nvidia driver headaches

[Guest]

I have a GeForce 3 Ti 200, and I'm trying desperately to
update my drivers for this thing (some of my newer games
are crashing on me). Right now I'm running driver version
44.03. Every time I try to update the drivers to a more
recent version -- ANY more recent version, and my computer
locks up. But it locks up in different ways.

Example: I tried to install the 55.03 drivers, and
everything goes fine. The install runs all the way
through, and I restart my computer at the end. Windows
freezes on the Windows XP Cylon logo screen. Power on/off
leads to the "safe mode" prompt (trying to start windows
in "normal mode" leads to the freeze up again). Then I
roll back the drivers or do a system restore, and I'm back
to square one.

When installing 52.16, I don't even make it through the
install. About 3/4 of the way through the install, the
screen goes black and I get a flashing cursor in the upper
left of my screen. After a half hour or so I realize the
computer isn't coming back, and I reboot/safe mode/roll
back all over again.

I run into similar problems with 45.33 also.

I've tried everything I know how to do. I've turned off
my antivirus and firewall. I've uninstalled the previous
drivers, I've uninstalled directx. Nothing seems to
work. Does anyone out there have a clue what is going on
with my machine, or is it time to buy a radeon?

Specs: XP Home/AthlonXP1800/AsusA7V266-E/512MB RAM/120GB
HD/Audigy Gamer

 

[Lance]

I had a similar problem and downloaded 53.03 off of
Nvidia's website and it fixed the problem. You can
download the driver here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_53.03

Good Luck,

Lance

 

[Guest]

Sorry -- I typed 55.03 when I meant 53.03.

The 53.03 drivers cause Windows to freeze.

 

[sgopus]

I've heard of this with w2k, I suggest using older drivers
as the new ones crash the system.

 

[VIDOCA]

I would like to investigate what break(s) with 53.03 are
causing your system to hang. Please boot into VGA mode
by hitting F8 just before the Windows Logo appears. Go
to the folder c:\windows\minidump. Send the minidumps
contained there to (e-mail address removed). I will analyze
the dumps and return with an answer on how to fix the
problem or request additional information to pass on to
Nvidia. If you have any question/comments e-mail or
reply to this thread.

Thanks,

VIDOCA
Microsoft Video Driver Online Crash Analysis Team

 

[Guest]

Thank you so much for responding. Unfortunately, I cannot
send you anything because when I boot up in VGA mode
Windows hangs just like it does when booting up in normal
mode.

 

[Kevin]

I have found that unless you find drivers with the specific instructions
that they are 100% Windows XP compatible you will almost invariably run into
problems. My card is even older than the Ti200 you are running and it
handles games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and Halo just fine. I run those
games at 1280 x 1024 resolution with all detail options enabled. I had two
bad experiences with trying to update drivers for my Nvidia card, one so bad
I had to reformat my hard drive on the spot, that I have not updated the
drivers in over two years. Good luck!