Gigabyte GeForce FX5500 - driver problem

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

Hi!
Few days ago, I've decided to try Windows 7 RTM, on my computer (like Longhorn 4074 before). Somehow, I've managed to get Internet Connection Sharing working, and my SpeedTouch USB modem, but I have a problem with GeForce FX5500.

When using XP drivers, everything is fine, except of Aero, System rating and software, which require access to my graphics card (bluescreen with WMP12, some computer games etc.)

I've decided to use Vista drivers, but... System booted. But, instead of logon screen, I've seen something like signal noise on my television (but motionless and colorful). After few seconds, monitor turned off itself.

Using Safe Mode, I've uninstalled Vista drivers, and tried those from Windows Update. Installation was succesful, I've rebooted my computer and... Screen looks like with Vista Drivers, but half of screen was black.

So. I'm looking for Windows 7 compatible drivers. Of course, they must work with my graphics card, so I could test every feature and write review for my WordPress Blog.

Move this thread If it would fit better to some other category.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Hi there,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but from what I can tell by researching this, no one has had any success getting Windows 7 to play nice with a GeForce FX 5500 :/ I hope these links save you the time and frustration of discovering that on your own! Let me know if you'd like some recommendations on video cards that are fully compatible with Windows 7.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

I have insufficient money to buy new video card.

So. I will stay with XP, and when support for this OS will be over, I will move to Linux. I don't think, that I will replace this computer with new one soon.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Hi again,

Sounds like you're aware but just in case - this is from a Microsoft Team bulletin:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 will no longer be supported as of July 13, 2010. Many customers are still on this version, so we encourage upgrading to Service Pack 3 or to Windows 7 as soon as possible.

If you decide not to continue using Windows, we'll be sorry to see you go :/ but if you ever change your mind, let me know and I'll be happy to help you find an affordable machine with Windows 7.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

Windows XP Service Pack 2 will no longer be supported as of July 13, 2010. Many customers are still on this version, so we encourage upgrading to Service Pack 3 or to Windows 7 as soon as possible.

If you decide not to continue using Windows, we'll be sorry to see you go :/ but if you ever change your mind, let me know and I'll be happy to help you find an affordable machine with Windows 7.

I'm aware of that. I would upgrade to Service Pack 3, but because of my brother (second user of this computer)... Few months ago, before SP3 was publicly released, I've installed beta of it on my computer. It made computer completely unaccessible. But - It was beta. And this is what my brother can't understand. In theory - It's my computer. But - he is older. And unfortunately - more stupid. If I would upgrade without his knowledge, he will... Uch. I don't know how to write in English - "zrobi awanturę na cąłą chałupę, jak zwykle zresztą". Nevermind. Important thing about it is - I will have a problem.

We were trying Linux for some time... but we've changed OS to quickly, without any preparation, so we had to move back to Windows. Now - I could adapt without any problems. I'm using Windows only because my brother wants to waste his time, playing some old computer games.

 

[alphanumeric]

I have a GeForce FX5500 AGP 256 meg in my backup rig running windows 7 RC. I used the 96.85 GeForce Vista drivers. WEI is 2 for graphics and 3.0 for gaming graphics so Aero works. I believe I downloaded them from the NVidia web site.

 

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

Ok, I had to digg this topic.

Recently, I had to move to Windows 7, because Windows XP stopped working (crash when trying to install it, something with mainboard, I persume). Somehow I've managed to find some drivers which actually worked... But partialy. Aero isn't working, but I'm not suprised. The problem is, when trying to run Paint/Media Center/Solitaire/whatever is installed here by default, system is freezing. I think, it's about drivers, because in the Safe Mode, everything is working fine. Of what I've managed to run (Media Center, Paint, Windows Media Player).

I've read, that XP drivers are working on Windows 7 without problems (in fact, I've used that some time ago, but my brother deleted them from harddrive... :<), but they have to be in some specific version, which doesn't make problems with Windows 7 (BSOD).

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Hi again,

Did you try the drivers alphanumeric recommended?

I have a GeForce FX5500 AGP 256 meg in my backup rig running windows 7 RC. I used the 96.85 GeForce Vista drivers. WEI is 2 for graphics and 3.0 for gaming graphics so Aero works. I believe I downloaded them from the NVidia web site.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[alphanumeric]

Hopefully this link works:>
ForceWare Release 95

 

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

@WalkerA WinTeam,
Yes, I've tested them before, It's the Vista drivers I wrote about in my first post.

@alphanumeric,
It's the same version, that you wrote about.


I think, It's because of difference, between Gigabyte and NVidia releases of this device.

 

[alphanumeric]

I do believe those are the drivers I'm using on that PC. The folder on my thumb drive is titled "96.85 GeForce Vista".

 

[stormy13]

I think, It's because of difference, between Gigabyte and NVidia releases of this device.

Doesn't matter if the driver was from Gigabyte or Nvidia, they would be the same driver. If there is any difference between them it would be the one firom Gigabyte will have had their name added to the installer and possibly in the Nvidia control panel, other than that they would be identical.

The problem you are running into is trying to run Windows 7 based on your listed specs, on what would be consider an ancient computer (old socket 370) with little to zero driver support.

 

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

I can't upgrade it.

I'll try to install XP again, perhaps the CD drive wasn't working as it should work, when I've added second network card.

---
I've updated my system specs, as I've upgraded my CPU and RAM since my last visit here.

 

[stormy13]

I've updated my system specs, as I've upgraded my CPU and RAM since my last visit here.

Doesn't change that that computer is still too old to really be running Windows 7. There is zero support for any of the components in it, the best you can hope for is that it runs on whatever default driver Windows installs or use a XP driver installed using compatibility mode,

Compatibility Mode - Vista Forums

for most of it. That old FX 5500 should work with the beta Vista driver,

ForceWare Release 95

Don't expect miracles, even more so if the card is AGP as I doubt what that motherboard has/uses for an AGP driver (part of the chipset drivers, not the video card driver) will work properly in Windows 7. From what I can find the chipset on that motherboard,

ECS Web Site

it came out before XP did. Makes for an interesting project to see if Windows 7 can be run on it, but definitely not worth the frustration if it is to be for day to day use.

 

[alphanumeric]

Windows 7 will run on some pretty old hardware. It's as fast as XP was on this:

Motherboard - PCChips M848A (v5.0) SiS Socket A ATX Motherboard
Processor - 2.2GHZ AMD Athlon XP 3200+
Ram - A-Data 1024 Meg x2 for 2048 Megs of 400MHZ DDR 3200
Hard Drive - 80 Gig Westerndigital
Video - GEFORCE FX5500 256 Meg, AGP 8x
Monitor - 17 inch Samsung Syncmaster 750s
Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster Live 5.1
Speakers - Logitech R-20 2.1, 2 plus sub
Optical Drive - A-Open 16x DVD
NIC - SiS 900-Based onboard Fast Ethernet Adapter
USB - Integrated SiS 7001 6 USB 2 ports
OS - Windows 7 Ultimate

Granted drivers can be a problem. I couldn't find a driver for the original onboard sound. The SoundBlaster live card only worked after finding a custom set of modified drivers. There was no default windows driver for the NIC but the XP ones I had worked. The big show stopper would be the chip-set drivers if you can't find any and windows doesn't have any generic drivers. If you run the windows 7 upgrade adviser it should tell you what hardware will be unsupported. Right now you may want to have a look in device manager and see if anything is flagged as unknown or having problems.

 

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

Thanks for response. I've managed to install and configure Windows 7 on different, ancient computers and... It did worked, so I've tried it on my computer. Except of this video card, everything worked fine.

But, I've cleaned my computer inside, checked all cables, and Windows XP instalator is working again.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Glad you found a solution in using XP Pisarz, I'm sorry Windows 7 isn't working with your graphics card. Let us know if you find out somewhere else how to make it work!

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[PisarzKsiazkowi]

Ok, it was almost year ago, when I was trying to make it work.
I needed drivers for my motherboard (ECS P6VXAT) - after that, I was able to install Vista drivers.

Full Aero is working, quite smoothly btw.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4527369/Pełne Aero na FX5500.PNG