driver and try installing it again.

Main problem: I'm able to start using my windows (boot it up and log on) in an average of 1 time per 5 trials. Many times that I try to start windows it would freeze my PC in the following ways:

1 - After the initial "Windows is starting" screen, the screen then goes black with only the mouse pointer on it and the computer freezes.
2 - The windows goes to the log on screen, the monitor is shut off and the PC freezes.
3 - The windows goes to the log on screen, the screen flashes and after I log on, any "graphic" program (A game, Windows Media, Internet Explorer, etc) that I run the computer freezes.
4 - When everything looks ok and I start some game is rare when I can play more than 10 minutes without having my computer frozen.

I'm using a Soyo P4-ISR motherboard and have recently upgraded the BIOS, but it didn't solve anything. I'm also running Linux on this same box with no problems (using the official nvidia drivers).

Does anyone have any idea about what could be causing me all that trouble ?!?

Thanx in advance.
Nino

(PS: I know that my MB is old so please don't tell me buy a new one. That's definitely not a decent solution, lol ;) )

**PanamaGal** · 10-22-2006, 04:32 AM

The first thing I'd like to know is what happens when you go to safe mode? If you haven't tried to go to safe mode, please do and post back with results. To get there press F8 key right when Windows starts to boot. It sounds to me like it's a driver issue somewhere.

cconner6156 · 10-22-2006, 09:45 AM

If it is a driver issue try that Driver cleanup. if u have upgraded ur gfx card maybe its still detecting ur old one and causing conflicts like that. Go to ur device manager by right click on my computer the properties then Click the hardware tab then ull see at the top is device manager See if u have multiple display addapters. OR see if theres eny yellow ? by them
good luck

dai · 10-22-2006, 11:54 AM

check your tempretures and voltages,get a can of air and blow the dust out
http://www.programurl.com/software-s...wnloadnow.html
if the power supply is as old as the m/b it could be showing signs of it's age

nino · 10-22-2006, 01:05 PM

Hi,

Thanks very much everyone for your replies. But unfortunately, none of your suggestions makes any sense in my case :S

PanamaGal: Yes, my windows starts normally in safe mode. Always did, also starts normally in vga mode. And also, my card is working really good on my Linux installation. And yes, it looks like some driver issue (but all versions that I've tried didn't changed anything)

cconner6156: I always used driver cleaner before every driver install and after any driver uninstall. It's not detecting my old card, its a fresh windows install. There are not multiple drivers/cards listed on device manager :S

dai: Temperature is the only thing that makes any sense. *BUT*, I've already tried monitoring it and even with my room air conditioning on, the PC case open, and the computer turned off for at least 10 minutes, if I boot it up the problem is still there. I also thought that it could be a power issue so I bought a 500w new power supply. Guess what ? I've noticed no difference at all. So, it's not any of this as my Linux installation works fine (also in 3D applications!).

Any more suggestions ?

Thanks again,
Nino

dai · 10-22-2006, 01:09 PM

did you uninstall the old drivers before installing the new ones
the easiest way to check is to try to roll back the driver
there should not be anything to roll back to

nino · 10-22-2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

did you uninstall the old drivers before installing the new ones
the easiest way to check is to try to roll back the driver
there should not be anything to roll back to

Off course, always unistalled and ran driver cleaner before any new driver install ...

thx,
Nino

dai · 10-22-2006, 04:35 PM

try going back to 63 series drivers

nino · 10-22-2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

try going back to 63 series drivers

The 60 series won't install on my windows, after install it won't recognize my 6600 ... (After install & reboot the generic vga driver is still on). Also tried the Omega drivers (which is based on the same driver series) same result.

Do you know any other alternative drivers that I could try ?

thx,
Nino

(The most sucessful version that I tried was the 71.89, but the games still locks my PC down ...)

dai · 10-22-2006, 11:24 PM

try the driver that came with the setup cd for the card

nino · 10-22-2006, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

try the driver that came with the setup cd for the card

Already tried that ... (off course, lol) ... no change ... It was the first version that i've tried and the first time that I noticed the most of the problems that i described in my first post ...

dai · 10-23-2006, 12:09 AM

what brand of psu did you buy

10-22-2006, 01:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
nino Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Linux/XP	nvidia geforce 6600 - help needed Hi, A few months ago I bought a geforce 6600 AGP (not "GT") and since then I'm having problems with it on Windows. I've tried different drivers versions (also the so recommended 84.21) and the symptoms are always the same. 1st problem: Sometimes while installing the driver the monitor is shut off and the computer freezes. To continue I have to turn off my PC by holding the power button 5 seconds. Next step is to boot windows in vga mode, uninstall the driver and try installing it again. Main problem: I'm able to start using my windows (boot it up and log on) in an average of 1 time per 5 trials. Many times that I try to start windows it would freeze my PC in the following ways: 1 - After the initial "Windows is starting" screen, the screen then goes black with only the mouse pointer on it and the computer freezes. 2 - The windows goes to the log on screen, the monitor is shut off and the PC freezes. 3 - The windows goes to the log on screen, the screen flashes and after I log on, any "graphic" program (A game, Windows Media, Internet Explorer, etc) that I run the computer freezes. 4 - When everything looks ok and I start some game is rare when I can play more than 10 minutes without having my computer frozen. I'm using a Soyo P4-ISR motherboard and have recently upgraded the BIOS, but it didn't solve anything. I'm also running Linux on this same box with no problems (using the official nvidia drivers). Does anyone have any idea about what could be causing me all that trouble ?!? Thanx in advance. Nino (PS: I know that my MB is old so please don't tell me buy a new one. That's definitely not a decent solution, lol ;) )

10-22-2006, 04:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
PanamaGal Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama Posts: 1,240 OS: WinXP Pro SP2; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Ultimate; Vista Business	The first thing I'd like to know is what happens when you go to safe mode? If you haven't tried to go to safe mode, please do and post back with results. To get there press F8 key right when Windows starts to boot. It sounds to me like it's a driver issue somewhere. __________________ It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

10-22-2006, 11:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,784 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	check your tempretures and voltages,get a can of air and blow the dust out http://www.programurl.com/software-s...wnloadnow.html if the power supply is as old as the m/b it could be showing signs of it's age __________________

10-22-2006, 01:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,784 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	did you uninstall the old drivers before installing the new ones the easiest way to check is to try to roll back the driver there should not be anything to roll back to __________________

10-22-2006, 04:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,784 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	try going back to 63 series drivers __________________

10-22-2006, 09:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
cconner6156 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 318 OS: Winxp	If it is a driver issue try that Driver cleanup. if u have upgraded ur gfx card maybe its still detecting ur old one and causing conflicts like that. Go to ur device manager by right click on my computer the properties then Click the hardware tab then ull see at the top is device manager See if u have multiple display addapters. OR see if theres eny yellow ? by them good luck

10-22-2006, 01:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
nino Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Linux/XP	Hi, Thanks very much everyone for your replies. But unfortunately, none of your suggestions makes any sense in my case :S PanamaGal: Yes, my windows starts normally in safe mode. Always did, also starts normally in vga mode. And also, my card is working really good on my Linux installation. And yes, it looks like some driver issue (but all versions that I've tried didn't changed anything) cconner6156: I always used driver cleaner before every driver install and after any driver uninstall. It's not detecting my old card, its a fresh windows install. There are not multiple drivers/cards listed on device manager :S dai: Temperature is the only thing that makes any sense. BUT, I've already tried monitoring it and even with my room air conditioning on, the PC case open, and the computer turned off for at least 10 minutes, if I boot it up the problem is still there. I also thought that it could be a power issue so I bought a 500w new power supply. Guess what ? I've noticed no difference at all. So, it's not any of this as my Linux installation works fine (also in 3D applications!). Any more suggestions ? Thanks again, Nino

10-22-2006, 11:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,784 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	try the driver that came with the setup cd for the card __________________

10-23-2006, 12:09 AM	#12 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,784 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	what brand of psu did you buy __________________