Distortion Issue

JayKF014 · 04-08-2005, 03:41 PM

I recently bought SWAT 4. The intro movies play excellent, but the main screen is distorted. I mean you cannot see the main screen at all. The screen is full of distorted shapes and colors. But in the background you can hear the sounds and can even click on buttons on the main screen. Just that you cannot see what you are doing. And like I said, the intro plays excellent.

ATI Radeon 9000 128 MB
1.6 AMD Atholan Processer
510 MB RAM
Plenty of HD space

However my latest graphics driver is version 1.41, installed in 2002.

From those I have talked to, and from technical support as well, I get the feeling I need to update my video driver. I have downloaded one released in 2005. I am ready to install it, but I am unsure or nervous about doing so. Awhile back I attempted to install a sound driver and the system crashed. It took several days for me to get it back to its original state. I'm afraid if I install a new graphics driver the same will happen.

So I am asking is that the correct solution to the problem - installing the new graphics driver? And also, how should I do that if need be - or what would be the correct way to install it? Thanks. Jay.

**UncleMacro** · 04-08-2005, 04:52 PM

Installing the graphics driver is relatively easy. First you uninstall your existing driver, then you reboot, then you execute the new driver you downloaded from ATI. Given the age of your driver, you should definitely update it. Your existing driver is almost prehistoric. So the steps in detail:

1) Uninstall your old driver by going into the "Add/Remove Programs" window. Look for something called "ATI Software Uninstall Utility". If you have it, then just run it and it will get rid of your current display driver and control panel. If you don't have "ATI Software Uninstall Utility" then download it from here and run it. You will then be asked (or forced) to reboot.

2) When it reboots, you may see a "Found New Hardware" window which tries to install new video drivers for you. Just "Cancel" out of that window and let Windows boot into the old ugly VGA mode (640 X 480 - UGH!). Once Windows has booted just run the new Catalyst driver you downloaded from ATI. It will then reboot and you're done.

04-08-2005, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
JayKF014 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 24 OS: Win98	Distortion Issue I recently bought SWAT 4. The intro movies play excellent, but the main screen is distorted. I mean you cannot see the main screen at all. The screen is full of distorted shapes and colors. But in the background you can hear the sounds and can even click on buttons on the main screen. Just that you cannot see what you are doing. And like I said, the intro plays excellent. ATI Radeon 9000 128 MB 1.6 AMD Atholan Processer 510 MB RAM Plenty of HD space However my latest graphics driver is version 1.41, installed in 2002. From those I have talked to, and from technical support as well, I get the feeling I need to update my video driver. I have downloaded one released in 2005. I am ready to install it, but I am unsure or nervous about doing so. Awhile back I attempted to install a sound driver and the system crashed. It took several days for me to get it back to its original state. I'm afraid if I install a new graphics driver the same will happen. So I am asking is that the correct solution to the problem - installing the new graphics driver? And also, how should I do that if need be - or what would be the correct way to install it? Thanks. Jay.

04-08-2005, 04:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	Installing the graphics driver is relatively easy. First you uninstall your existing driver, then you reboot, then you execute the new driver you downloaded from ATI. Given the age of your driver, you should definitely update it. Your existing driver is almost prehistoric. So the steps in detail: 1) Uninstall your old driver by going into the "Add/Remove Programs" window. Look for something called "ATI Software Uninstall Utility". If you have it, then just run it and it will get rid of your current display driver and control panel. If you don't have "ATI Software Uninstall Utility" then download it from here and run it. You will then be asked (or forced) to reboot. 2) When it reboots, you may see a "Found New Hardware" window which tries to install new video drivers for you. Just "Cancel" out of that window and let Windows boot into the old ugly VGA mode (640 X 480 - UGH!). Once Windows has booted just run the new Catalyst driver you downloaded from ATI. It will then reboot and you're done. Last edited by UncleMacro; 04-08-2005 at 04:56 PM.