AMD - Display driver stopped working and has recovered

samaiya · 08 May 2010

I wonder if I can post this here, but I've been having problems with the ATI drivers for my HD Radeon 5770, 1GB, XFX XXX version. I had just recently wiped the computer due to the problems in an effort to locate the issue, reinstalling Win 7 and prior programs, then making a system image and repair disc just before putting two things back on it: MS Office 2007--an update that never seems to update for it I thought was the problem, but it wasn't, and the new ATI drivers (10.2 to 10.4 were messing up my display).

I keep getting the "(AMD) Display driver has stopped working and has recovered", after the monitor getting random flecks of whatever color, then the screen going entirely (insert solid color here) before giving that message. Sometimes it even freezes my computer and I'm forced to reset computer.

On the standard, generic drivers, everything was absolutely fine, but not on any of the ATI ones (even from the installation disc). I can't roll back the drivers to some previous version either.

The catch is that it only really does this when I'm doing anything else (writing an essay, watching youtube, watching House MD/some other video, chatting on AIM, surfing the web, just idle, etc.) other than gaming (Aion, WoW, Spore). It never does this when the game is running. In fact, it's absolutely fine.

Help please? D:

~Samaiya

Night Hawk · 08 May 2010

Having installed 7 fresh on an entirely new build with an MSI Radeon HD 5750 1gb model I never put the software disk in at all but went for the 10.4 right off the bat! There are no bugs with this latest Catalyst.

For simply removing the present version you have on now you simply run the setup all over but choose the uninstall option instead. Besides having drivers and the catalyst on things like Java, Adobe Flash Player, and other things haven't been installed on the fresh copy of Windows you have on now.

samaiya · 09 May 2010

Unfortunately, I've tried that route and still no dice. I had done the 10.4 straight away, got the problems, and then uninstalled and reinstalled using the drivers on the disc.

Further, I had already installed many of the programs I used to use and there had been no problems with generic/standard display drivers. Problems happened after I installed the 10.4. So yes, I do have Adobe and Java and the like.

~Samaiya

Night Hawk · 09 May 2010

Did you see the driver for the monitor go on at all with the MS updates or simply leave everything set to auto? I ran into problems with 10.x Cat.s on the old build here having an older Radeon HD 2xxx series card on that case while no problems at all have been seen with the 10.3 or 10.4 on the new build.

With the catalysts however one person may see a working install right away while others run into problems. On the old build the 9/4 which caused problems for several went right on here without a glitch.

Here I set the refresh rate to 75hz not leaving it at the default 60hz for improving the overall appearance of the display. That could help on a few things there while the freeze ups while watching videos on Youtube or on the AIM messenger may have more to do with something else you have running.

One thing found recently mainly with a few other programs but not excluding the catalysts is the protection programs you have on. If no hardwares are seeing a problem you may want to look over the startup items to see if any of those is having some form of clash with the catalyst.

Another thought of cource would be simply downloading a fresh copy of the 10.4 to see if the first saw a bad install. A fresh download and clean install may be all you would need to clear things up. An incomplete download the first time around would cause bad installs while the only other thing to look into would ne the latest NetFramework 4.

Not having the latest version on has been known to effect the previous catalysts even back on AGP cards going back a few years! The latest version is available at Download details: Microsoft .NET Framework 4 (Web Installer)

One other thing comes to mind besides simply running things without any ATI catalyst/drivers is the option for downloading the latest driver set by itself where you leave out the catalyst entirely. With only the basic drivers installed that will either point to or rule out any software conflicts.

For the 32bit 7 the option for the display driver only is seen when selecting the individual catalyst components option. http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

When clicking on the 64bit 7 link in the catagory you still end up at the same page as you will see when a different sub opens up.

ThePizzaMan · 09 May 2010

hm also what are the temps of your card at load? sometimes that problem is from overheating

Night Hawk · 09 May 2010

Most cards would typically overheat during a gaming session especially when oced rather then when simply sitting idle or only viewing a Youtube clip. Some form of hardware problem still can't be ruled out however like a need to reseat the card after a good cleaning inside the case is seen. Some use pen erasers on the contacts for cards as well as memory.

samaiya · 10 May 2010

Hello,

I did not see any hardware changes, and have already tried downloading the newest drivers repeatedly, and no go. So that has nothing to do with it. Further, considering that my problems do NOT happen at all when I am playing, but when I am idle, I tried this fix from one of the threads on this forum. Windows 7 with Radeon HD 5770 Also, I have never overclocked or tinkered with that setting (I don't know how to), so again, OCing was not the issue, and my problems did not happen when I was gaming--everything was going absolutely fine.

It worked so far; tried it last night. I have not had a single "display has stopped working and has recovered" message, nor has the mouse, then computer froze, forcing a restart.

I'm giving it about a week, and if there are no problems, I consider it solved.

Thank you for your help, though. It's appreciated.

Night Hawk · 10 May 2010

Sometimes a problem will actually disappear after some time originally being caused by something be loaded sideways until that no longer loads or is somehow corrected on it's own. At least you were able to rule out any hardware problems which is a big help.

samaiya · 10 May 2010

Yeah, so far it seems to have been that the clock and mem speeds were too low at idle to sustain itself. They went up during gaming (I checked) and as there were no problems during that time, I figured that fix would work. Haha, before it, I had resorted to leaving a game on to prevent the TDR messages xD

Thanks for the help.

Night Hawk · 10 May 2010

You're Welcome!

I had some fun with the new board on the new build here lately with memory speed! But I will have that all sorted out soon enough with some new memory being ordered. The default stock kept being reversed to the board's slowest speed with the recommended showing faster memory listed as doing the same thing?!

Solution? Buy the same speed but simply lower voltage memory. This is one thing to watch for on the newer Core I7 and Phenom II boards coming out now with the memory recommended not even available yet!