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weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

97706

December 11th, 2006 12:00

ati2dvag

After working great for months, I have suddenly come down with an ati2dvag error in an Inspiron E1505 (XP SP2).  The computer freezes and then a few seconds (or minutes) later, I get the blue screen of death and the message that I am in an infinite loop due to "ati2dvag". 
 
What I have tried up to this point:
 
1.  Tried a "last known good configuration" restore point which took me back quite a ways (I haven't installed any new software or hardware recently).  Same problem.
 
2.  Installed the latest driver for the ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 from Dell's site.  Same problem.
 
3.  Tried to install the latest driver for the ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 from ATI's site but the driver would not install (said that I had to retrograde to a VGA driver or something like that - very strange).
 
4.  Uninstalled all unnecessary drivers from the system using these instructions:

Follow these steps to view and remove these unnecessary device drivers:

  1. Bring up the System Properties dialog box.
  2. Select the Advanced tab and click the Environment Variables button.
  3. Click the New button below the System Variables panel.
  4. In the New System Variable dialog box, type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices in the Variable Name text box and 1 in the Variable Value text box.
  5. Click OK to return to the System Properties dialog box and then click OK again.
  6. Select the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button.
  7. In Device Manager, go to View | Show Hidden Devices.
  8. Expand the various branches in the device tree and look for the washed out icons, which indicate unused device drivers.
  9. To remove an unused device driver, right-click the icon and select Uninstall.

After uninstalling all unnecessary drivers, same problem.

I've thought of something else that may be related simply to my ignorance but it occurred to me on this last reinstall of the ATI driver - I notice that XP automatically reinstalls the ATI card driver upon boot up - without any input from me.  Am I just reinstalling the old driver every time?  Here's the order of what I do when uninstalling/reinstalling:

1.  I uninstall the driver using the Device Manager.
2.  Restart the system.
3.  Boot up - recognizes card and reinstalls the driver.
4.  I use the Dell executable driver file, install and restart.

Could I be doing something wrong in my order?  Other advice?

Thank you in advance!  I appreciate the help!

dallascowboyswo

4 Apprentice

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2.4K Posts

December 11th, 2006 13:00

Try booting into safe mode.  F8 at boot. Then go to device manager and uninstall driver.  Go to add/remove programs and remove all references to ATI.  Do search for a file ati2dvag.dll and delete it. If it is present and allows you to do so. Then install the dell driver and reboot.
 
Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Philips Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v3.1 (DD-WRT v23 SP2 std)
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

bacillus

2 Intern

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14.4K Posts

December 11th, 2006 19:00

if you look in windows explorer at C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\UninstallAll, you will find a file called AtiCimUn.exe.

run this file to remove all traces of your present ati drivers.

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 12th, 2006 02:00

Thank you for your responses.  I've tried deleting the Program Files and to use the ATI uninstall file.  Still no good - apparently, when I boot up the system automatically goes to one of the CAB folders where ati2dvag.dll is located and just reloads it.  The specific file within the CAB cannot be deleted. 
 
Here is where the file is found:
 
C:\i386\SP2.CAB
C:\WINDOWS\system32  (I think that this is the currently running driver)
C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\sp2.cab
 
How do I make XP stop trying to reload the old driver so I can install the new one?  It must be finding the file somewhere and I'm guessing it is in the CAB folders.  I also notice that the "ATI Display Driver" reappears everytime in the Add or Remove Programs list whenever I try to remove it (after a reboot).
 
Having a rough time!

dallascowboyswo

4 Apprentice

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2.4K Posts

December 12th, 2006 02:00

Did you do the uninstall first.  Then reinstall, Then reboot.  At this point does it still search for the file.  If it does search can you cancel the search.  Can you rename the to ati2dvag.old in the cabinet file. After you have deleted the one system 32 directory can you Check the properties of the sp2 cabinet file and make sure none of the attributes are checked before you attempt to delete or rename. Also when you do a search open the file in the directory and then move up the directory tree to I386. Rt click on the folder and click properties. Ucheck read only.
 
Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Philips Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v3.1 (DD-WRT v23 SP2 std)
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

Message Edited by dallascowboysworldchamps on 12-11-200610:37 PM

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 12th, 2006 11:00

I have tried this several different ways - and I again tried the "uninstall, reinstall, reboot."  When XP boots back up, the "Found New Hardware" info box pops up from the system tray.  When I try to click on the box to stop the process - or at least get a screen to make my own choices, it disappears and I believe it is the old file that is reinstalled.
 
I tried renaming within the CAB folders, but it appears that these folders act much like ZIP files - I can't manipulate what is within the file without extracting everything first (which I don't think would be a safe thing to do - though I could be wrong).  The problem becomes what to do with after extracting.  I'm not sure I would be able to recompress in a way that the boot up cycle would understand.  I did attempt (with fingers crossed) to rename one of the folders and it didn't seem to cause a problem but the boot up cycle still found a file somewhere to reinstall the driver.
 
On new hardware - such as USB hardware, I always get the "Found New Hardware" wizard which allows me to make choices as to where to find the driver.  The problem seems to be that this is onboard hardware that finds the preinstalled Dell drivers from the original installation and installs those.  I wish it was possible to turn off the instant recognition of the missing driver file and be able to make my own choices with onboard hardware.
 
I just checked the Driver Properties box - it appears that I still have the old driver loaded:
 
Driver Provider:  ATI Technologies Inc.
Driver Date:  2/16/2006
Driver Version:  8.205.3.0
 
I believe that is the original driver that came with my Inspiron E1505 - so my numerous uninstalls and reinstalls have accomplished nothing!

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 12th, 2006 11:00

desktop.htt
 
One other thing I discovered in the midst of this process last night.  I lost my active desktop and I assumed that it was due to this same ATI driver problem so I didn't worry about recovering the desktop until I thought I had things in working order.  Apparently, this might be a related problem - when I clicked on "Restore My Active Desktop" I received the following error:
 
"An error has occured in a script on this page:
Line 65
Char 1
I ran a registry fix on it by using the following script to change my registry settings:
 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
strComputer = "."
Set objReg = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
strKeyPath = "Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components"
strValue = "0"
ValueName = "DeskHtmlVersion"
objReg.SetDWORDValue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, strKeyPath, ValueName, strValue
 
I copied the abover script to Notepad and saved it as "activedesktop.vbs" (no quotes).  I ran the file and before I even had a chance to log off, my Active Desktop returned to normal.
 
Doing a little digging, I've discovered that this is a problem that comes up with Internet Explorer 7.  This issue has been discussed on Microsoft's website and in several forums.  I forgot that I allowed MS to invade my computer with IE7 (though I have to admit that I like some of the enhancements).
 
Interestingly enough, I've been running fine for about two hours so far (one hour last night and another hour this morning).  Whether this is related to the ati2dvag.dll error or not, I don't know.  The crashing seemed pretty random so I suppose I will soon find out (and save everything I am doing every 15 seconds or so!).
 
I still would like to get the newest driver running for the ATI display, so I am not stopping in my attempt to get it loaded properly.

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 12th, 2006 13:00

Problem resurfaced again (blue screen infinite loop ati2dvag).  Back to square one!

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 13th, 2006 14:00

Maybe the Omega drivers are the way to go.  I may have to take a chance on that.  I really don't want to reinstall XP.  That will mean a couple days worth of work to backup then reinstall.
 
Another interesting note:  Dell asked me to run the Pre Boot Assessment System Memory test.  It got stuck at System Memory - March A Test between 17% and 43%.  However, that could still be a display driver issue since the system froze and didn't give an error.
 
What a pain!

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 13th, 2006 14:00

Dell is telling me that I have to reinstall the operating system.  Why is that always the solution given?

dallascowboyswo

4 Apprentice

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2.4K Posts

December 13th, 2006 14:00

I have been running IE7 since I got my computer without issue. Knock on wood. But I have the x1400. When I did some searches though I found users with different ati cards having this same issue.  I think it has to do with the ati driver. I have read where some users have installed omega drivers instead to resolve their issue.
 
Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Philips Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v3.1 (DD-WRT v23 SP2 std)
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

Message Edited by dallascowboysworldchamps on 12-13-200610:39 AM

Tearrorist

4 Posts

December 14th, 2006 14:00

Hey weaver , so did you manage to find a solution to the problem ? I am using Dell Dimension 5150 and i'd just encountered this problem . Seriously I do not have any idea as to how to fix it . So i was hoping that you'd fixed yours and could share with me the methods .
 
Thanks .

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 14th, 2006 15:00

Hi Tearrorist,
 
Just installed the Omega drivers and waiting to see what happens.  They installed with no problem and I checked to make sure in Device Management and yes, it did overwrite my old ATI Display driver.  I have my fingers crossed but I am hoping for the best.
 
As for what I have done up to this point, check back in this thread for my earlier posts and maybe try to walk yourself through some of them.  Those were the things I was told to do and though they didn't help me - they might help you. 

Tearrorist

4 Posts

December 14th, 2006 15:00

Alright I will do that . Another thing , would you mind posting where i can get the omega drivers and the ways to install them ? I am quite a newbie in operating hardwares .
 
=)

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 14th, 2006 17:00

To find the Omega Drivers - Google "Omega Drivers"
 
Hate to say it, but the Omega's didn't solve my problem.  I'm afraid that a reinstall is my next option.  Yuck.

weaverworks

1 Rookie

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42 Posts

December 14th, 2006 19:00

Clearly they have a problem with these (combination of Dell's and ATI drivers).  I'm seeing reports of the ati2dvag bug on numerous websites.  Many people seem to be able to solve the issues with the fixes I listed at the beginning of this thread, but there are many more like me who can't seem to get it to stop.  Dell has told me to go the PC Restore route, but I'm trying everything before I go that direction.  I have too much software which will require contacting the programmers to get codes to reinstall (and I know it must look to them like I am copying software onto other computers).
 
This bug is definitely a problem for E1505s and 6400s.  It seems to be growing by the day.  I do wonder if IE7 has anything to do with it.  That's my next step - uninstalling IE7 and reinstalling.  I'm running out of options and I can't keep working in fits and starts like this!

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