Vista - NVidia GeForce Go 7300; Runaround Problem.

Greetings and salivations to one and all.

I am experiencing a Catch 22 problem with the NVidia GeForce Go 7300 Drive that was pre-installed as part of my system. I have experienced a number of problems with this unit, all reported to Microsoft Windows for solution. Their response;

Attachment 7159

I have been through all the recommended troubleshooting steps, without success. NVidia don't want to know because Acer installed it, Acer just don't want to know, and Windows just keep passing the buck. The Device Manager washes its hands on the issue with;

Attachment 7160

So on one hand I'm being advised that I have a problem, and that it has been reported [MS Windows], then the answer is given that there is no solution [MS Windows] but if you'd like to check it out, here are four options [each in turn involving NVidia, Acer and MS Windows]..And oh! By the way, you won't find your solution here, either....because nobody in the list will accept any responsibility to help in any way to resolve the problem......Ya!Ya!Ya!....."Catch 22".

This is what I have;

Attachment 7161
Attachment 7162

I think that this Version is Force Ware Vista 97.55, as it shows up in my System Information as ' system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys(7.15.10.9755, 4.24MB - 18/01/07.

Any suggestions [in simple terms please] most appreciated.

You need to update to DirectX 10.1: Latest DirectX Update

I'm stunned that nVidia doesn't have any new drivers for your card on their site. That's a shame.

What exactly is the problem you're experiencing?

Fumz...How bloody prompt. Thanks Mate, you're a cracker!

Haven't done update as yet, but plaudits in advance of doing so and testing the outcome. Most occurances are while doing heavy editing in Windows Live Photo Gallery with multi-windows open, but at times, also while in Google Earth, again multi-tasking. The web-page partially freezes on the desktop with many blocks, and at times, a plethora of small rectangles and squares, of black screen;


Attachment 7167

Attachment 7168

These are just some examples of the rubbish that has been going on. Annoying, but as yet, no data loss......pate however, is suffering accelerated hirsute loss, and thus enlarging barren patches.

Re; nVidia - at website, they require that you download a detection tool to scan the system for their drivers, and then tell you in the most pleasant manner to re-address the issue to the table of Acer, who then offer no assistance whatsoever. Anyway, past experience with Acer has lead me to believe that they operate with ten maxims for solutions to any Acer problems. These are [in order of priority];

Resolution answer to Problem 1; Do Backup, then restore to Factory defaults.
Resolution answers to Problems 2 to 10 inclusive [and any others]; Ditto, Ditto, Ditto, Ditto, Ditto, etc. You get my drift?

Only question of you, is your link compatible for Vista x86 [32bit]?

Thanks again...you've done my confidence good.

Again Fumz, Been there, done that....ActiveX update installed. Now to sit back and wait for blackouts....Not!
Cheers Mate.

As far as the issue of "nvlddmkm stopped responding", that could be a couple things?

First, it's possibly a bad driver. If this is the case then that's a problem. nVidia did not write your driver, Acer did. It's common practice for OEM's to write their own drivers because they're often the ones who built the hardware. They license technical specs, then cut corners to cut production costs... which is why they're rightly vilified. It's unfortunate there are no updated drivers you could get, but I would first dl and install DX10.1 and see if that clears things up, and if not, re-install the driver. Yes, the link will work for your version of Vista.

Another possibility might be that the laptop is simply getting too hot. Despite the fact they call them laptops, they're not actually designed to go on your lap... or your bed or on anything else soft that might block the vents on the bottom.

Another possibility is that the driver stopped responding because you're placing too great a demand on the system? When you say, "heavy" editing in multiple windows, just how heavy are we talking about? Vista uses ~ 500MB RAM to sustain itself and you only have 1GB. While Vista is very good in terms of memory management, you've still really only got ~500MB to play with before you have to use the page file. The page file is on the hard drive and hard drives are much slower than RAM. That explains the slowdowns and freezes. Don't quote me on this because it isn't an exact portrayal of the process, but when the system has run out of physical RAM and is using a large page file, to the point where the system slows and freezes, it releases other features it deems not necessary... a bit of that might be going on too?

Anyway, let's see how DX10.1 treats you while I go search for a tool to benchmark that card of yours?

Only place I know of to get updated Nvidia laptop drivers,

NVIDIA & Laptop News | Latest NVIDIA drivers and related news | laptopvideo2go.com

Might be a good idea to have a poke around on their forums and see which driver others are getting the best results with.

And yes the early Nvidia Vista video drivers sucked; experienced it first hand when Vista came out and I had a 7600 GT. Only difference in my case was instead of getting the "driver has stopped responding" warning, I got a lovely BSOD referencing the Nv driver. Dual booted with XP for about 4 months till Nv got the drivers sorted (started improving around the time of the 145.xx drivers)

Almost, but not quite. Nvidia is the only one that writes the drivers, it is up to the OEM's whether to use them or not. All the OEM's do with the drivers is possibly change it so their name shows up in the control panel and add the required DevID's if not already present.

That's an awefully thin hair you've just split... I'm impressed at the sharpness of your blade.

I'll cede that OEM's change drivers. I would argue that they do more than just include their name, but that's another thread. However, if the drivers gotten from the OEM's website are different from the same drivers gotten from nVidia, then, effectively, the OEM's have written their own drivers.

... and at least in this case, you cannot get this card's drivers from nvidia.com.

Well G'day Stormy13 and Fumz, [an ideal Broker's partnership name for current NYSE!]

Thanks to both of you in your quick replies, and to me, invaluable tips and advice.

Fumz first; Overheating. I live in the tropics where heat and humitity, and also small creepy-crawlies are are constant worry [trashed a DVD player because a cockroach 'peed' and shorted out a board]. I have my Laptop [only used on a table] propped up 40mm at the rear to create a good air-flow, and all air-vents get a weekly clean with vacuum, so no problem there, with ceiling fans and open windows generating enough air movement to cool the Laptop, and me.

RAM Usage. I intend installing [well a Tech will], an external hard drive, a Maxtor One Touch 500GB, which will have Acronis True Image 11 Home installed on that.
I want to use this as a 'Work Station' to download all Music, Photo, Video, Genealogy, and some valuable Document Files and Folders, and all associated software, ie. iTunes, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Adobe Photoshop, Family Tree Maker [huge] etc. and basically have this as a stand-alone system if it can be done. I hope to take some of the strain off the Laptop RAM by doing this. What thoughts you? Sound or insane? Pitfalls.

ActiveX 10. Downloaded the updated version and system appears to be behaving with better stability. In case you're wondering, full Windows Live OneCare Tune-ups and Back-up to a WD1200 External HD is done fortnightly, and all MS and WLOC updates are installed within hours of posting. The system is clean, clean, clean. Regardless, I have taken up Stormy's advice and went a'huntin. Follows.......


Stormy13 second; nVidia Driver. In reading above, you will see that I want to give the ActiveX 10 a good run for its money. However, thanks to you, I am now prepared for all contingencies as in your recommended 'poking place', I discovered the cornucopia wherein lie myriad nVidia Drivers, including the GeForce Go 7300. That, and all of the Tutorials and Installation Guides, are now firmly established in my Links. A great resource. If the ActiveX 10 fails at any stage, I'm prepared.

Conclusion; Thank-you both for being so patient with a silly old fart, in giving such invaluable [to me..and maybe others] advice and comment on this now no longer, problem. Any further comment on my intentions will be appreciated and heeded.

Thanks Mates!

While more hard drive space is always a good thing, it's not going to get your past the RAM/page file issue you're experiencing; only more physical RAM will accomplish that. If you can, fill the machine up with as much as it will take. The benefits will be readily apparent... and you will smile. There are never pitfalls to more RAM and more hard drive space... so hit that "buy" tab with your mind at ease. The only thing I would suggest is a 1TB drive. I get the sense you'll make good use of it?

Stormy13 certainly did drop an invaluable link (thanks for that btw, it'll come in handy). While I am reluctant to suggest Beta drivers, if you can get those 179.13's they have linked to run on your system, I think that'll pretty much clear up your issues?

G'Day Fumz,

While more hard drive space is always a good thing, it's not going to get your past the RAM/page file issue you're experiencing; only more physical RAM will accomplish that. If you can, fill the machine up with as much as it will take. The benefits will be readily apparent... and you will smile. There are never pitfalls to more RAM and more hard drive space... so hit that "buy" tab with your mind at ease.

This issue seems to have morphed into the two subjects of Graphics and RAM, but I now have a clearer understanding of the close relationship between the two.

I have been advised that my Laptop and system can cope with up to 3GB RAM maximum. A local small computer retailer with a huge reputation, offers a service where their techs will install the components, and test run and verify a successful installation in-situ, 'while-U-wait'. For $Aus150.00, they will set up my system with 1x1GB and 1x2GB DDR2 cards. Sound OK?

The only thing I would suggest is a 1TB drive. I get the sense you'll make good use of it?

The Maxtor 500GB External HD is standing by awaiting installation. We'll see how that goes.

Stormy13 certainly did drop an invaluable link (thanks for that btw, it'll come in handy). While I am reluctant to suggest Beta drivers, if you can get those 179.13's they have linked to run on your system, I think that'll pretty much clear up your issues?

I was considering uninstalling the current nVidia GeForce Go 7300 Driver from my system, then reinstalling the same Driver version [97.55] from Stormy13's suggested site of laptopvideo2go.com . Are you here suggesting that I disregard that one, and go for the upgraded and later Driver version of 179.13, from the same source? It does make sense and I have already confirmed the link with my current version.

Thanks for your help. In the meantime, can you suggest a thread[s] to search for more reading in this Forum, on RAM and External HD. Thanks Mate.