neotaiidan

Hey, just recently upgraded my Toshiba Satellite P35 to Windows Vista. According to Microsoft's upgrade advisor, all was well and my system met all the requirements for Vista, including graphics.

However, all WDDM drivers that come with Vista come up with "Error Code 43" in the device manager after installation, and the screen resolution maxes out at a nasty 1024x768.

Tried using Mobility Modder on Catalyst 7.4 and 7.5 but I get the same error.

The only drivers that I've gotten to work with no error are Omega XP drivers. Of course, this means I can't run Aero, which really sucks.

Does anyone else have the same issue, and is there any chance that a Vista driver will be made for the Mobility 9700?? Also, is there any way to force Aero to run on a non-WDDM driver?

Thanks alot.

My Specs:
P4 3.2 GHz w/ HT
1GB PC3200
ATI Mobility 9700 64MB

Randomness

Hello:

At first glance, it sounds like you need to update your BIOS for Vista to run on your notebook. Have you checked for a BIOS update from Toshiba's Website?

You may also want to consider contacting them directly regarding using this notebook with Vista if there are no updates available.

If you provide more specific system information (model number, and specs) i may be able to point you in a better direction.

Good luck, take care.

- Randomness

neotaiidan

Randomness,

Thanks for you help. I have the latest BIOS for my model installed (1.40), but Toshiba does not seem to support my laptop for upgrade to Vista. Their website has Vista drivers for a bunch of other old models, but not the model that I have. I have considered contacting them, but this laptop is no longer under warranty, so live tech support is not free. Also, I am assuming they would just say that they don't support upgrading this laptop to Vista, since they are not providing drivers for it.

Here are more detailed specs:

Model: Toshiba Satellite P35-S6292
OS: Windows Vista Ultimate RTM
CPU: Mobile IntelŪ PentiumŪ 4 CPU 3.20GHz
RAM: 1.00 GB of RAM
HD: 75 GB Hard Drive
GFX: ATI Mobility 9700 64MB
BIOS Version/Date: TOSHIBA V1.40, 9/3/2005
SMBIOS Version: 2.31

Let me know if you need any other specs.
Thanks again.

-neotaiidan

Randomness

Hello:

Could you find out the exact Hardware ID for your graphics chip?

Goto Control Panel --> Device Manager --> Expand Display Adapters --> double click on your graphics card --> Details Tab --> Click on "Hardware IDs' under the property drop down menu.

It should look somthing like:
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_xxxx&SUBSYS_xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks.

- Randomness

neotaiidan

Randomness,

Here are the Hardware ID strings that show up under my video card, as you requested:

PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E50&SUBSYS_FF011179&REV_00
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E50&SUBSYS_FF011179
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E50&CC_030000
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E50&CC_0300

Also, this card is running off the ATI RS300M chipset, with the following IDs:

PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838&SUBSYS_00000000
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838&REV_00
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838&CC_060400
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838&CC_0604


Thanks for your help,
-neotaiidan

Randomness

Hello again,

Well, i can tell you that i've isolated the problem to your RS300M northbridge chipset. Bascially, you need a new ATi GART (ie// AGP driver) that is compatible with Vista. Without a AGP driver, your Radeon 9700 is stuck in PCI mode, and the 3D engine cannot start. When the Driver configures the system's AGP, the WDDM driver built into Vista should automatically start working (ie// no Code 43).

Unfortunately, the newest ATi GART that i have been able to find for you chipset is based from 2005, so i doubt it would provide the proper support in Vista for the WDDM model . . . but it may be worth a try. Although i should caution you that you do so at your own risk, and this may cause BSODs. You should be able to use either your Vista disk, or your boot menu to load a "Last known Good confiuration" to get hings working again if the GART driver doesn't work properly.

You will need to manually find your ATi RS300M chipset in device manager (the PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838 device)
Update the driver. It may be listed as a PCI-to-PCI Host device.

You can get the ATi AGP driver Here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bvxxwfmtwe9

The driver contains its digital signature file, and hence is WHQL'd....but technically for XP.
Once the GART driver is installed, it should display version 5.0.2196.1015 dated 04/15/2005

Restart your computer, go back into Device manager, and re-install the WDDM driver built into Vista for your Radeon 9700.

If necessary, i will try to look into this further. But options seem limited. This looks like Toshiba would need to directly upgrade the BIOS, or provide a new northbridge driver that is Vista compatible.

Best of luck, take care
-Randomness

neotaiidan

Randomness,

Well, I installed the newer ATi GART driver ver. 5.0.2196.1015, but I'm getting the same crap after restarting and installing the WDDM driver - "Error code 43". Looks like that chipset driver is still too old to work with WDDM and Vista.

Unfortunately, looks like Toshiba completely dropped support for the P35, since they haven't had any BIOS updates or anything like that for a couple of years now.

Looks like I'm stuck with no acceleration in Vista. Thanks for your help though.

-neotaiidan

Randomness

Hello:

Using the XP drivers instead of the WDDM will still enable your graphics cards' 3D engine. So it will function properly for 3D Games, or CAD Software.

However the Card won't be recognized to support the Aero Interface. You could consider trying to forcefully enable it through registry tweaks, but i am unsure if these tweaks work in the RTM build of Vista.

Try here:
http://www.msbetas.org/board/lofiver...php/t9754.html

Or simply google on forcing aero on unsupported graphics cards.

Best of luck, and take care,

- Randomness

neotaiidan

Randomness,

Yeah, I still do all my gaming in XP, so I really wanted this to work just so I could run Aero.

Unofortunately, the registry tweaks dont work on Vista RTM, which really sux because my card should be able to run Aero just fine. Do you know of any new hacks/tweaks for forcing Aero on unsupported cards?

Thanks,
-neotaiidan