AAAGGHH!!! @#$&*%! (please help?!)

[SouthFla]

Well, I’m about ready to throw my computer off a cliff, so if any of you guys & gals can figure out my problem you will be on my holiday shopping list forever! I will try to keep this short, although I need to give you lots of details…

System specs: PIII500, AopenAx6bc Pro Gold MB, 256 RAM (PC133 128 mb + PC100 128 mb), mx300 w/latest Vortex 2 ref. drivers, CL Annihilator Pro Geforce DDR, two Voodoo2 8 M in SLI w/latest ref. drivers, IBM Deskstar 18 gig 7200 rpm, Windows 98, DirectX 7.0, 300 Watt power supply.

My problem: After a clean reformat of HD and W98 install, I install ALL hardware drivers, and install CL drivers that came with DDR and everything works fine….I start installing my programs and games, and so far so good….I can play Unreal Tournament, Links 2000, GeForce Demos…Then I keep installing games and software, and somewhere along the line, something happens. I go to play any of the previously working games, and any game freezes as it begins to load…If I go to the Windows DirectX diagnostic in system tools, and try to “test” direct draw or d3d, the computer instantly freezes. So something in the software that I am installing is conflicting with my video drivers (I guess)…

The problem is once this happens, and can’t get anything back to operational without reformatting! (Which obviously totally sucks) I’ve tried changing display adapter to vga, rebooting, deleting all drivers in windows and registry, then reinstalling drivers, but still none of my games or direct x diagnostic tests will load or run. General windows navigation, surfing the web, etc, continues to work, however. I’ve tried the CL drivers that came on the installation CD, the CL updated drivers from their website, and Nvidia’s detonator drivers (latest, 3.53 I think). I think on my last reformat and clean install, everything was working fine, Direct X tests were working, until I installed Half-Life, then the problem arose….

The funny thing is that this EXACT same thing happened with my Diamond TNT2 Ultra when I tried to use Nvidia’s reference drivers instead of diamonds…I could only get Diamonds 4.02 drivers to work; the reference drivers encountered the same problem as above…

So I’m REALLY stumped, and any help would be MOST appreciated! Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any and all suggestions!!

[Nathan G.]

oops sorry didnt read enough.. more coffee..

[This message has been edited by Nathan G. (edited 12-28-1999).]

[SouthFla]

Thanks for the quick post Nathan...Sounds like a reasonable cause, and I'll check it out tonight...Cheers!

[Axel]

It sounds a lot like you keep corrupting your directx with a game load.

I've come across a few games in the past that think if they don't have their version of directX or less, (I.E., you have a very new version above the game requirements) that the game install needs to load the version on it's CD onto the system. This, then, wrecks the new version of directX already on the box and you lock.

Also, what browser are you using - I'll bet it's either IE4 or IE5.

When you do a load of IE4, you'll notice that part of the final install is ( IE4 is now upgrading your system for optimal performance ) - what that means is it's making system changes to better make your system work with it's active desktop components.

If you have active desktop turned on and your directX gets trashed by a game load, you'll probably lock up tight.

I, myself, like variety, but how many games can a person play at one time. - You might want to limit the number of loads you have on at one time, and when you tire of a game, make sure to completely un-install it from add/remove programs.

[Dave_H]

When your system goes to hell, but you can still get online, maybe go to windows update and get the direct X ver.7 at that point.
you may find then that everything works fine except the culprit game.

Also, if I remember correctly, you can re-install direct X 7. One time when I ran the tests it told me to re-install direct X and I
must have done so because all the tests work now.

Just a thought.
Dave

[SouthFla]

Well guys...Thanks for your input...Turns out I just cannot get the CL Annihilator Pro Geforce to work on my system.. Don't know if its a hardware or a software conflict, but no 3d apps will run, even after 4! reformats and six different drivers. Back to the store with the Geforce, and my Diamond TNT2 Ultra is back in and working fine....BooHoo!

[BC]

hmm that sounds funky. Sorry to hear that. But I have had similar problems with the TNT that I bought a couple of years ago. I think they release there cards b4 developers can put out software for them. Or even DirectX. So it could be a multitude of factors. That is why in a couple of months the GeForce wouldn't be a bad card, but not right now. Unfortunatly. The good thing about it is that nVidia is a company that sees a problem and tries to fix it. unlike when I bought my TNT it was a STB B4 they got bought out by 3dfx.

[Diode]

I'm not alone! My geforce by elsa worked on several D3D games, but unreal tournamen, quake2, quake3 and other similar games never worked, alway locked up just when the game loads, or a few seconds after the gams starts. If the game loads, and I dont touch anything, it'll just sit there, but as soon as a I move the controls, lets say to run across room, it freezes. Tried so many freakin things. When nuts, and am currently going to return it. I got no response from my motherboar manufacturer or elsa, or nvidia.