Visual artifacts

hotmatch · Sep 29, 2003, 01:05 PM

Hello,

My system Specs: Windows XP (totally updated), Intel P4, 1.6 GHz, 1024 ddram, Radon 9700 pro (Omega ATI drivers 3 weeks old - set to default "tweak" setting, Audigy Gamer sound, 60 & 120gb 7200rpm harddrives.

PROBLEM:

I pressed ALT/TAB (for the first time) to get out of a game called Clusterball made in 2000, in order to get back to the desk top. Clusterball uses Open GL graphics.

All of a sudden the desktop resolution went from 1280x1024 - 32 bit colors, to the lowest resolution (6x4) and using 8 bit colors !!! (I didn't even know those colors existed). I immediately saw visual artifacts on the screen. Long strips of multicolored visual artifacts running vertically down the screen with various spacing between the strips. (Everything was fine before I pressed ALT/TAB to get out of that game. I've been playing lots of new games with no problems at all since I got the Omega drivers.)

I shut down the computer, opened up the case, and touched the graphics card to see it's temp. It was NOT hot. So, I reinstalled the Omega drivers overtop of themselves (because the visual artifacts made it very diffiuclt to do an uninstall), and restared the computer. Darn, I'm still having the same visual artifacts after the Windows XP loading screen. (but the loading screen is free from artifacts).

I turned the computer off and went to bed.

I restared the computer this morning - same problem. Turned it off, and went to work - which is where I am now.

QUESTION: Does anybody here have any idea what happened, and how to fix it?

I'm guessing that I should Uninstall the Omega drivers, use the tool to get rid of the residual files of the drivers. Re-start the computer and try to reinstall the Omega drivers again. If that doesn't work - Have I fried my card? Can't see how that would happen - the card was not hot. I will swap out the card for my Radon 7500 and see if that works. If not - then it's some system files?

Oh my here we go again.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hotmatch

toddsmack2k · Sep 29, 2003, 11:42 PM

Have you tried reinstalling the drivers or trying out a different vid card yet? I know you said you were going to I was just wanting to see if you had any success.

Sharkims · Sep 30, 2003, 12:12 AM

First off, welcome to DH!
Second, I would definitely try to swap out the cards, but be sure and clean out the drivers completely first. If it's still acting up, I would try and reinstall windows, or send your card back. I would really recommend just reinstalling windows first though.

hotmatch · Sep 30, 2003, 12:56 PM

Hello Sharkims & Toddsmack2k,

Thank you for the Welcome. Nice place you have here.

I did a few things last night and I'm still having a problem with the Radon 9700 pro card - still seeing visual artifacts on screen.

Please forgive me if this sounds confusing... I have two computers to work with (Both are running Windows XP & Direct X 9.0 with all the service packs etc. installed. A Radon 9700 pro on computer #1, and a Radon 7500 on computer #2.

COMPUTER #1: Windows XP (totally updated), Direct X 9.0, Intel P4, 1.6 GHz, 1024 ddram, Radon 9700 pro (Omega ATI drivers 3 weeks old - set to default "tweak" setting, Audigy Gamer sound, 60 & 120gb 7200rpm harddrives.

COMPUTER #2: Windows XP (totally updated), Direct X 9.0, Intel P3, 450 MHz, 512 sdram, Radon 7500 pro (Omega ATI drivers 3 weeks old - set to default "tweak" setting, Creative Sound Blaster 128 Pro, 11 gb 7200rpm hardrive.

I took the 9700 pro card out of computer #1 (the problem computer) and tried it on computer #2, which was using the same Omega ATI drivers. I received the same problem - Visual artifacts on screen. However, I put the card that was in computer #2 (a Radon 7500) into computer #1, and the problem dissapeared. (So it's not the drivers that have the problem - it's the 9700 pro card that has the problem)

I removed the Omega drivers from computer #1 & computer #2 (also ran regedit program to delete any loose signatures) and installed the latest Catalyst 3.7 drivers from ATI on both computers. I put the 9700 pro back into computer #1, but I'm still receiving the same problem - Visual artifacts on screen. I put the 7500 back into Computer #2, and there is no problem - the Catalyst 3.7 drivers work fine with the 7500.

I did not put the Radon 9700 pro card back into computer #2 - yet - not sure if it's nessessary. I also did not put the 7500 back into computer #1 - yet - not sure if it's nessessary. But I will try it.

I tried an earlier System restore on computer #1 - to a date just prior to the date of the problem occurance. This did not work. I do not see the need to reinstall Windows XP, or reformat my hardrives, because I'm working on a fairly fresh install of Windows XP on computer #1, and the problem was still occuring on computer #2 which has the same Windows XP files.

Conclusion: Both the Catalyst 3.7 & the Omega drivers work for the 7500 on computer #1, but neither drivers work for the 9700 pro on computer #1. The Omega drivers do not work for the 9700 pro on either computer, and the Catalyst 3.7 drivers do not work for the 9700 pro on computer #1. Therefore the 9700 pro is either fried, or needs to have it's bios flashed. I do not know how to flash the bios - yet, or if it will solve the problem.

Any more ideas?

Should I find out how to flash the bios?

Your help is greatly appreciated
Hotmatch

toddsmack2k · Sep 30, 2003, 07:58 PM

I do not believe I would bother with the BIOS flash, I would just return the card for a new one. I hate to here of that man it sucks. I do not believe a BIOS flash wil solve the problem, the 9700 pro is bad IMO.

hotmatch · Oct 2, 2003, 12:13 PM

Thank you Toddsmack2k,

I have done all my testing (final test was that the visual artifacts are showing up in the motherboard bios screen - even before any drivers are loaded by windows xp for the graphics card). The card is toasted.

I have requested a RMA (return code) from ATI in order to have the card looked at, fixed or replaced.

Nvidia is looking good these days...

Hotmatch thanks you.

Sep 30, 2003, 12:12 AM	#3
Sharkims Seen my brain? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WA,USA Posts: 760 Rep Power: 0	First off, welcome to DH! Second, I would definitely try to swap out the cards, but be sure and clean out the drivers completely first. If it's still acting up, I would try and reinstall windows, or send your card back. I would really recommend just reinstalling windows first though. __________________ System-1: MSI K8N Neo Platinum \|\| A64 3200+(200x11) - Zalman 7000A-AlCu \|\| 1x1gb OCZ PC3200@400(3-3-3-7) \|\| 9800XT \|\| WD Raptors 2x36 RAID0 System-2: MSI 875P Neo-FIS2R \|\| P4 2.4c(FSB:200) - Intel Cooler \|\| 2x256 GEIL PC3200@400(2-3-3-6) \|\| AIW9000 \|\| WD SE 120x2 RAID0 System-3: DELL Inspiron 9100 \|\| P4 3.0c(mobile) \|\| 2x256mb PC3200(3-3-3-8) \|\| Mobility Radeon 9700 - 128mb \|\| WSXGA+ 15.4" \|\| 60gb 5400RPM 8mb

Sep 30, 2003, 07:58 PM	#5
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	I do not believe I would bother with the BIOS flash, I would just return the card for a new one. I hate to here of that man it sucks. I do not believe a BIOS flash wil solve the problem, the 9700 pro is bad IMO. __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Sep 29, 2003, 01:05 PM	#1
hotmatch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Visual artifacts Hello, My system Specs: Windows XP (totally updated), Intel P4, 1.6 GHz, 1024 ddram, Radon 9700 pro (Omega ATI drivers 3 weeks old - set to default "tweak" setting, Audigy Gamer sound, 60 & 120gb 7200rpm harddrives. PROBLEM: I pressed ALT/TAB (for the first time) to get out of a game called Clusterball made in 2000, in order to get back to the desk top. Clusterball uses Open GL graphics. All of a sudden the desktop resolution went from 1280x1024 - 32 bit colors, to the lowest resolution (6x4) and using 8 bit colors !!! (I didn't even know those colors existed). I immediately saw visual artifacts on the screen. Long strips of multicolored visual artifacts running vertically down the screen with various spacing between the strips. (Everything was fine before I pressed ALT/TAB to get out of that game. I've been playing lots of new games with no problems at all since I got the Omega drivers.) I shut down the computer, opened up the case, and touched the graphics card to see it's temp. It was NOT hot. So, I reinstalled the Omega drivers overtop of themselves (because the visual artifacts made it very diffiuclt to do an uninstall), and restared the computer. Darn, I'm still having the same visual artifacts after the Windows XP loading screen. (but the loading screen is free from artifacts). I turned the computer off and went to bed. I restared the computer this morning - same problem. Turned it off, and went to work - which is where I am now. QUESTION: Does anybody here have any idea what happened, and how to fix it? I'm guessing that I should Uninstall the Omega drivers, use the tool to get rid of the residual files of the drivers. Re-start the computer and try to reinstall the Omega drivers again. If that doesn't work - Have I fried my card? Can't see how that would happen - the card was not hot. I will swap out the card for my Radon 7500 and see if that works. If not - then it's some system files? Oh my here we go again. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Hotmatch

Sep 29, 2003, 11:42 PM	#2
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	Have you tried reinstalling the drivers or trying out a different vid card yet? I know you said you were going to I was just wanting to see if you had any success. __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Sep 30, 2003, 12:56 PM	Thread Starter #4
hotmatch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Hello Sharkims & Toddsmack2k, Thank you for the Welcome. Nice place you have here. I did a few things last night and I'm still having a problem with the Radon 9700 pro card - still seeing visual artifacts on screen. Please forgive me if this sounds confusing... I have two computers to work with (Both are running Windows XP & Direct X 9.0 with all the service packs etc. installed. A Radon 9700 pro on computer #1, and a Radon 7500 on computer #2. COMPUTER #1: Windows XP (totally updated), Direct X 9.0, Intel P4, 1.6 GHz, 1024 ddram, Radon 9700 pro (Omega ATI drivers 3 weeks old - set to default "tweak" setting, Audigy Gamer sound, 60 & 120gb 7200rpm harddrives. COMPUTER #2: Windows XP (totally updated), Direct X 9.0, Intel P3, 450 MHz, 512 sdram, Radon 7500 pro (Omega ATI drivers 3 weeks old - set to default "tweak" setting, Creative Sound Blaster 128 Pro, 11 gb 7200rpm hardrive. I took the 9700 pro card out of computer #1 (the problem computer) and tried it on computer #2, which was using the same Omega ATI drivers. I received the same problem - Visual artifacts on screen. However, I put the card that was in computer #2 (a Radon 7500) into computer #1, and the problem dissapeared. (So it's not the drivers that have the problem - it's the 9700 pro card that has the problem) I removed the Omega drivers from computer #1 & computer #2 (also ran regedit program to delete any loose signatures) and installed the latest Catalyst 3.7 drivers from ATI on both computers. I put the 9700 pro back into computer #1, but I'm still receiving the same problem - Visual artifacts on screen. I put the 7500 back into Computer #2, and there is no problem - the Catalyst 3.7 drivers work fine with the 7500. I did not put the Radon 9700 pro card back into computer #2 - yet - not sure if it's nessessary. I also did not put the 7500 back into computer #1 - yet - not sure if it's nessessary. But I will try it. I tried an earlier System restore on computer #1 - to a date just prior to the date of the problem occurance. This did not work. I do not see the need to reinstall Windows XP, or reformat my hardrives, because I'm working on a fairly fresh install of Windows XP on computer #1, and the problem was still occuring on computer #2 which has the same Windows XP files. Conclusion: Both the Catalyst 3.7 & the Omega drivers work for the 7500 on computer #1, but neither drivers work for the 9700 pro on computer #1. The Omega drivers do not work for the 9700 pro on either computer, and the Catalyst 3.7 drivers do not work for the 9700 pro on computer #1. Therefore the 9700 pro is either fried, or needs to have it's bios flashed. I do not know how to flash the bios - yet, or if it will solve the problem. Any more ideas? Should I find out how to flash the bios? Your help is greatly appreciated Hotmatch

Oct 2, 2003, 12:13 PM	Thread Starter #6
hotmatch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Thank you Toddsmack2k, I have done all my testing (final test was that the visual artifacts are showing up in the motherboard bios screen - even before any drivers are loaded by windows xp for the graphics card). The card is toasted. I have requested a RMA (return code) from ATI in order to have the card looked at, fixed or replaced. Nvidia is looking good these days... Hotmatch thanks you.