Trying to run down a problem with my video card. Blah.

[Elizara]

Some background first; Shadowneko upgraded my computer so I could play FFXI on it (I still mostly play with a real PS2 dual shock with a adapter, if that means anything...Too used to a controller to change to KB only now) as a present. Was sweet of him.

I had a lot of freezes with the old video card, and blue screens after I installed some new drivers. I finally took it to Computer Renaissance to have it looked at after I pulled the video card and it was STILL bluescreening. Turned out my processor fan was going out. Got that replaced and put in a ATI Radeon 3600, as well as put in 2 more fans. (it's a older computer and can only take AGP cards.)

Since then I've still had some troubles. Sometimes when playing FFXI, the computer will lock up, the screen will then go black with green bars at the top, then I'll have to hit reset. I checked with a program called WhoCrashed and it's the vid driver. I did install the AGP patch over the drivers from the disk, I was thinking that might be the culprit...especially since the last freeze was during Dynamis-Tav. (I'm thinking of uninstalling the video drivers, using Driver Cleaner, then installing the drivers again, but this time use ONLY the agp patched ones.)

If it isn't, is there anything else I can do to run down this problem? I really don't want to crash during dyn again..that's when I got annoyed..And it's making me very biased toward ATI cards(as in it's getting to the point I don't want another one if I get a new one built)...I did manage to reduce the actual bluescreens (but not freezes) by taking the computer off the rug and putting it on a milk crate (Cydori suggested that), since it was overheating a teensy bit, but I'd like to stop that entirely.

Oh and if it helps: here's the WhoCrashed report and the AIDA 32 Report(IP info removed for privacy reasons)

 

[masterorion]

i would have to say it probably isnt a hardware problem. i would say it is a driver problem. what you could try to do is to uninstall the graphics card and all software that is part of the card, and reinstall it. also, check for system updates.

 

[Elizara]

Thank you. I'll see if I can try Driver Cleaner and uninstall everything ATI, then install the AGP patched drivers, see if that stops it.

If that doesn't stop it, it's something more serious. I've heard of things like I might need to reformat (ugh. That's what I did with the first video card as part of my diagnostics before giving up and taking it to Computer Renaissance) to having to put in a PSU with more power. I use a Adaptec Basiq Power 500 wattage PSU as it is and it's only 2 years old, so that couldn't be the problem...Could it?

 

[masterorion]

when it comes to BSOD's, they are TYPICALLY caused by conflicts in memory. however, they can be caused by hardware malfunction. typically malfunction of the device in question or memory itself. i researched the dll's that are causing you problems and what you just mentioned, is what they did. (patched drivers, reinstalling windows) hardly doubt its the power supply. not saying it isnt, but i doubt that it is.
what i have been seeing as fixes is windows updates. definately try that first.

the post that i saw was resolved online was evidently fixed by reinstalling windows. but what it came down to was driver/windows updates being installed after windows was reinstalled.

 

[Elizara]

Then if that doesn't work, I'll ask Neko if I can borrow the USB hdd, back up all mah anime fansubs and other data (and make sure I disconnect the USB HDD before I do this), I'll go ahead and reformat, then upgrade to SP2, get the updates/patches, then go to SP3 before I install more than the wireless card driver. I think I read that too...Hopefully I won't have to.

Last time I reformatted I didn't disconnect that hdd, and I tried to install XP on the USB HDD.
...Can you say, whoops? I don't want the ribbing I got from Neko after that one again.

I'd just rather try the less extreme solution first.

 

[masterorion]

what SP are you running right now?

 

[Elizara]

Windows XP SP3. Unfortunately there's no way to disable that update now a days. (I delayed going to that as long as I could.)

[later edit] Got another freeze, so I finally went and purchased Driver Cleaner. Uninstalled EVERYTHING ATI, then installed the AGP hotfix drivers alone. Hopefully that'll fix it *knocks on wood*...If it don't I'll have to back up and reformat.

[edit again] here's the driver I mean: AGP drivers for AMD Card. I had a slightly older one; I may scrub out and do it again just to make sure I got the newest.

 

[Elizara]

Blah. I almost never double post but I thought I'd better put in a update.

Seems the driver scrubout didn't quite work. I got another crash due to ATI (One a bit later due to utorrent but that's utorrent)

..I guess I need to reformat >< I'm gonna look for the omega drivers. They CAN'T be worse than this. The plan however will be to get it to SP3 without installing any video or audio drivers, THEN install those drivers (since SP3 basically is installing all the patches). Then I'll just go straight to the omega drivers instead of the official ATI drivers, and let's see if that stops the crashes for good.

 

[johnno25]

i also get random crashes, etc. in SP3. Oddly enough most of mine were caused by my virtual memory being set too low while running FFXI (even though i have 4GB for virtual mem, i had to increase to 10 GB). The remainder were caused by a corrupt windows profile that for some reason just plain didn't like FFXI. After increasing my virtual mem and starting up a new profile my crashes have pretty much vanished. Not really helpful but maybe something you want to look into.

 

[Elizara]

I'll check that out too. FFXI has always been touchy for me, but once I solve the RAWRSTUPIDATI problem, I'll look into that to solve other crashes.

I'm leaning toward avoiding ATI cards if I ever get a new computer built because of this.(All my computers have been custom rigs) I know ATI makes the better cards right now, but I really don't like this hassle . Nividia gave me a LOT less problems.

 

[masterorion]

i also get random crashes, etc. in SP3. Oddly enough most of mine were caused by my virtual memory being set too low while running FFXI (even though i have 4GB for virtual mem, i had to increase to 10 GB). The remainder were caused by a corrupt windows profile that for some reason just plain didn't like FFXI. After increasing my virtual mem and starting up a new profile my crashes have pretty much vanished. Not really helpful but maybe something you want to look into.

you honestly shouldnt need to have VM set to 10g. 4gig is plenty to run ffxi, other small programs and another low end video game. i would suspect something going on in the background if your having VM issues, such as too many progs running in the background using and filling up your RAM

 

[Elizara]

Well, looks like all this driver monkeying messed it up again, I can tell already. So I'm backing up the whole FFXI directory to a zip file to save me having to update it in the morning, and then it's reformat time. /sigh.

I don't want to have to update it all again, at least the file check will go fast if I copy it, I hope.

Hoping once I do that, that i can install the Enzyme drivers after I install the stock drivers from the CD, because I seem to have a color problem if i don't. (some of the colors are off)

At least I caught this noise early this time before I used my computer lots.