ATI Driver issue -> Windows Update vs ATI Download  

Hi

Installed Win7x32 on an old P4 machine with an Radeon 9800Pro graphics card. When installing windows the auto install detects and installs the relevant device drivers.

All works good with the auto install driver.

When downloading the latest applicable ATI driver from their website the system runs but the display is crashed.

The system appears to be working but the screen appears multicoloured horizontal coloured stripes making visuals undetectable (Almost like the old colour bars when a Spectrum would be loading software). It almost looks like the graphics card is faulty. On reboot the dos bios screens are fine, then half way through the windows logo (agp440 phase of boot) the system resets.

Unfortunately after the ATI driver is installed I cant access the system even in safe mode (see the agp440 command line crash).

On reinstalling w7 and averting the ati driver install just letting windows do it on its own its fine.

Obviously I dont need the latest ati website driver but I am concerned that windows update will eventually update the driver with the full driver rather than compnent drivers.

Any others had issues with this in the past and suggestions welcome.

How can I ensure the ati driver only gets the basic update as its not my pc and I dont want the user to experience the issue with the driver install.

Are there known issues with the newer ATI drivers with older P4 systems please?

Thanks as usual




M

addum

Just read the following thread Should I trust Intel's Driver Update utility or Windows Update?

Guessing the windows download files are digitally signed so want to stick with those guessing answered this myself? Curious why the screen crash with the newer driver from ati website, motherboard and so forth maybe?

Generally, the drivers from the vendor, such as AMD/ATI are the latest ones and usually work best. The drivers from Windows update are usually a couple of versions behind due to Microsoft's validation procedure (I've seen the "latest" from Windows update in one case to be over a year old and have problems that were fixed in later versions by the vendor).

There are driver versions that cause certain problems, in certain configurations.

Many updates, however, are to fix specific problems and many game related.

But, because its validated by Microsoft does not mean its a better driver.

The latest driver from ATI/AMD may be not be the best one for your card especially If your card happens to be in the "legacy" status (no longer actively supported by the manufacturer).

The Radeon 9800 Pro AGP, a powerhouse of a card in its time, has been in the legacy phase for quite a while now.

It may infact cause trouble and the issues you mentioned in your OP is symptomatic of that trouble.

In such a case, the best drivers would actually be the ones that have been validated and tested by Microsoft for your aging card.

solarmystic said:

The latest driver from ATI/AMD may be not be the best one for your card especially If your card happens to be in the "legacy" status (no longer actively supported by the manufacturer).

The Radeon 9800 Pro AGP, a powerhouse of a card in its time, has been in the legacy phase for quite a while now.

It may infact cause trouble and the issues you mentioned in your OP is symptomatic of that trouble.

In such a case, the best drivers would actually be the ones that have been validated and tested by Microsoft for your aging card.

Yes I agree and have decided on that as a conclusion as it's working. If it was a modern card for gaming or heavy graphic architecture work I would use the latest. This is after all a 6-7 year old pc system for internet and basic work.

Thanks for the reassurance.

M