HELP!! Graphics garbled and all over the place

[Chilli]

I killt it duyam!   Sorry, I know that I have either installed a wrong driver or just plain fried my vid card.  This is not due to the new version.  So, don't go blaming HTC, I'm not.  I'm just an idiot that for about two weeks has been troubleshooting everything from bios to spyware to every know driver anywhere.

Although, the game is not playable due to the misplaced graphics (textures in everything from plane to trees appear out of place and in odd angles), it runs smoother than ever.  (Ain't that the kicker).

Machine specs:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/3/2009, 21:21:12
       Machine name: GENESIS
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
       System Model: n/a
               BIOS: Award Medallion BIOS v6.0
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) Processor,  MMX,  3DNow, ~2.0GHz
             Memory: 1024MB RAM
          Page File: 365MB used, 2098MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 6600
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 6600
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00F2&SUBSYS_161619F1&REV_A2
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (16 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: SONY SDM-HS75
  Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.9038 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 7/14/2009 14:54:00, 5842816 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a

Noted that fan and light stay on in suspend mode occurred around the same time as first noticed and a Windows XP update.


Please, I am desperate and not in a position to replace the vid card, especially if something else could be the cause.

Thanks for your help,  I posted here because I had seen another post some time back reporting the same thing and wondering if they had it fixed.

[Jenks]

Dang bud, wish I had something helpful to say........Uh, I don't think your vid card is fried if windows works OK, but maybe your at the limit of that card, as far as the game is concerned? I really don't know, as I have issues playing  the game smoothly myself at the moment.

I have slowly gotten better performance, but still need some adjustments. Alas, the detailed terrain is not for me. Funny how the...undetailed?, terrain reminds me of AHI.

Anyway man, good luck, I'll bet somebody who knows what they are doing will answer and get you up and running quick.

Jenksie

[Scratchman]

Don't know if this will help but you mentioned that this occurred after a Microsoft update. Have you tried rolling back to a previous state prior to this update? I mean have you gone to a previous restore point to undo an unwelcome driver change?

[Chilli]

Thanks Jenks     Usually I can come up with a fix but this time I am licked ( 2 weeks + no Aces High ....  Any AH anonymous groups out there for support?)

Scratchman, thanks yes I did attempt to roll back, system recovery previous date, even use the Recovery discs that come with the computer.  It seems that the Asus AN7266-VX is OEM (whatever that means and for some odd reason the recovery disc say that they don't match the hardware  ...... ) That's about where I lost it and started downloading and replacing everything.  And yes, it does seem that everything else is running smooth.

I forgot to mention that also, around the same time I would fail the Direct3D interface 8 test, but since fixed that with one of my driver updates.

Any suggestions are welcome.  And thanks again Jenks and Scratchman, I will try your advice again, it is so easy to miss steps when replacing drivers and system settings.

[Scratchman]

Thanks Jenks     Usually I can come up with a fix but this time I am licked ( 2 weeks + no Aces High ....  Any AH anonymous groups out there for support?)

Scratchman, thanks yes I did attempt to roll back, system recovery previous date, even use the Recovery discs that come with the computer.  It seems that the Asus AN7266-VX is OEM (whatever that means and for some odd reason the recovery disc say that they don't match the hardware  ...... ) That's about where I lost it and started downloading and replacing everything.  And yes, it does seem that everything else is running smooth.

I forgot to mention that also, around the same time I would fail the Direct3D interface 8 test, but since fixed that with one of my driver updates.

Any suggestions are welcome.  And thanks again Jenks and Scratchman, I will try your advice again, it is so easy to miss steps when replacing drivers and system settings.

2 weeks? OMG this is an emergency. I'll scour around and see what I can come up with. OEM disks are the versions of software that are made for retailers that are usually special versions of an original software. Many retailers like Dell, HP, etc. get special deals like from Microsoft to get these disks in bulk. And as such if you receive an OEM disk from a specific retailer you will have to go through them for any warranty on the software. Usually for a small fee theses retailers will replace these disks if they become bad or corrupted, so this may be an option for you. If you purchased this system from a major retailer you may be able to go to their website look up your make and model of your machine and download your recovery disks from there. However an individual can purchase OEM versions of say like Windows through distributors online for their own personal use. These versions are less expensive than originals, but they come without any manuals. I build my own computers and I purchase OEM versions of Microsoft Windows online from Tiger Direct for my own personal use. Anyway time for me to look and see what I can come up with. Not sure what your financial situation is but another meg of Ram would be very cheap right now. This would help your CPU processor pick up some slack handling the data prior being sent to your video card. Also you can free up any memory being ate up by system resources by using a free utility program called Game Booster. You can get it at www.iobit.com. Anyway take care bud, will see what else I can come up with.

[BaldEagl]

Does this only happen in AH or everywhere?  What about other games?

Did you uninstall old drivers before installing the new ones?  If not the old drivers may have left files behind that are causing this.  You might try uninstalling the drivers, use a driver cleaner, then reinstall them.  An alternative plan would be uninstall the drivers, reinstall the old ones, uninstall them then reinstall the new ones.

Failing video RAM often causes similar issues.  Do you have another computer you can try the card in or another card you can try in this one?

[Chilli]

Seen this before anywhere?  To give you an idea of what I am seeing.



Even worse...... yikes!

[BaldEagl]

Those screen shots are very typical of either heat or failing video memory.  I'm thinking the latter which would make it time to get a new card.

Have you tried re-seating the card?

[Chilli]

Okay, I think that I can rule out temperature..... stays below 70 C.

Is it at all possible that I fubar'd a video memory setting with Riva Tuner?  I am only seeing this problem when running AH2, but then again, I don't do much else other than photoshop, videos, and music with this rig.

Replacing the vid card will take me a few more weeks (just the way it is).

Again thanks for the help
 

[BaldEagl]

Is it at all possible that I fubar'd a video memory setting with Riva Tuner? 

It's not likely unless you used it to totally turn off your fan or did an insane overclock.

[Jenks]

I've seen stuff like that before Chilli.....Bizarro World, Superman comic books.  Not a friendly place...you should not return there.

[Chilli]

Yes, Jenks I am thinking of renaming my rig "DoomsDay" 

At the moment I am experimenting with Ubuntu Live CD just to exhaust all options..... and the rest of my sanity.   

[Chilli]

   GOOD NEWS!!! 

My daughter  took pity on poor old dad and untangled the mess I made with my updates.  Although, she let me suffer just about 4 months..... starring at my Saitek rig collecting dust and the occasional article of clothing. 

Just today, I was able to get both proper graphics AND sound   

I believe the problem occurred somewhere around a mismatch in memory controller driver (not exactly sure, but I was able to recreate the garbled graphics by loading a driver update that included GART and memory controller along with a couple of other drivers).

The fix was a swipe of my hard drive, system re-install and *loaded sound drivers alone without the included GART, memory controllers, etc.

I hope to test it out soon!  Maybe by next tour.

BTW, great going HTC I see some great changes and can't wait to jump back in.  4 months away from AH has been an eternity for me.

[Bruv119]

wtg your daughter chilli.   

Annoying PC problems can be the pits.  If your not very logical like me you'll try 101 things that aren't the problem then try again and then it fixes itself 

cya up   

[fudgums]

Chilli!!!!!!! been worrying about ya.