Tech: Graphic Driver?

Subject: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 04:52 AM

I am running XP on my Dell and having put a program on that is heavily into graphics I get the message "cannot generate a window" when I click start.

Having looked into it the answer appears to be to update the graphics driver on my machine.

I duly went to the Nvidia site to upgrade only to find that they decided recently to change the names of their drivers and nowhere can I find anything that will tell me what what my current driver has been called.

Apparently they are now called GeForce but there are so many different ones, HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT ONE TO REPLACE AND UPGRADE THE ONE I'VE GOT.

My current one is Nvidia Riva TNT Model 64/Model 64 Pro

Does anyone know which GeForce driver I should be looking for as an upgrade. Would appreciate any help.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 05:31 AM

Start|Settings|Control Panel
double-click on System, click the Hardware tab, click the Device Manager button.

Look in Display Adapters to see what card WinXP has "found" on your machine.

With PlugNPlay, WinXP should be able to identify the graphics card fairly specifically, and should install a driver that's at least "generic compatible." If the card is obsolete, WinXP should have picked a functional "alternate ID" and there's a good chance that an updated driver for the one the Device Manager selected will get you into the right area at Nvidia.

The last time I looked, Nvidia had a button in their support/downloads area to allow looking up "obsolete cards." It's been quite a while since I blew a card and had to go there though, and I don't recall exactly where I found it.

Be aware that some "graphics intensive" programs (especially games) may attempt to install their own "super-drivers" that don't always mesh with the hardware. (Based mostly on rumors, as I'm not much of a "gamer.") Installing one of these programs may have corrupted or replaced your normal driver. Deleting the driver and rebooting will let WinXP restore what it thinks is a good one, if that becomes necessary; but if you don't have the .CAB files still on the machine you may be asked for an installation disk.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 05:54 AM

Have you tried the "option 2" on this page? It will try to suggest a driver for you.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 06:48 AM

Option 1 at that page, if you choose Product Type "Legacy" does show an entry for "TNT." You'd have to read the Release Notes and Installation details to figure out what they've substituted for the original drivers for your particular card.

They quite probably have rolled updates for whole bunches of older cards into single drivers that may have slightly (or greatly) different names than any of the originals. The Release Notes should tell you what cards each available driver will work with.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 06:56 AM

They quite probably have rolled updates for whole bunches of older cards into single drivers

Quite possibly, John. I've no idea what the situation with Win is but on Linux, if I want to use their (proprietary) drivers (which I do where I want 3d acceleration), I think I only have 2 (legacy and current) drivers to consider.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 07:09 AM

Thanks all for the advice, I found the equivalant update, unfortunately when I tried to replace it apparently it is not compatible with my hardware so I reckon I'll just have to stay as I am. Grrr.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 08:55 PM

As alluded to above, the heaviest users of "intensive graphics" programs, in the sense used by the "with-it" generation probably is by "gamers." Some prowling at sites devoted to such uses might find advice, and/or "custom" drivers that you could try.

If your graphics program is a "mainstream" application (old codger definition: does useful work), the program maker might have advice.

Fairly decent graphics cards are not extremely expensive, although the exotic ones can run to the price of a new computer. Some analysis of just what's causing the roadblock would be merited before shelling out for a new card though.

Some older computers used "shared RAM" for graphics, so adding RAM could be considered, if your computer isn't bountiously supplied; although a newer graphics card with its own built-in memory likely would be more efficient. Running WinXP for anything, my personal opinion is that you need at least 1GB of RAM to be a happy camper (2GB minimum for Vista) so that might be worth thinking about aside from the graphics problem - if applicable.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 10:43 PM

An option to try:

START-> Right-click on MY COMPUTER-> Left-click on Properties

Will bring up the System Properties App.

Click on the Hardware tab.

Then click on the Device Manager button.

Click on the little + sign beside Display Adapters.

That should show which display adapter you are using. (perhaps it just says Plug & Play)

Right-click on the display adapter and select (left-click)Update Driver (while you are connected online).

Windows will do a search through an online database to see if there is an updated driver available and will go ahead and download it and install it if you want.

*NOTE* This is only if you can't find a driver/software update through your own search on the manufacturer's website. That would be preferable to make sure you do have the latest driver. The "Update Driver" feature in Device Manager can sometimes load an older driver if the MicroSoft database it searches doesn't list a recent driver. For instance, if you are using a later driver than the one MicroSoft has cleared for use, all it will see is that the driver version it has is different and will try and load its perhaps-earlier one.

It's an option, but I always prefer a more manual controlled install of thing so that I know what is going on and can make an informed decision.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 04:32 AM

Thanks Cluin, I'll try that.

JinK, I was wondering about ram and thinking it might be worth increasing so I think I will go ahead and do it anyway.

Hopefully I'll get there shortly.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 05:46 AM

Just looked your card up on Wikipedia. It seems to have been introduced in 1998. If the PC is that old, I do wonder whether you'd want to spend money upgrading it. Your memory will be out of date too and if/when you find it will probably cost a lot per Mb. Any current entry level machine would be a considerable upgrade.

Perhaps the cheapest easy route is to buy a barebones system, eg. (here and put you existing drives in it but you might want to have a new harddisk or get a full system, etc.

Or of course you might not want to at all and/or your existing PC might be newer than I'm guessing it is.

Perhaps some food for thought for you though.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:00 AM

Thanks Jon, what a terrific site, I am definitely going for one of them instead of upgrading mine.

Hopefully this will solve all my problems, thanks again.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:21 AM

Good luck willbyhillbilly. One thing I should have noted re the barebones systems (and motherboards). Some have onbaord graphics others don't so a graphics card may be needed - you need to check.

Subject: RE: Tech: Graphic Driver?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:43 AM

Oh and one other thought. They do ask you use antistatic protection when you are building. I can't find one on their site but I know Rapid Electronics for example do the wrist bands if you haven't got one and can't find one locally.