WHQL and the current state of display drivers

[Guest]

Hello!

What does WHQL stand for? As far as I know, it means that the device and the
related device driver work properly in order to provide customers high
quality of service.

I have Asrock 4CoreDual-VSTA motherboard with VIA PT880 Ultra chipset and
nVidia Geforce 6600 GT AGP display adapter.

Games ran poorly with the drivers provided with Vista installation, so I
decided to upgrade them. I got the latest WHQL-sertified drivers from nVidia
and... the problems started.

When an application "turns off" Aero (like when you press ctrl + alt + del,
or that UAC window appears for user input for example), the screen gets
corrupted and unreadable. If you turn Aero off completely, you can stop even
dreaming of using Windows Vista. Games run smoothly thou.

This problem is, as far as I know, affecting everyone with the similar
hardware: VIA PT880 Ultra chipset and nVidia AGP displayadapter and nothing
seems to help solving this issue. Every nVidia driver after the 97.46 version
is affected by this and has been so for several months.

I'm now in the situation where I have to install new drivers if I want to
play a game and uninstall them if I want to use Vista properly. nVidia seems
to be completely ignorant about the situation, you get some response from
VIA, but they say that the bug is in displaydrivers. Asrock suggest people to
use nVidia 97.19 drivers.

I'm getting so frustrated now. There is nothing I can do. I get no response
from nVidia what so ever and the situation to others with the same problem
have not gotten any better luck.

Why are those drivers WHQL-sertified when they don't work?

 

[Barb Bowman]

I don't think exhaustive testing is done. WHQL seems to test that
the driver loads and the machine boots.

What does WHQL stand for? As far as I know, it means that the device and the
related device driver work properly in order to provide customers high
quality of service.

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, IRFrustrated.

I'll let Barb handle the hard part of your question. ;^}

WHQL stands for Windows Hardware Quality Labs.

You probably knew that, but some lurking newbies might not.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta in Vista Ultimate x64)

 

[Guest]

Frustrated,

If you have also installed the proper motherboard chipset drivers, and the
latest graphics drivers are the source of your problem, I'd say go along with
Asrock's suggestion to use nVidia 97.19 drivers. These issues are sometimes
an enigma wrapped within a mystery. Variables in these type issues preclude
easy solutions to hard questions.

 

[Guest]

Agreed.

I had similar issues with a Creative Labs XFi extreme audio sound card which
is listed as vista certified on the logo program website.

I sent through the following via the HCL website feedback:

Quote from the 16/02/2007 driver on www.creative.com: "Provides basic audio
support and control options for sampling rate and speakers only".

I don't understand how this card provides "the best experience with
software, photos, music, videos and communications" as stated in the logo it
has received.

The response instructed me to send "driver related mail" to
(e-mail address removed) so I didn't bother...

Anyone else have a similar vista experience?

 

[Michael Solomon]

Agreed.

I had similar issues with a Creative Labs XFi extreme audio sound card
which
is listed as vista certified on the logo program website.

I sent through the following via the HCL website feedback:

Quote from the 16/02/2007 driver on www.creative.com: "Provides basic
audio
support and control options for sampling rate and speakers only".

I don't understand how this card provides "the best experience with
software, photos, music, videos and communications" as stated in the logo
it
has received.

The response instructed me to send "driver related mail" to
(e-mail address removed) so I didn't bother...

Anyone else have a similar vista experience?

Why are those drivers WHQL-sertified when they don't work?
When Vista released, for the most part, Creative only had basic drivers
ready for most of its cards. When that's the case, for any hardware unless
they specifically state, this is all they are going to provide, you need to
keep checking back.

A quick check of the creative site shows drivers dated, July 20, 2007. The
drivers you mentioned are dated back in February, 2007.

Something else, of which you should be aware, drivers change frequently,
especially when a new OS is released as the manufacturer's continue the
development process; you need to keep checking manufacturer websites for
newer drivers when a situation such as you have described, arises.

 

[JW]

The logo program only confirms that the driver for the product and that the
product will install and load properly in Vista IAW with Vista hardware
product requirements.. The logo program does not test the functionality
and/or the performance of the product to see if it does what the
manufacturer claims.

 

[Guest]

Michael,

I realize that there are more recent drivers. I bought the Creative card in
February when I couldn't find any decent drivers for my onboard sound.

I specifically bought the Creative card based on the vista logo and when I
found out that it didn't really work properly either it felt like I was
ripped off.

I threw out the Creative card and replaced my motherboard. My new onboard
sound works perfectly.

All I'm saying is that my experience wasn't exactly "WOW".

 

[Guest]

JW,

Thanks of the reply but if what you are saying is a fact then there is a
load of misleading information on the topic and I question the value in the
logo program.

Whats the point of having a logo that doesn't mean anything?

Check out this site for the official Logo Program FAQ:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winlogo/VistaLogofaq.mspx

Here it states:

"...The Windows logo helps customers to identify systems and peripherals
that meet a comprehensive definition of platform features and quality goals
to ensure a great computing experience..."

The logo program only confirms that the driver for the product and that the
product will install and load properly in Vista IAW with Vista hardware
product requirements.. The logo program does not test the functionality
and/or the performance of the product to see if it does what the
manufacturer claims.

 

[JW]

I should have been a little clearer and said that the certified logo program
only tests the product and features required for the product by Microsoft
and does not check any additional features or performance benefits
advertised by the card vendor.

JW,

Thanks of the reply but if what you are saying is a fact then there is a
load of misleading information on the topic and I question the value in
the
logo program.

Whats the point of having a logo that doesn't mean anything?

Check out this site for the official Logo Program FAQ:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winlogo/VistaLogofaq.mspx

Here it states:

"...The Windows logo helps customers to identify systems and peripherals
that meet a comprehensive definition of platform features and quality
goals
to ensure a great computing experience..."