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September 11th, 2010 08:00
Uninstall old Ati drivers
Hello,
I've read the sticky "Ati Driver Instructions" -- but I could really use some clarifications.
I've got a Dimension 9150, running XP-MCE SP3, with Ati Radeon X600 256MB Hypermemory. The Driver is 8.162.00. Been getting along pretty well with it for years (I'm not a gamer and the only problem I have that may be related to the driver is that sometimes the desktop icons lose their images and it takes a few seconds to redraw them one-by-one) but now that I've finally resigned myself to accepting Windows Service Pack 3, I've lost the ability to rotate the display. So I want to upgrade to drivers that will restore that capability.
I've downloaded the ATI Catalyst 10.2 install package from the ATI site. I've also downloaded Driver Cleaner Pro. I gather that a throrough uninstallation is critical -- so here are my questions:
1. The only ATI item in my Add or Remove Programs is the display driver. There is no ATI Uninstall Utility and no ATI CCC. So how do I set the filters in Driver Cleaner Pro? (By the way, it's not clear from the sketchy instructions in the ReadMe file, what these filters do -- do they filter in or out? That is, does selection mean that category will be deleted?)
2. The sticky says do not reboot after uninstalling in Add or Remove Programs. Driver Cleaner Pro says reboot into Safe Mode before using program. Which is better?
3. Finally, since Driver Cleaner Pro warns of dire consequences if not used properly, I wonder if a good uninstall could by achieved by using Revo Uninstaller, which does a pretty good job of chasing down uninstall leftovers.
Oh, yes, one other thing. I still have the original System Bios A02, from 2005. There is an optional update available from 2007, A07 -- but not having any problems, I've always ignored it. Could this have any impact on the video driver installation?
I'd appreciate any guidance. Thanks.
Davet50
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14.4K Posts
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September 11th, 2010 11:00
uninstall your current ATI drive using the add/remove in control panel. There most likely will not be any Catalyst control center for the version you currently have. Once installed it will ask you to reboot. Reboot into Safe Mode. Once in Safe mode then run Driver Sweeper. Select ATI and select the display driver since that is all you have. let it run the cleaning. Reboot back into normal mode and install your new driver.
One note It would be a good idea to have a copy of your Current driver handy just in case....
Pratino
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September 13th, 2010 09:00
Thanks Davet50. Sounds pretty straightforward. Just to confirm, then: No need to update system bios -- and no other known pitfalls.
Mary G
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20.1K Posts
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September 13th, 2010 09:00
The ATI installation file lets you uninstall everything first, reboot and install the new driver and software. Don't use any other uninstaller.
Davet50
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September 13th, 2010 11:00
I would look to see what the bios updates address. it may or may not help..
Pratino
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September 14th, 2010 06:00
By "the ATI installation file" do you mean the ATI driver file I have in add/remove programs? (Keep in mind it's the only ATI file present -- no ATI Uninstall Utility).
Why are you opposed to using Driver Cleaner Pro?
Davet50
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September 16th, 2010 06:00
Go ahead use it. Don't know why Mary G is against it but I used for years on XP and a few times on Vista. Not really necessary when just updating drivers on win 7 but it will still work.
It is the best way to get a clean drive install..
Pratino
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September 16th, 2010 06:00
I was hoping by now to have heard from MaryG what she has against Driver Cleaner. Anybody else out there think there is reason not to use it?
Hugo111_edc252
52 Posts
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September 17th, 2010 03:00
HI,
I'm newbee in this dell comunnity...no wide knowledge so enterested to learn more from here...
Hope you will guide to do so...Thanks in advance....
Pratino
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September 19th, 2010 09:00
I think enough time has been allowed for any Driver Cleaner doubters to come forward and make clear why the program should be avoided. So I'm ready to go ahead and use it.
I'd now like to pass to the remaining point -- whether to update the system bios. Following the advice of Davet50, I've looked into the issues addressed by the optional bios updates, and I see a couple that may have something to do with the video card.
Improved PCI-Express memory mapped configuration space.
Improve PCIE graphics detection algorithm.
Improve OROM Intialization.
I've also looked at various threads in these forums on bios updates and from my reading I gather that the chances of anything going wrong during a bios update are very small -- but if something does go wrong, the consequences could be catastrophic. So, since I am no longer under warranty, I think the prudent course for me would be to try to update the ATI drivers without updating the system bios. If it works, fine. If not, that'll be the time to consider a system bios update. Have I got it right?
Pratino
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September 27th, 2010 08:00
Well, I went ahead without touching the system bios and I nearly got away with it.
I uninstalled the ATI driver in Add/Remove Programs, rebooted into Safe Mode to run Driver Cleaner and rebooted again. Installed the Catalyst 10.2 package and it all went off without a hitch. Reboot and everything works perfectly. Next day first start produces BSOD stop message. Reboot normally and everything's fine again. For the next few days, one out three starts produces the BSOD, which clears after a normal reboot. Then I recalled having suspended the launch of an ATI Service (ATISmart/ati2sgag.exe) and I reset it to automatic. Bingo! No more BSOD. System hums in sweet harmony. But now BSOD is back and won't go away(0x0000007E). Only way to start is by deactivating the ATI video card. Any suggestions on how to get out of this corner would be welcome.
Davet50
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14.4K Posts
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September 27th, 2010 11:00
see if any of the info HERE will help
Pratino
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September 28th, 2010 11:00
Thanks. That's an incredibly pertinent Microsoft Knowledge Base article (tied specifically to my stop error). But in the end, there is one main suspect, the video driver -- corroborated by the fact that deactivating it allows the computer to start. The strange thing is that I'm now able once again to start Windows with the new Catalyst driver -- don't know for how long. Maybe this means there's only some minor incompatibility which I could somehow track down and rectify. The KB article also points to a possible role for the system bios and of course the need for an update can't be ruled out -- though it makes my knees shake.