ATI update just hosed my system

[adl6009]

I was getting ready to install win xp sp2 so I was updating the other drivers and such. One at a time, a day or so apart, just in case. Well it was the driver for my aiw 9600xt that did it. Now I cant get the media center stuff to work. I cant get the second monitor to work. I have 6 unknown devices I can't install. I tried to roll back the driver. I reinstalled the original driver, I removed the display adapter and reinstalled it. I cant use system restore because that stopped working last year and I haven't figured that one out yet. This kinda reminds me of the old days when w95 would screw up on me. It was fun. I would kinda like to figure this one out just for kicks. If you have any suggestions please do. I have a complete back up of my hard drive so I am pretty sure I can get back where I was. This, by the way has nothing to do with foresight. I put a new bigger drive in last month and just left the old drive in a drawer after I copied it.

[rangeral]

Since alot things went wrong start by reinstalling the motherboard drivers.

[BipolarBill]

Why did you update drivers before upgrading Windows? That makes no sense. You're supposed to keep them for after installing Windows.

[adl6009]

I meant to say install sp2 for windows. I've had this system for a couple of years. All the other drivers are up to date. The video driver was the last update before sp2.

[BipolarBill]

The System Restore problem would indicate that Windows is messed up. In that case, you're better off slipstreaming SP2 and starting over. Adding SP2 will just compound your problems. Integrate SP2 into WinXP setup with Autostreamer:

http://www.autopatcher.com/autostreamer.html

If you have a burner, burn the ISO to CD. Now, reinstall Windows. Install it in the same place it is now. Do not format. Your data will still be there *but* all programs will need reinstalling. Be sure that all USB devices are unplugged during the process.

[adl6009]

I am sure its a good idea. And might even fix the sys restore thing. Its just the reinstalling of a ton of apps that slows me down. I am going try to fix this some more and if that don't work maybe I will try the slipstream thing because I do still have that hard drive back up ready to go.

[adl6009]

I guess all I had to do was reinstall then drivers one more time. I contacted ati support, they provide a generous telephone support policy. I reinstalled the drivers that seemed to take care of the unkown device issue and then he had me uninstall the driver for the remote control. Apparently that does not get updated with the package of drivers and according to the tech guy it might not play nice with the updated multimedia software. I will install the update on that later.

[ukulele]

I have tried updating ati drivers with xp too, with limited success on several boards and several video cards. You can go into safe mode and remove all video drivers then install a generic vga driver. When you reboot XP will reinstall the origional xp drivers for that card. If it works right, leave it alone.

[gringo]

I have also had major problems with the newest ATI drivers on SP2 last week with a new install.

I kept getting errors every boot.

I installed the Omega ATI drivers and problem was solved.

Omega ATI drivers

Omega FAQ and problems with ATI drivers

[fishybawb]

The only time I've had problems is when I tried to install the Control Centre thingy without having the .NET framework installed. It didn't warn me that it wasn't present, it just installed anyway and then wouldn't boot into Windows without some major slowdown and strange error messages.

[pandaz3]

I went through that ATI A-I-W driver issue a couple of months ago. I repaired Windows, re-installed windows, formated the entire disk and so on. I had a new Win xp CD with SP2 already integrated, Finally I wrote zeros to the drive, reinstalled XP, carefully avoided the VIA VGA driver, and loaded the display driver only, and then all the AIW drivers and programs. It was exasperating, but fine now.

[pandaz3]

I should have said I DL the Display and WDM drivers only and the all the AIW stuff.

[Someone Stupid]

If you use their remote, always uninstall it before updating MMC. Reinstall it afterwards. MMC and the Remote Wonder drivers don't play well together if the Remote is there first - I've pulled my hair out figuring that one out quite awhile back with the last MMC update which has since been removed. I find that the old MMC that shipped on the CD with my card is the only one that is bug free and isn't constantly conflicting with on thing or another - so now it is back on and everything is fine. No more tossing the remote at the wall because MMC doesn't want to play with the drivers.