According to NVIDIA's site, I have the Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family.

I used option 2 at http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us to find out.

According the manual of the game I bought, I need GeForce 86xx or similar ATI graphic card as a minimum. I'm guessing I can't use the graphics card I have now?

 

You currently have Intel integrated graphics(built into the motherboard)
What brand and model PC do you have?

 

I have an HP pavillion dv6000 laptop.

 

You can not upgrade the graphics in a laptop, you would basically need to replace it with one that has a video card.

 

wrench97 is of course correct.

Slapshot - let's make sure of your chipset/ video - run a DirectX Graphics Kernel Diagnostic report -
START | type dxdiag | if x64, click on "..64-bit.." bottom-center of screen | save as a text file

Zip it up and attach to post.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

 

I don't get it? You're saying I don't have a graphics card? When I say update I'm referring to updating my drivers.

 

The video is integrated into the chipset, i.e., there is no seperate video card to upgrade (hardware), but you can update the drivers.

Run the dxdiag report, please.

JC

 

No you do not have a separate Graphics card the video is just a chip on the motherboard which works out fine for business type graphics but not for games.

If the Game is asking for a minimum of a 8600GT Nvidia card drivers and DirectX updates are not going to help.

 

Not suggesting DirectX update - I never do as they come in via Windows Updates.

DXDIAG will show the chipset and video - not only to confirm the NVIDIA findings, but will allow me to see most other device drivers' versions and timestamps as they may need to be updated as well.

I would go to Intel first, then NVIDIA if necessary.

jcgriff2

.

 

Good idea to verify Nvidia's findings

 

So I'm guessing I need to buy a graphics card to play the game?

dxdiag attached.

 

`
Hi -

Your video -

[FONT=Lucida Console]
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family
     Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
        Chip type: Intel(R) GMA 950
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27A2&SUBSYS_30BB103C&REV_03
   Display Memory: 251 MB
 Dedicated Memory: 0 MB
    Shared Memory: 251 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
      Driver Name: igdumd32.dll
   Driver Version: 7.14.0010.1504 (English)
     Driver Date/Size: [COLOR=Red]6/18/2008 [/COLOR]12:38:24, 3305472 bytes[/FONT]

`

Go to Intel for driver updates --> http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel945gm/
`

The bigger problem - you do not have Vista SP2 installed and have only 1GB RAM -

[FONT=Lucida Console]Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001)
            [COLOR=Red]Service Pack 1[/COLOR] (6001.vistasp1_gdr.090805-0102)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: HP Pavilion dv6000 (GM007UA#ABL)  
               BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBLv
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo CPU      T2450  @ 2.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
             [COLOR=red]Memory: 1014MB RAM[/COLOR]
          Page File: 1554MB used, 730MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 10
[/FONT]

`

1GB RAM is not enough for Vista - 2 GB MINIMUM needed.

Windows Updates --> www.update.microsoft.com

Side note - Vista SP2 will bring in DirectX11

Your audio drivers need to be updated as well -

[FONT=Lucida Console]
-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Conexant High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045&SUBSYS_103C30BB&REV_1001
            Driver Name: CHDRT32.sys
         Driver Version: 4.33.0001.0000 (English)
          Date and Size: 3[color=red]/3/2008[/color] 04:10:44, 182272 bytes
[/FONT]

`

Not sure as there is no timestamp on your Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG - but I would suggest that you update it as well -

Intel 3945ABG wifi driver download --> http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...el®+WiFi+Products&ProductProduct=Intel®+PRO/Wireless+3945ABG+Network+Connection

The same goes for your Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection as well -

Intel Pro/100 VE driver doenload --> http://www.intel.com/support/network/adapter/pro100/pro100venet/


Your Ricoh xD & Memory stick controllers need updates as well -

[FONT=Lucida Console]
     Name: Ricoh xD-Picture Card Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1180&DEV_0852&SUBSYS_30BB103C&REV_05\4&7C7FAC6&0&2CF0
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\rixdicon.dll, [color=red]5/7/2005[/color] 23:06:00, 16480 bytes


     Name: Ricoh Memory Stick Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1180&DEV_0592&SUBSYS_30BB103C&REV_0A\4&7C7FAC6&0&2BF0
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\snymsico.dll, 1.00.0000.9120 (English), [color=red]9/4/2004[/color] 14:00:00, 90112 bytes[/FONT]

Go to HP for those.

I believe this is your laptop --> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?product=3444083&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

If you update your Intel chipset (2009/2010) and the other drivers mentioned above while running Vista SP1 (Jan 2008), you very well may come back for another visit with me for BSOD help.

Update to SP2.

Just curious - why did you go to NVIDIA? I see no signs of NVIDIA anywhere.

Regards. . .

JC

.

 

Thanks. I haven't had a BSOD in quite a while actually.

I'm not planning on getting Vista SP2, no point if you ask me.

Is there a way to easily update these all at once? Isn't there something with red flags and device manager that could do it for me?

I went to the NVIDIA site because it had a tool that could tell me what my graphics card was.

Yes, I believe that is my laptop however the number is different. Mine is dv6000

 

Hi -

I just remember our late nights in the past with BSOD issues and would hate for you to go through that again!

No, no easy way to update the drivers - use the links as provided - although many come in via Windows Updates now -

www.update.microsoft.com

HP systems typically report a "generic" model, e.g., Pavillion dv6000, but the actual sub-model can be found on the tag on the bottom of the laptop. Information found in the DirectX Kernel Diagnostics report led me directly to "HP Pavilion dv6418ca".

See if Belarc agrees --> http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

I cannot stress the importance of Vista SP2. It has been out for 9 months now.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

 

Okay thanks.

The main reason I don't want SP2 is that my computer is working fine right now, unlike before as you know. I don't want to go through fixing everything again if something goes wrong after the update. Maybe if I start getting BSODs again or something comes up, then I'll update.

 

As you know from our past late night sessions, it is not a question of IF, but rather WHEN - for the BSODs, unfortunately.

What about the RAM - 1 GB? If possible, upgrade to 2 GB minimum.

jcgriff2

.

 

As for the Video unfortunately there are not any expansion slots on laptops to allow upgrading the video.

 

How much on average would it cost? My computer can get really slow at times but it doesn't bother me enough to spend $100 on upgrading it.

 

Hi -

Let's see your RAM configuration.

Please download the zip file, extract the batch file to desktop. RIGHT-click on batch file icon, select "Run as Administrator". A web browser will open.

http://www.techsupportforum.com/att...4005d1263724728-64-bit-allows-full-4gb-ram-right-wmi_memchip__jcgriff2_bat_.zip

Go to Documents folder - a file named 1.HTML will be there. Zip it up & attach.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

 

Attached.