Can't start Vista with graphics drivers installed

cookie_365 · 04-09-2011, 15:37

Just putting together a spare PC from bits that I know work fine and a fresh install of Vista.

The odd thing is it just won't work with anything but standard graphics drivers. No matter what card.

I started off with an ATI card. That worked fine until I installed the drivers - starting Vista gave me a blue screen. Uninstalling the driver in safe mode fixed the problem. Reinstall and the problem came back. It was 100% predictable. No drivers = OK; drivers = blue screen. It didn't matter if I installed the drivers from the disc that came with the card, from the ATI website, or from Windows update.

I tried taking out 2 of the PCs memory modules - no difference. I tried swapping with the other 2 memory modules. No difference.

So I gave up, removed the ATI drivers, took the ATI card out, and put in a Nvidia card. With that card and the standard windows drivers, no problem. When I installed the Nvidia drivers Vista won't start. It doesn't blue screen, just hangs. Again, uninstalling the drivers in safe mode fixes it, and again, reinstalling either from the disc, the Nvidia website or Windows update gives the same problem. And as with the ATI card it's 100% predictable. No drivers = OK; drivers = hanging black screen.

What? I mean, what?

How can 2 totally different cards have (more or less) the same problem? They were both working fine a couple of weeks ago last time I checked. Could it be a motherboard thing? And if so, what it might be and how I could figure it out? I haven't got a spare mobo to test out.

Don't really fancy making do with the default Vista drivers

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks

Welshchris · 04-09-2011, 15:50

I would say either the board is problematic or the PSU could be problematic.

**Graham M** · 04-09-2011, 18:07

Seeing as it's happening with 2 different cards, it's got to be something that links the two, IE the motherboard is a strong possibility

**Stuart** · 04-09-2011, 18:37

When this happened on my PC, it was because my PSU was not giving enough power to power the graphics card using anything but the standard resolution and driver.

DaiNasty · 04-09-2011, 18:46

I'd suggest trying to test the PSU by reducing the load as much as possible. Disconnect cd/dvd & any extra hard drives, all but 1 stick of ram and any other expansion cards not absolutely necessary to boot the machine.

You'll need the driver installer loaded on the machine in advance of course.

If it runs OK then it may indicate the PSU is failing or doesn't have enough muscle.

cookie_365 · 04-09-2011, 19:49

Thanks everyone.

I'd not really considered the power supply as the issue was so completely predictable.

It's a Phenom 550, 4x1Gb DDR2, two sata drives, IDE DVD drive, and the graphics cards are ATI HD4670 and Nvidia 9400GT. Power supply is a good quality Acer 450 However, I'll give DaiNasty's suggestion a go and see what happens.

Any suggestions of what mobo problem could cause this?

Difficulty is I without being able to narrow it down do I buy a new mobo and a new PSU, or some new memory or a new graphics card? Might as well buy a new Dell

qasdfdsaq · 04-09-2011, 22:11

It'd help if you told us what the bluescreen actually said.

Normally I'd blame Vista for all that's wrong in the world.

cookie_365 · 06-09-2011, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

It'd help if you told us what the bluescreen actually said.

Normally I'd blame Vista for all that's wrong in the world.

It would help, wouldn't it

Only happened with the ATI card and I took that out without noting down the blue screen wording.

Reducing the power draw doesn't make a difference.

But maybe you're right about Vista. I'll maybe try installing W7 over the weekend to see if that fixes it. If not, I reckon it's the mobo.

cookie_365 · 08-09-2011, 21:10

Well, the Win7 (Pro 64) installation couldn't even complete before I got a blue screen.

I think W7 detects cards and installs drivers as part of the installation.

Managed to get a screenshot of the blue screen.

So would you agree it looks like the motherboard? Flashing with the latest BIOS doesn't fix it.

Any chance it could be the processor itselft? Don't want to buy a new AM3 mobo only to find I need to buy a new processer too, in which case I wouldn't have bought AM3

Though that might be a good excuse to buy even more stuff

Assuming it is the mobo, can anyone recommend a good AM3 (I think its AM3) - that'll take a Phenom II 550? If so, can you reply on the separate thread I've started to make it easier for others to find if they have the same question for different reasons?

Thanks

Welshchris · 08-09-2011, 21:55

Try using 1 stick of ram at a time. I wonder if its a memory error and when its trying to load it into the Ram its Bluescreening.

I remember many many moons ago on Windows 98 SE. My PC would run perfectly until i would try and install an update for Internet Explorer and it would blue screen instantly and it turned out to be a dodgy 128mb stick.

Those were the days PC running 256mb ram lol.

cookie_365 · 08-09-2011, 23:24

Yep, tried that. Looks like it's either the mobo or (less likely I think) the processor.

But on the bright side - I get to take the credit cards out

nffc · 08-09-2011, 23:33

Which chipset is it?

cookie_365 · 09-09-2011, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

Which chipset is it?

Nvidia Nforce 720D, if that means anything to you

nffc · 09-09-2011, 06:41

Well, there have been some issues with some of the older nforce chipsets with graphics drivers and dual core on Vista/Win7 - the only fix is to upgrade the board. Suspect this is similar.

cookie_365 · 09-09-2011, 14:06

By 'upgrade' do you mean 'update the BIOS' (which didn't work) or 'throw away' (which is the plan) ?