Hi Ross,
Yes, I think its most likely the Video card and not the BIOS.
Updating video card drivers can solve most gaming issues. Here's some
simple abc's to always keep in mind. a. Shut off download accelerators,
firewalls and antivirus programs when downloading or installing updates;
b. Check for game patches:
www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a
c. Make sure you meet the game's minimum video and system requirements.
Before you update your drivers, I recommend that you update DirectX from:
www.microsoft.com/directx
Here are the steps I recommend you use to update your driver:
1. To identify the make and model of your card, right click your
Desktop, choose Properties / Settings / Advanced / Adapter.
2. Download the latest video driver for your card online, using
http://www3.sympatico.ca/nibblesnbits/Video.html#drivers
to find the website to download from. I also have advanced
video driver and direct X troubleshooting steps on that page.
3. Save the .exe driver (or extract the zip file) to a folder
in My Documents named after the driver version number.
4. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.
5. Click Start / (settings) Control Panel / System / Hardware
Device Manager / expand +Display Adapters / right click on
the adapter, pick "Uninstall", and click No if asked to reboot.
6. Use Control Panel / Add-Remove programs to uninstall the
previous driver (exe)software which may have been installed.
7. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.
8. If the driver is NOT a (.exe)program file, GO TO step 11.
9. When Windows prompts you to install the video adapter, click
"Cancel" and Double click the driver program to begin installation.
* Even if not prompted, doubleclick the driver and install it.
10. After you reboot, go to Control Panel / Display / Settings and
choose 32 bit Color Quality, and 800x600 or higher Resolution.
That's it! Scroll down to the Troubleshooter if you have problems.
11. When Windows prompts you to install the video adapter, click
"Install from a list or specific location", click the "Browse" button,
browse to the My documents folder where you saved the driver,
and finally click on one of the driver files to begin installation.
** If you are not prompted, or if the driver was updated automatically:
Click Start / (settings) Control Panel / System / Hardware Device Manager
expand +Display Adapters / right click on the adapter, pick "Update Driver"
to start the Update Wizard, choose the "Install from a list..." option:
Browse to My Documents\ folder with the driver in it
Click OK and click Next to begin the update.
12. After you reboot, go to Control Panel / Display / Settings and
choose 32 bit Color Quality, and 800x600 or higher Resolution.
That's it! Try the advice in the Troubleshooter if you have problems.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
Test your drivers using DXDiag: Click Start / Run / type: DXDIAG
Click the "Test" buttons in the Display, Sound, Music & Network Tabs;
If any of the Display options are Disabled and you cannot Enable them,
your most likely solution would be to update your Chipset Drivers as per
my website:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/nibblesnbits/Video.html#v11
Your program might not support dual monitors, or "dual head" video cards
You can disable the extra video output in your display properties control
panel. Click Start>Settings>Control Panel>Display>Settings>Advanced.
Along with your Video card, Sound Cards, Motherboard Chipsets,
and Video Monitors may also require updated drivers. Even your
motherboard's BIOS may need to be updated for compatibility with
your Video card. These steps are listed at:
http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
Perhaps the old Video drivers did not completely uninstall. If that's the
case, use these utility to completely uninstall the drivers and go to step
7:
nvidia:
http://content.guru3d.com/index.php?page=detonatorrip&menu=0
or for all cards including nvidia use:
http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/
The latest video drivers sometime don't work with a particular game.
(Check the Video suggestions in the readme.txt file in your game folder/CD)
If there's no suggestions, try an older (WHQL) driver, and/or if you still
experience problems try a Beta driver, or even an Omega driver instead:
BETA Drivers:
http://download.guru3d.com/
OMEGA Drivers:
http://www.omegacorner.com/
There you have it, if you have any questions feel free to post them!
--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
Game FAQs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
Contact
MS Support at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________
| Hello,
| Thanks for the help in advance. I just bought a new PC DELL P4 2800
| with ATI Radeon 9000 Low profile XP Windows Media Edition. Works fine
| except when I run any games containing 3D mode. For example EA Soccer
| 2003 works OK until I'm starting the game in 3d mode - the games just
| shuts down. Same story for other few games. I tried to run games on my
| laptop with win2000 - works fine.
| Can someone give me advice what is the best, safe way to resolve this
| problem. I saw some advisees to change the BIOS to set the ram bus to
| run synchronously, but I'm afraid to touch it plus the info was
| provided in 2001 and I'm not sure it applies to the latest patches of
| XP. I'm not very advanced in computers and therefore very hesitant to
| do such things. Could that be that problem related to my video card?
| This is my kid's PC and if I don't fix the problem soon - I'm in
| trouble
|
| Thanks,
| Ross
