ATI driver version question...
 

Does anybody have any experience with ATI driver versions 7.1 THROUGH 7.6 ? Specifically, has anybody here run these versions AND USED WINDOWS 'CLASSIC' DESKTOP?

COB

My backup system has an ATI X1950 with CAT7.5 I think with Classic desktop,whats your point??

Ahh.. good. Thanks for the response. Not easy to get. Well, I have an X1600 that has been serving me well. Flight Games, SH3, etc. SH4 looks good too, though, you know... I 'could use' better. In an effort to 'try', I downloaded 7.6 [and 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5]. I installed 7.6 and played SH4. I 'think' it was a little better on Frame Rate, etc. Then... I found that when I started my computer, it came up in the XP desktop. Further, I hate the racket from the stock 'sounds' so I have selected 'No Sounds' in the control panel, and normally, they are NOT on. Well, with 7.6 installed, even that setting didn't 'hold'. I THEN found that if I went back to 7.1, the 'odd' condition remained. So...[moan]... I reformatted the computer, and started again. After a week or so of trying to nail it down, I have concluded that installation of the files for 7.2 --7.6 installs some file(s) that 'confuses' the O.S., causing it to not hold settings. Worse,I can't 'go back' to 7.1 'conditions'. I wiped out the registry on each try...'nope'.

My Wife's computer is also Hewlett-Packard and her's does exactly the same things... with HER X1600.

I did a final DB&N cleaning of MY H/D, reformatted... installed 7.1 and all is well, of course. I went to the ATI site and tried to get Tech Support on the issue, but I guess my 'card' is too old for that.

Since this occurs in TWO machines, it must be 'real'... but I had hoped to get a better handle on it...

COB

HMMMM Sounds VERY strange to me..I used ATI for a loooong time until this system and never had anything close to that..Do you have a sound card or onboard sound?

Ohhh.... yeah. Been making me pull the rest of the hair out of my head, that's for sure! We both have "Creative SB Audigy 4" audio...

I have heard of some kinds of things where audio messes...Really odd, to me. But then, so is a video driver situation that messes up desktop settings ! That is, unless one [or more] of those files that the CCC programs that come WITH the driver installs a conflicting 'dll / dat / bat'...whatever. [way out of my league there, I just recognise that such file extensions exist in the 'nerve system' of the computers]

COB

I do not know but I can tell you that 7.6 produced CTD for me. I have reverted to 7.3 which always seemed good to me.

Thanks, 'Hawk... I have not had CTD with any version...although I have to admit that I have not 'wrung out' either SH yet... just dabbled.... Spring/Summer chores, etc...

COB

Do either of you [or anybody else reading this] know what happens, or how it works, to only install the Drivers, and NOT the Catalyst Control Panel? From the way I run this machine, all I ever do with it is turn on the Anti-Aliasing.. and that for Falcon 4.0 [It seems to take more of a Frame Rate hit from 1600x1200 res than from 1024 or so and A-A] With no need for A-A, *I* personally, have no need for the CCC files...

Gads, I hate the thought, but I might just risk ONE MORE reformat, just to find out..................

COB

For that matter, I wonder what happens if you run 7.6 Drivers and 7.1 CCC ???????????????????

Never liked CCC, installed new versions a couple of times to have a look, but always ends up uninstalling it :roll:

ATI strongly recommends *not* to mix different versions of drivers/CCC. Compability issues...

Occasional I forget to use ATI's "uninstall all"-software before installing new drivers. Always gives me very slow screen updating... pita.

So..... you have run ONLY drivers, and not 'the tools' [CCC]...?

I NEVER!! use the CCC,I use Ray Adams "ATI Tray Tools"..Just use the D/L driver only and get Tray Tools at....http://www.guru3d.com/article/atitraytools/189/

Good.... Got 'em... Where do you Extract that 7Z file TO ???

I am running 7.5 and only use the classic desktop. I also only use the driver only - the "CCC" is buggy as all get out. Have not had a single issue as you describe - not so sure I would pin it on the vid driver necessarily. If you do decide to reformat - I suggest that once you get it set like you want it before the new driver install - do a ghost or similiar image so its easy to recover. Then install the driver - and nothing else - and reboot - see if the desktop has reverted. If so - reghost and then do an image compare and see what has changed. Its very odd for a device driver to change config files for the OS like that.

I probably confused the issue by refering to 'Drivers' when I actually meant both the DD_XP and the CCC_EN files.... which.... apparently are not BOTH necessary.

I have heard of the Ghost routine, but am not familiar with it. I *have* DB&N + Recovery so many times it is 'easy'... just a little time consuming. I have a 500 GB external H/D that we both use for a 'disconnectable' back-up, but I feel sure of simply Biting the Bullet.

I'm going to Go For It tomorrow... Kind of excited to find some Reason amongst the Chaos of last week !