paris15

Hi, friends, I'm newbee here. Sorry for my English, it's not my first language.
I've been using my computer without problems at all until some months ago, when suddenly I couldn't change the screen resolution without restarting, although the option "no restart" was activated. Obviously, when I run games, since most of them need to change resolution, they crash.
I run dxdialog and tested DDraw and D3D and it fails when having to change resolution. The report:
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Failure at step 17 (SetDisplayMode to 640x480x16): HRESULT = 0x80004001 (Not implemented)
D3D7 Test Result: Failure at step 39 (SetDisplayMode to 640x480x16): HRESULT = 0x80004001 (Not implemented)
D3D8 Test Result: Failure at step 8 (Creating 3D Device): HRESULT = 0x88760827 (error code)
D3D9 Test Result: Failure at step 8 (Creating 3D Device): HRESULT = 0x8876086c (error code).
And now the strangest thing of all: yesterday I created a new Windows user, and, surprise! DirectX test perform perfectly and I can change resolution without rebooting. With the same video card, OS, MB, etc.
These are some things I've tried:
- I have tested lots of drivers for the graphics, the newests and older ones, with and without Catalyst. Nothing works.
- I have updated the BIOS to the most recent version. Nothing.
- I have installed a new Windows in another HDisk, it works the first time, but when I reboot, it begins to present the same problem.
- I have tested another graphics card: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro, with catastrophic results, the same problem of resolution plus being unable to play video and DVD files.
Besides, although I have activated AGP 8X in the BIOS, Catalyst disconnects it.

My computer specifications:
Motherboard: ASUS A7V8X-X
CPU: AMD XP 2.8
GC: ATI RADEON 9200 Series AGP
Power S: 500 W
OS: Windows XP Pro SP2

I have searched in lots of webs and technical forums, but found no answer to my problem. Please if anybody knows what can be happening, post a reply.
Thanks

Underclocker

Try installing DirectX again. Also, what are the specs of your PSU?

paris15

For PSU I suppose you mean Power Supply Unit? It's a Biswal KC-DAA, 500w, +12V(14A), -12V(1A), +5V(25A), -5V(0.5A), 3.3V(15A), 5VB3(1.5A).
I'll try and reinstall DirectX, but I can't understand why in the new user I created it works perfectly.

paris15

Well I have just downgraded directx to 8.1 and made the tests with the same errors. Then I reinstalled DirectX 9.0c from a new file and I go on with the same problem. Should I give up? I can't think of anything else.

Underclocker

That power supply is too weak. AGP requires 18A on the +12V rail, while PCI-E needs at least 26A. Try swapping out your PSU with one that's capable of those outputs and see if it works out. Graphics problems could just be your video card not getting enough juice.

paris15

I really thank you for your expert's opinion and I'll try and get a new PSU. However, if the problem is in that unit, why can I change resolution without problems in the new user, when (I suppose) the AGP power requirements are the same?

Underclocker

I'm not too sure on that. I'm kind of just looking at all the possibilities of how it can mess up. Can't hurt to try with a better unit. Does your card have Side Band Addressing enabled on your graphics card? It can cause instability in some systems. Also check out your AGP Fast Write settings.

paris15

According to Everest report:
AGP Controller:
AGP Version 3.05
AGP Status Disabled
AGP Device Tul Radeon 9200
AGP Aperture Size 128 MB
Supported AGP Speeds 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x
Fast-Write Not Supported
Side Band Addressing Supported, Disabled

Underclocker

OK, rules out Fast Write and SBA... What rate is your AGP currently set to? Also do you have the latest motherboard drivers installed?

I'm all out of ideas, anyone else?

paris15

When I open Catalyst, AGP is set to "Disabled". If I put it in 8X, after rebooting Catalyst has disabled it again. I supose it considers it could turn my system unstable. I don´t know another way to activate it.
The most recent bios update for my MB is from 2005 and it's installed.

paris15

I have just disinstalled the graphic card drivers and Catalyst. After reinstalling them again I have passed dx tests and ALL ARE OK, I can change resolution and I can see the green cube twisting. But then I have rebooted again and everything is wrong, tests don't pass, etc. The only thing I've done before rebooting is change resolution (after installing the drivers I get 800x600) and nothing else.
What can change before and after the reboot? Perhaps that utility Windows has to replace system files? I'm completely confused.

paris15

I have performed more tests:
- I have disabled (I think) Windows system files protection.
- I have uninstalled again the drivers and reinstalled. Dx tests pass ok.
- Without changing the resolution, I have rebooted. Dx tests pass ok.
- I have changed resolution to 1024x768. Dx tests pass ok.
- I have rebooted. Dx tests DON'T pass.

So, it seems to me that the error occurs when I change the resolution and reboot. Perhaps these data may help you guess what's happening.

Underclocker

OK try this with a quality PSU capable of at least 18A on the +12V rail:

1. Make sure your AGP slot is set to the rate your video card supports. I'm assuming it might not be 8X.
2. Go into Safe Mode by pressing F8 during the Windows boot screen.
3. Uninstall those drivers and reboot, then go into Safe Mode again.
4. Install the latest drivers for your motherboard from here, then reboot into Safe Mode again.
5. Install the latest Catalyst driver, don't change any settings and reboot normally into Windows.

Does that change anything? If not, try another graphics card that's of a similar age. I'm beginning to think your AGP port might be faulty.

paris15

1. My AGP slot is set to 8X in the BIOS Setup, since the ATI RADEON 9200 is AGPx8. Nevertheless, Catalyst disables it.
2. I have uninstalled the drivers in safe mode.
3. I have already installed the latest drivers for the motherboard, and I did it from that address.
4. I tried to install ATI newest drivers in Safe Mode, but the setup program fails, with the message: "No VGA drivers installed". So I have installed them in normal mode.
5. After installing Catalyst drivers, I didn't change the settings and rebooted.

Result: as I explained in my last post, now it works correctly, but when I install the drivers and reboot, I get a resolution of 800x600. While Iu don't change the resolution, everything's ok, but as soon as I change the resolution, next time I reboot the problem appears again and the computer is not able anymore to change resolution without rebooting.
I don't know how I can get another similar graphics card, and my incomes don't let me buy a new one just for trying. I suppose I have to give up. At least, in the new user I created it works perfectly, and when I have to format my HD and reinstall Windows, I'll see if something changes.
Thanks a lot for your interest and ideas.

Underclocker

Sorry I couldn't help, I'm really baffled by your problem. Seems like nobody else has any ideas either, unfortunately.

paris15

Anyway, do you know another graphics card, preferibly not ATI (to avoid these problems), which may be better than radeon 9200, but not too expensive? Perhaps I could change it, and resolve the problem at the same time I get better performance. My motherboard doesn't have PCI-e, so it should be AGP. Any suggestion?

Underclocker

If you want to avoid ATI then the GeForce 7600GS is your best bet.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130076

Do note that you'll still need to get a quality power supply capable of at least 18A on the +12V rail to run it. Check here for info: Power Supply Information and Selection