Please help with video driver

Question

I have a Dimension 4600 with a NVIDIA GE force 128mb FX 5200. A few days ago the computer suddenly started to go black and then have problems booting. If I can get myself to safe mode, it works correctly. After I realized the video card is the problem I followed the directions on support.dell and the FAQ's:

In safe mode i go to the display manager and uninstall the NVIDIA driver. I then go to add/remove programs and uninstall the NVIDIA program (as NVIDIA tells you to do). When i agree to uninstall this program, the computer asks me to restart and even if I try to close the message window (clicking 'no' is not an option) the computer restarts. The computer is then able to start in normal mode but after I log into my account the computer recognizes the NVIDIA card as "new hardware" and seems to install it (I’m assuming it is installing, i don't get a choice). After about 30 seconds the screen starts to flicker and eventually goes black and is unresponsive. I have repeated the process and skipped the add/remove program part and instead attempted to install the 'new' driver that i downloaded. Once the new install is seemingly complete, i am prompted to restart the computer.......on restart i seem to be back at square one.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

nexttimeiamgett · Answer

Thank you very much. I read your instructions and will try to carry them out. I am assuming that the drivercleaner program has a choice to clean NVIDIA drivers (in the instructions you mention Intell Extreme).

A couple of ?'s:

When I have gone into Add/Remove programs to remove the NVIdia program the computer has then forced be to immediatly reboot. Any suggestions on how to stop this from happening?

Is it ok to do all of the initial steps in Safe Mode with Networking?

Thanks

mccarthy001 · Answer

To give yourself the best shot at diagnosing whether the problem is actually the drivers, you'll need to clear out Windows clean of all drivers in its system. Sadly, Windows is unable to do this even when you follow the procedures you described. To clear them out for real, you'll need to use Driver Cleaner Pro v1.4 (free program).

You can follow generally the steps described in my post in this thread. It is definitely worth taking the time to try.

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_video&message.id=137000&query.id=0#M137000

mccarthy001 · Answer

DCPro will let you select nVidia from its drop-down menu as you speculated.

I've never seen an XP framework which forces one to reboot immediately upon removing a driver, so I can't answer that particular question. I suppose you could try CTRL+ALT+DELETE and try to kill the Process responsible for showing you a dialogue of a forced boot.

I would avoid Networking. You will be physically disconnected from your network (or at least you should be, anyway).

speedstep · Answer

Sounds like the GPU fan or power supply has a problem.

FX5200 cards are supported NATIVE XP drivers with XPSP2.

Windows XP SP2 supports up to a FX5900 card. XPSP2 has NVIDIA 56.72 drivers and Directx 9.0c
installed by default.

If you have WIN2000 you need to install directx 9.0c and the 56.72 WHQL drivers.

IF you have WIN9X or WINME you need to install directx 9.0c and 56.64 drivers.

Older cards like this have problems with the newer drivers. I would not use them.
The drivers are no longer unified. Geforce2, TNT, TNT2, VANTA, and some Quadro are
no longer supported in the supposed unified driver. So 6x.xx, 7x.xx,8x.xx drivers should
not be used with older cards.

Directx should be installed BEFORE the Nvidia drivers.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/1/e/81ed90eb-dd87-4a23-aedc-298a9603b4e4/directx_9c_redist.exe

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_56.72.html

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Please help with video driver

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