Computer Locking up =( DX9, nVidia related? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Artsemis · 01-28-2004, 12:47 AM

Computer used to contain the exact same setup as now except it had an older (Voodoo) video card in it. I replaced the Voodoo with a GeForce3 Ti500, reformatted, and loaded WinXP. The first thing I did was run windows update and installed all the updates on there, including DX9.

All this went great and took probably about 2-3 hours; and as soon as all the updates were done, I installed my video card drivers (newest from nVidia) which have DX9 support. Ever since then the computer seems to freeze up within about 15 - 30 mins of being on.

At first I thought it was heat or power supply. PS is a 300W power supply and I do have neons lights in the system so I first unplugged all of them and still had the problem. Next, I left the computer in BIOS for about 4 hours - no problems there, never locked up. I also ran memtest86 for about 4 hours with no problems.

So, narrowed down to DX and Video Card drivers it seems...

I uninstalled the Video card drivers, and just let windows set there with no video card driver installed...

Locked up.

Is there any known issues here or am I going to have to format again and find a game that came with DX8? (MS wont let you install DX8 on XP anymore, only 95). The problem with going back to DX8 is that a game I play is about to start requiring DX9 in the next 2 weeks.

System Specs:

AMD Thunderbird 950 (Not overclocked)
Chaintek Mobo
256 Meg pc-100 RAM
10 gig HD
Memorex CD-RW
Floppy, Network Card, Modem, yada yada ya...

ps. before you make fun of the system, its not my "main"

Silvy · 01-28-2004, 02:23 AM

Perhaps there is some issue with the AGP slot?
I assume that the Voodoo was in a PCI slot (Don't remember wether they were agp or not).
Try checking the mobo manufacturer for BIOS upgrades...

Artsemis · 01-28-2004, 06:37 AM

Well, this card was in the system before but ive been swapping around video cards -alot-.

It was this card for quite a while with no issues, and then so I could place this card in another system I put the Voodoo in this one. And now im back to the GeForce... so it has worked before, but was probably on DX8 :-/

Destrox · 01-28-2004, 09:34 AM

When you installed the nvidia driver, did you first remove the default XP driver?

If not, try that.

Its usually the cause, bad installation of drivers.

Artsemis · 01-28-2004, 10:48 AM

I never let XP install a default driver =/

keef · 01-29-2004, 09:37 AM

winxp ..ya, i feel your pain, if ms didnt hold the market on dx we wouldnt be having this convo...

anywho, here are a few things that may help:

1. check your temps: cpu/case/etc;
alot of nastyness can be caused by bad air flow control.

2. try uninstalling your mouse drivers;
ya i know it sounds wierd, but youd be surprised.

3. try start -> run -> msconfig and disable some services;
if you dont need em, dont run em!

*. try re-imaging (ghost/drive image/etc) instead of re-installing;
it makes rebuiling much easier.

good luck

tinfoil · 01-29-2004, 10:46 AM

Is there anything in the event viewer?

Artsemis · 01-29-2004, 03:47 PM

turned out to be a faulty cat5 cable *shrug*

I noticed it was only locking up when I was downloading / browsing; and it ran a pretty intest benchmark without problems so I started looking at the router and noticed if I barely moved my cable I was losing connection.

I replaced the cable, and the computer hasn't crashed in the past 24 hours

VF19 · 01-29-2004, 04:12 PM

thats good you solved the problem.

and a game with DX8 is Empire Earth. The only RPG ive ever played FYI

btw what's the clock speed of the GF3 Ti500 so I can overclock my Ti200 to it's speeds (or try to)

01-28-2004, 12:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Artsemis Insane Location: West Virginia	Computer Locking up =( DX9, nVidia related? Computer used to contain the exact same setup as now except it had an older (Voodoo) video card in it. I replaced the Voodoo with a GeForce3 Ti500, reformatted, and loaded WinXP. The first thing I did was run windows update and installed all the updates on there, including DX9. All this went great and took probably about 2-3 hours; and as soon as all the updates were done, I installed my video card drivers (newest from nVidia) which have DX9 support. Ever since then the computer seems to freeze up within about 15 - 30 mins of being on. At first I thought it was heat or power supply. PS is a 300W power supply and I do have neons lights in the system so I first unplugged all of them and still had the problem. Next, I left the computer in BIOS for about 4 hours - no problems there, never locked up. I also ran memtest86 for about 4 hours with no problems. So, narrowed down to DX and Video Card drivers it seems... I uninstalled the Video card drivers, and just let windows set there with no video card driver installed... Locked up. Is there any known issues here or am I going to have to format again and find a game that came with DX8? (MS wont let you install DX8 on XP anymore, only 95). The problem with going back to DX8 is that a game I play is about to start requiring DX9 in the next 2 weeks. System Specs: AMD Thunderbird 950 (Not overclocked) Chaintek Mobo 256 Meg pc-100 RAM 10 gig HD Memorex CD-RW Floppy, Network Card, Modem, yada yada ya... ps. before you make fun of the system, its not my "main" __________________ - Artsemis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are two keys to being the best: 1.) Never tell everything you know

01-28-2004, 02:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Silvy paranoid Location: The Netherlands	Perhaps there is some issue with the AGP slot? I assume that the Voodoo was in a PCI slot (Don't remember wether they were agp or not). Try checking the mobo manufacturer for BIOS upgrades... __________________ "Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints)

01-28-2004, 06:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Artsemis Insane Location: West Virginia	Well, this card was in the system before but ive been swapping around video cards -alot-. It was this card for quite a while with no issues, and then so I could place this card in another system I put the Voodoo in this one. And now im back to the GeForce... so it has worked before, but was probably on DX8 :-/ __________________ - Artsemis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are two keys to being the best: 1.) Never tell everything you know

01-28-2004, 09:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Destrox Metal and Rock 4 Life Location: Phoenix	When you installed the nvidia driver, did you first remove the default XP driver? If not, try that. Its usually the cause, bad installation of drivers. __________________ You bore me.... next.

01-28-2004, 10:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Artsemis Insane Location: West Virginia	I never let XP install a default driver =/ __________________ - Artsemis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are two keys to being the best: 1.) Never tell everything you know

01-29-2004, 09:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
keef Tilted Location: south east US	weeeeXP winxp ..ya, i feel your pain, if ms didnt hold the market on dx we wouldnt be having this convo... anywho, here are a few things that may help: 1. check your temps: cpu/case/etc; alot of nastyness can be caused by bad air flow control. 2. try uninstalling your mouse drivers; ya i know it sounds wierd, but youd be surprised. 3. try start -> run -> msconfig and disable some services; if you dont need em, dont run em! *. try re-imaging (ghost/drive image/etc) instead of re-installing; it makes rebuiling much easier. good luck

01-29-2004, 10:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	Is there anything in the event viewer? __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

01-29-2004, 03:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Artsemis Insane Location: West Virginia	turned out to be a faulty cat5 cable shrug I noticed it was only locking up when I was downloading / browsing; and it ran a pretty intest benchmark without problems so I started looking at the router and noticed if I barely moved my cable I was losing connection. I replaced the cable, and the computer hasn't crashed in the past 24 hours __________________ - Artsemis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are two keys to being the best: 1.) Never tell everything you know

01-29-2004, 04:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
VF19 Banned Location: back to my old location	thats good you solved the problem. and a game with DX8 is Empire Earth. The only RPG ive ever played FYI btw what's the clock speed of the GF3 Ti500 so I can overclock my Ti200 to it's speeds (or try to)