dual ATI video card driver update

[Tim Henry]

my computer has a ATI AIW 8500DV as the primary display and a ATI
Radeon 7000 PCI as the secondary disply adapter. When I install the
latest catalyst drivers from ATI I was wondering when I do this update
do the drivers for both cards get updated at the same time? Or is
there a way to do this seperately? Thx. TJ

 

[patrickp]

my computer has a ATI AIW 8500DV as the primary display and a ATI
Radeon 7000 PCI as the secondary disply adapter. When I install the
latest catalyst drivers from ATI I was wondering when I do this update
do the drivers for both cards get updated at the same time? Or is
there a way to do this seperately? Thx. TJ

Just a thought, Tim - I don't know whether this will work, but run each
driver setup only as far the the unpacking stage (you may have to do the
complete operation one after the other, as one unpack may overwrite the
other). Note where the drivers unpack to (usually the ATI folder on your C:
drive). Then exit the install. Now go to the relevant Display Adapter
properties in Device Manager, or the Adapter tab in the Advanced section of
Settings in Display Properties (I prefer the latter when sometimes having to
do this for single card installs), start the Update Device Driver wizard,
and go through it, selecting Display a list... rather than Search for a
better driver... When you get to the list, click Have Disk, then Browse,
and navigate to the folder the install unpacked the driver to. There you
will see subfolders with names that relate to OSs: open the one relevant to
your OS and the wizard should find an .inf file. Now just follow the
prompts, and that should install the driver on that adapter only. Then you
can repeat the process for the other one.

I don't know if this will work, or what effect it may have on your system.
But it is a valid (and recommended by ATi) method of installation when you
have problems with the regular driver install, and it occurs to me that it
should be possible to use it to install two display adapters separately.

HTH patrickp

 

[Tim Henry]

Thanks Pat,

That did the trick. Both cards are updated now to the current
drivers. btw, is it safe to delete those folders I unpaced the
drivers too?

Thanks,

Tim

 

[patrickp]

Thanks Pat,

That did the trick. Both cards are updated now to the current
drivers. btw, is it safe to delete those folders I unpaced the
drivers too?

Thanks,

Tim

Great stuff, Tim; I have to say that was a pure guess on my part, but I'm
glad it worked for you.

Yes, it's quite safe to delete those folders, but you may wish to keep them,
as the repair option in the uninstall routine uses them, I believe. I never
delete mine until I uninstall and change drivers.

Incidentally, I sometimes see other people posting here with similar
problems in installing two cards. That idea just hit me when I saw your
post, but if you want to give something back to the group, you could keep an
eye out for them and pass this method on. ;-)

patrickp