Copying video drivers from one HD to another

[MJX]

On my main SSD HD (Win 7) my new ATI drivers failed to install and subsequently I get the BSOD when it tries to boot windows. I've tried using the Win 7 DVD to repair it and tried to Safe Boot but both options have failed. But I've installed Win 7 on another drive I had kicking around and was able to successfully install the same ATI drivers.

Now is there a way I can just copy over the good drivers over onto the original drive, thereby (hopefully) fixing the problem?

 

[DeaconFrost]

I would probably be checking out the SSD for an issue. Video drivers wouldn't cause a system to be messed up so much that it wouldn't boot after a repair. If you are able to do a clean install on the SSD, load the same version of the drivers you had success with. This is assuming your SSD passes any hardware tests you throw at it.

 

[MJX]

I would probably be checking out the SSD for an issue. Video drivers wouldn't cause a system to be messed up so much that it wouldn't boot after a repair. If you are able to do a clean install on the SSD, load the same version of the drivers you had success with. This is assuming your SSD passes any hardware tests you throw at it.

I've run hardware tests on it and it comes out a-ok. When I ran the disc repair off the CD it said it couldn't repair it, mentioning something about a bad driver. I'm all but certain it's a Catalyst driver problem as it didn't seem to install properly.

I was hoping it was possible to copy over a working driver to see if it would help (it can't hurt at this point) before going through all the bother of a full reinstall and then another day to get all the software loaded up again.

 

[DeaconFrost]

If the repair wasn't working, you should be eager to do a fresh install. They don't take that long now anyway. 15 minutes for the OS, and then an hour or two to finish your drivers and software (assuming you are organized).

If a driver was preventing the OS from being repaired, that would be all I'd need to know, in terms of doing a fresh install.

 

[Dzomlija]

You said you've tried booting into Safe Mode?

Have you tried booting into VGA Mode? This esssntially boots normally, but forces the system to use the Standard VGA driver instead, thus giving you an opportunity to uninstall the old drivers and try again...

 

[MJX]

You said you've tried booting into Safe Mode?

Have you tried booting into VGA Mode? This esssntially boots normally, but forces the system to use the Standard VGA driver instead, thus giving you an opportunity to uninstall the old drivers and try again...

Unfortunately I couldn't get the Safe Boot menu to load up at all. The Asus mobo would load up a menu of boot devices when you hit F8 (or F5). And I've tried every permeation of hitting F8/F5 after selecting the boot drive to get that menu, but no go (even Asus tech support couldn't help). It was suggested the SSD drive might be too fast which is why I couldn't time it right (even simultaneous hitting of the keys).

So I've broken down and started formating/reloading... Bah.

 

[Dzomlija]

You said you've tried booting into Safe Mode?

Have you tried booting into VGA Mode? This esssntially boots normally, but forces the system to use the Standard VGA driver instead, thus giving you an opportunity to uninstall the old drivers and try again...

Unfortunately I couldn't get the Safe Boot menu to load up at all. The Asus mobo would load up a menu of boot devices when you hit F8 (or F5). And I've tried every permeation of hitting F8/F5 after selecting the boot drive to get that menu, but no go (even Asus tech support couldn't help). It was suggested the SSD drive might be too fast which is why I couldn't time it right (even simultaneous hitting of the keys).

So I've broken down and started formating/reloading... Bah.

I can understand why you're mad. I positively HATE formatting and reloading to solve a problem, because I do nothing but deny myself the opportunity to learn how to fix and avoid problems...

But as for the <F8> key starting the ASUS Motherboard boot menu, what I usually do with that is a bit of reflexive keypressing. When I get the boot menu up, I prepare by selecting the desired boot device, getting my right hand on the <ENTER> key, my left on the <F8>, and just about rely on pure relex to hit the <F8> key a split second after hitting <ENTER>

It works most of the time, but I've never tried with an SSD boot device, so maybe even reflex will not be enough...