Vista - GeForce 7950 GX2 Problems Loading Drivers

Hi, Can anyone help?

I have been unable to load the latest NVidia drivers, every time I try the system hangs just after the microsoft loading bar, then sits with a black screen after one or two automatic re boots. I have updated the BIOS, all the system drivers etc. It does the same when I try and install the older version drivers, the only ones that load are version 7.14.10.9687 dated 22/08/06 and then only one GPU is shown. XFX, where I bought the card have not been much help.

This is driving me up the wall.

My system is running Vista Ulitimate, 2GB RaM, Intel 2.67 Dual core and a 480w tagan PSU

Thanks in advance to any suggestions

Mark

no offence mate but that card was a dog , everybody had issues with it and the tech support coming out of NVidia for it was shocking , all the new driver releases never contained any fixes for that it , is was just like NV gave up on it , so thats why XFX aint really trying.

you could try a full uninstall of your drivers just to see if it helps

download and install the free version of driver cleaner

Driver Cleaner Professional download from Guru3D.com

uninstall your drivers through control panel when prompted to reboot boot into safemode

run driver cleaner and select "multiple cleaning options"

browse the list and select Nvidia GPU and NVidia control panel (obviously ignore the nvidia chipset entry)

select the "clean" option then wait till its done

reboot then install your drivers , this is ust a suggestion to see if it helps , it may be an issue from old drivers , this will sort that out

if it works try and remember to do this everytime you install new drivers , it helps prevent problems from conflicting reg entries (which are rare but can happen especially when updating to mch newer drivers)

Hi, No offence taken, when I built the machine I never really did any checking on the type of cards available, stupid I know.

Thanks for the advice I will try all you recommend and in the order stated, appreciate your help and I will get back after the weekend.

Hi, well I followed the advice to the letter and the new drivers were loaded, but as ever just after the Microsoft logo the screen went black and that was it, I then tried all the older drivers, following the same advice and each time the screen would go black, the machine is running but only on one GPU with the old Microsoft driver from 2006, I can get both GPU's running but only with the 2006 driver.

I did hold when the blue message screen came up and it stated Stop 0x00000116 with NVLDDMKM.sys - Address 9440CE80 base at 94401000 date stamp 48D14495? whatever the hell that means, also I did get an error message, RunDLL Error loadinf C windows system 32MVCPL.DLL module could not be found.

I appreciate the help and any other suggestions, the card was bloody epxensive so I dont want to chuck it away just yet.

right ive had a dig around and your problem is by no means uncommon , there seems to be drivers that have worked for many (not all) but its worth a shot (sorry if you already tried them

download from Guru3D.com

they are the 32 bit version , the 64 bit ver is on that site too

the error your getting on bluescreen is definately NVidia related and your definately not alone there is a definate issue with that GPU and Vista but as i have mentioned in another post on the same subject NVidia seemed to just give up on trying to fix it , it is actually a pretty good card if you can get it running

Hi, I will give these a go, thanks again for your time, it is appreciated. I will get back to you. Fingers crossed.

Hi, well here we go again.

Disabled all that I could, anti virus etc. Loaded the drivers, but just as the screen changed to a really low resolution, I assume the drivers were being removed, the screen flickered and then went black, then just hung. On re boot I got the same error message, see attached. Booted into safe and both GPU's were shown but with different drivers, one was 8.15.11.8581 dated 28/04/09 and the other was the Microsoft 7.14.10.9687 dated 22/08/06. Rolled back the old microsoft one and then both GPU's were loaded with 1.15.11.8250. Restarted and just after the microsoft logo the machine then stops and that bloody black screen appears. I then had to system restore to get back the old microsoft driver and it is only running on one GPU. Any ideas?

Shall I delete everything related to Nvida, maybe buy a cheap as chips card and really clear out the system by removing the 7950 etc ?

mmmm now i know this sounds silly but im wondering as thats a crossfire board if the issue could be related to that , something to do with a compatibility issue , now technically speaking if SHOULD work fine but as ive never tried it i cant be sure

as for removing all traces of NVidia mate thats what driver cleaner does in safe mode


EDIT...forget that ive just done a bit of googling and it seems they should be fine http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=250185 scroll down to mladenp87 post , it might be worth searching those forums though see if you can come up with anything

Hi, well after much cleaning and removing of all NVida bits, I managed to get the latest drivers loaded but I can only get the PC to boot into safe mode. Under safe mode the latest driver 8.15.11.8581 dated 28/04/09 shows for both GPU's, upon restart the microsoft logo starts, then there is a very slight 'bump' and the bloody black screen appears, the machine then just stops.

I have to system restore to get back to the one GPU running with the 2006 driver.

I am at my wits end, so it looks like i will have to pay just to get some drivers loaded, hey ho.

Thanks for the help anyway, you did your best.

boot into safemode with your drivers installed

hit start then run then type msconfig and hit return

under services (check the "hide all microsoft services" tab first) and startup disable everything relating to nvidia then apply

reboot (see if anything there causing trouble)