Mobility Radeon 9000 graphic problems - modder doesn't help

MobilityRad9000 · Nov 18, 2004, 01:02 PM

[color=#115e94][color=white]Hello, everyone. First off, to give you a breakdown of the troubled system...

Model: Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo D8820
OS: Windows XP SP2
RAM: 512MB (2 x 256)
CPU: 2.53GHz P4
Graphics: Mobility [/color][color=darkgreen][color=white]Radeon 9000[/color][/color]

[color=white]Now, here's the issue: In-game crashing. In 2D, the card performs perfectly, even for long periods of time. Up until about a few months ago, it performed perfectly in games, too. Now, here's what's happening...

After a random amount of playtime -- it can be one minute, half an hour, etc., always after a fresh boot -- the graphics will crash, but, the system will not freeze. However, the screen is incomprehensible. It becomes a mess of lines and small, solid, rectangular boxes (usually black and unmoving). When I exit the 3D application forcefully (such as through Alt + Enter) or regularly, the graphics will be OK with 2D applications. This problem happens with all 3D games, such as Doom 3, SimCity 4, Rome: Total war, etc. It even happens with DirectX test tool found by typing dxdiag in ‘run’.

Quitting a 3D game removes the problems. However, once you restart the game, after a non-specific period of time, the graphic crash happens again.

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[color=#115e94][color=white]I upgraded to SP2 sometime ago and read that it includes DirectX 9.0c. Previously, I was using 9.0b, which worked without problems. Could the problem be because of DirectX 9.0c?? Or maybe something to do with SP2? Is it possible to go back to 9.0b?

[/color][/color]

[color=#115e94][color=white] [/color][/color]

[color=#115e94][color=white]Please, if anyone of you knows the answer to this problem, please help me out. I have tried using the original graphic driver which came with the computer, omega drivers and also the catalyst 4.11 with the help of patje’s modder. None of them help. I would like to start playing games again… [/color][/color]

TJ- · Nov 18, 2004, 02:21 PM

i got a mobility 9000 and have some similar problems when i fooled around with radlinker...have you touched that at all.....NEVER USE IT....if you did try using system restore...

patje · Nov 18, 2004, 03:39 PM

run dxdiag, goto the display tab and see if you can do the tests.

MobilityRad9000 · Nov 18, 2004, 05:29 PM

Thanks for replying so quickly!

I haven't used radlinker. Actually, I don't even know what that is. All of my settings are set to default since I haven't changed any.

I tried using dxdiag like panje suggested. I did the tests and there is the same disturbance and disorder in the test as there are in the games.

On the second "leaflet" of dxdiag (DirectX files) there is an error message displayed in the notes: "directx.cpl version is outdated. This might cause problems". The file version is 5.03.0001.0904.

I went to microsoft's website and downloaded the latest DirectX 9.0c (the one which I am already suppose to have; it says so in dxdiag). I tried to run the installer but it doesn't seem to install anything as I already have the latest version. Apparently, I need to reinstall directx so the directx.cpl would be updated, but how can I do it? Or is it something else?

Thanks for helping us newbies!!

patje · Nov 18, 2004, 05:34 PM

Have you searched for a bios update specific for video card? usually found at your manufacturors website. If you can find one specific for the vid card, try looking for a bios update specific for your type of laptop. I might do the trick.

yj589794 · Nov 18, 2004, 07:39 PM

Hi,

I also have this laptop and had a similar experience with random crashes and reboots while doing anything processor or graphics intensive. The problem was that the fans and heatsinks had become clogged with dust and this was causing the processor to overheat and reboot the machine.

After cleaning the fans and heatsinks the problem stopped, and the fans are now quieter than when I first got the machine :-)

To clean the fans you need to remove the plastic panel covering under the screen, just squeeze the parts covering the hinges and it should 'pop' off fairly easily. Then remove the keyboard (you need to flex it a bit!). You can then see the processor fan. To clean just blow air through from an air compressor (or compressed air aerosol can thing). Put it all back together and you should find you machine is working once again.

hope this helps

Paul

MobilityRad9000 · Nov 18, 2004, 08:07 PM

patje - I already have the newest version of the BIOS, which is available. Actually it hasn't been updated since June 2002.

Paul - Thanks for the tip. Actually, I encountered overheating problem about half a year ago. Back then, cleaning the computer helped. Unfortunately, that doesn't help in my case right now.

I guess the problem might be because of directx.cpl (see my message above; I modified it to give more information about the directx issues)

I hope somebody can come up with a solution...

Nov 18, 2004, 03:39 PM	#3
patje Former Mobility Modman Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Belgium / Antwerp Posts: 1,475 Rep Power: 64	run dxdiag, goto the display tab and see if you can do the tests. __________________

Nov 18, 2004, 05:29 PM	Thread Starter #4
MobilityRad9000 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	DirectX tests Thanks for replying so quickly! I haven't used radlinker. Actually, I don't even know what that is. All of my settings are set to default since I haven't changed any. I tried using dxdiag like panje suggested. I did the tests and there is the same disturbance and disorder in the test as there are in the games. On the second "leaflet" of dxdiag (DirectX files) there is an error message displayed in the notes: "directx.cpl version is outdated. This might cause problems". The file version is 5.03.0001.0904. I went to microsoft's website and downloaded the latest DirectX 9.0c (the one which I am already suppose to have; it says so in dxdiag). I tried to run the installer but it doesn't seem to install anything as I already have the latest version. Apparently, I need to reinstall directx so the directx.cpl would be updated, but how can I do it? Or is it something else? Thanks for helping us newbies!! Last edited by MobilityRad9000; Nov 18, 2004 at 05:35 PM.

Nov 18, 2004, 05:34 PM	#5
patje Former Mobility Modman Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Belgium / Antwerp Posts: 1,475 Rep Power: 64	Have you searched for a bios update specific for video card? usually found at your manufacturors website. If you can find one specific for the vid card, try looking for a bios update specific for your type of laptop. I might do the trick. __________________

Nov 18, 2004, 07:39 PM	#6
yj589794 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Clean the fans! Hi, I also have this laptop and had a similar experience with random crashes and reboots while doing anything processor or graphics intensive. The problem was that the fans and heatsinks had become clogged with dust and this was causing the processor to overheat and reboot the machine. After cleaning the fans and heatsinks the problem stopped, and the fans are now quieter than when I first got the machine :-) To clean the fans you need to remove the plastic panel covering under the screen, just squeeze the parts covering the hinges and it should 'pop' off fairly easily. Then remove the keyboard (you need to flex it a bit!). You can then see the processor fan. To clean just blow air through from an air compressor (or compressed air aerosol can thing). Put it all back together and you should find you machine is working once again. hope this helps Paul

Nov 18, 2004, 08:07 PM	Thread Starter #7
MobilityRad9000 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	BIOS already up-to-date, overheating not a problem patje - I already have the newest version of the BIOS, which is available. Actually it hasn't been updated since June 2002. Paul - Thanks for the tip. Actually, I encountered overheating problem about half a year ago. Back then, cleaning the computer helped. Unfortunately, that doesn't help in my case right now. I guess the problem might be because of directx.cpl (see my message above; I modified it to give more information about the directx issues) I hope somebody can come up with a solution...

Nov 18, 2004, 01:02 PM	#1
MobilityRad9000 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Mobility Radeon 9000 graphic problems - modder doesn't help [color=#115e94][color=white]Hello, everyone. First off, to give you a breakdown of the troubled system... Model: Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo D8820 OS: Windows XP SP2 RAM: 512MB (2 x 256) CPU: 2.53GHz P4 Graphics: Mobility [/color][color=darkgreen][color=white]Radeon 9000[/color][/color] [color=white]Now, here's the issue: In-game crashing. In 2D, the card performs perfectly, even for long periods of time. Up until about a few months ago, it performed perfectly in games, too. Now, here's what's happening... After a random amount of playtime -- it can be one minute, half an hour, etc., always after a fresh boot -- the graphics will crash, but, the system will not freeze. However, the screen is incomprehensible. It becomes a mess of lines and small, solid, rectangular boxes (usually black and unmoving). When I exit the 3D application forcefully (such as through Alt + Enter) or regularly, the graphics will be OK with 2D applications. This problem happens with all 3D games, such as Doom 3, SimCity 4, Rome: Total war, etc. It even happens with DirectX test tool found by typing dxdiag in ‘run’. Quitting a 3D game removes the problems. However, once you restart the game, after a non-specific period of time, the graphic crash happens again. [/color][/color] [color=#115e94][color=white]I upgraded to SP2 sometime ago and read that it includes DirectX 9.0c. Previously, I was using 9.0b, which worked without problems. Could the problem be because of DirectX 9.0c?? Or maybe something to do with SP2? Is it possible to go back to 9.0b? [/color][/color] [color=#115e94][color=white] [/color][/color] [color=#115e94][color=white]Please, if anyone of you knows the answer to this problem, please help me out. I have tried using the original graphic driver which came with the computer, omega drivers and also the catalyst 4.11 with the help of patje’s modder. None of them help. I would like to start playing games again… [/color][/color]

Nov 18, 2004, 02:21 PM	#2
TJ- DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Infinity Posts: 3,679 Rep Power: 0	i got a mobility 9000 and have some similar problems when i fooled around with radlinker...have you touched that at all.....NEVER USE IT....if you did try using system restore...