Need Help...

[thetvwatcher]

I have an HP DV4T 1400 Laptop running on an upgrade CD version of Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit from Windows XP. I have had to reformat this computer many times before due to other problems, but now I keep getting a BSOD. I believe that the problem is my display driver. My screen kept blacking out and then flickering back on with a message at the right hand bottom corner saying that the Display Driver failed but Windows recovered. I also notice that my display starts to have very small green looking dots on it anytime I am watching a video or have graphics loaded. I tried updating my drivers on the HP website, but then came to read that the HP Drivers only work for Windows XP for some reason. After that I tried to system restore my computer to an earlier point, but the only point that saved was 2 days prior to me updating the drivers. After a couple of failed attempts at restoring, which also resulted in errors, I decided to reformat. When trying to reformat, the full process goes through but at the last stage the install doesn't take and returns me to this version of windows I have now, the one with the problems. I am not very tech savy but if given specific directions, I believe I can solve this problem myself if anyone can offer me a detailed solution.

Some Additional Info:
My graphics chip is an Mobile Intel (R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family.
I also cannot access the BiOS at start up, the start up just opens windows and provides my login to the system.
I've read up on the partition option, but I am not sure if my computer has it and when I try to activate, it warns me that if I don't have a partition set then my computer might stop working, so I'm stuck at what to do there.

Thanks in advance, if anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[bobkn]

Do you mean "format", which wipes the partition in which you're installing Windows, or just a Windows re-installation? I've never seen a reformat fail and return to the current Windows installation.

The retail upgrade version of Windows 7 permits you to delete the installation partition, re-create and format it. (That's if the machine is booted from the installation DVD.) I don't know about the version HP provides.

Are these the graphics drivers you tried?

Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family Graphics Driver (64-bit) HP Pavilion dv4t-1400 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)=

If you can't get into the BIOS setup, you have a problem that does not involve the operating system. It may be a hardware problem. The "green dots" bit sounds like a grahics adapter failure.

 

[thetvwatcher]

Hi

First of all thank you for the quick response, appreciate it!

I want to "format" in the sense that I wanted to wipe out everything on the computer and start fresh from Windows 7.

Basically when the installation of Windows 7 happens, right at the last stage where the computer restarts to the clean install, it does not take and Windows returns to the previous OS I am operating. Everything is the same as it was before I even did the format.

Before when I would reformat in that sense, it would give me the option to do what you mentioned but I would wipe out the entire thing. I believe the HP version is the same.

The link you provided is the graphics driver update that I tried, and after that installation of the driver update I started getting these green dots around video and then the BSOD which leads to a restart. I finally got the f8 option to go through on the start up screen and tried to run windows repair but the computer froze.

Any other options I can try?

Thanks again!

 

[seavixen32]

When you upgraded, did you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor first? It scans your computer and flags up any issues relating to your hardware and software.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows

Windows 7 Compatibility: Software Programs & Hardware Devices: Find Updates, Drivers, & Downloads

You can still run it even though you've already upgraded, but going by what you've said so far, it's more than likely your graphics card wants updating for Windows 7.

 

[thetvwatcher]

I did not run the update adviser when I first upgraded Windows 7. I just tried to download it from the link you provided and I got this message..."The program can't start because UxTheme.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem."

Update: It gave me that same error for diff files on the top about 5 times and then is now letting me download the adviser.

 

[thetvwatcher]

The results all came back normal, so now I am kind of confused as to what to do...

 

[theog]

I have had to reformat this computer many times before due to other problems

What problems?

Check your ram.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/715-memory-diagnostics-tool.html?ltr=M
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostic

 

[seavixen32]

I think your next step should be to run a scan on your system files.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[bobkn]

Basically when the installation of Windows 7 happens, right at the last stage where the computer restarts to the clean install, it does not take and Windows returns to the previous OS I am operating. Everything is the same as it was before I even did the format.

I think we have a language problem here. "Format" wipes the partition. It sounds like you haven't done that.

(Usually, when I'm re-installing the operating system, I delete the OS partition, and start from scratch.)

 

[1Bowtie]

Basically when the installation of Windows 7 happens, right at the last stage where the computer restarts to the clean install, it does not take and Windows returns to the previous OS I am operating. Everything is the same as it was before I even did the format.

I think we have a language problem here. "Format" wipes the partition. It sounds like you haven't done that.

(Usually, when I'm re-installing the operating system, I delete the OS partition, and start from scratch.)

I agree if the format is being done with the Win 7 dvd there is no way it is reverting back to the old OS. We can't be hearing the whole problem with this install.

 

[thetvwatcher]

As I stated before, please excuse me if I don't get the terminology right, I am not technology savvy but I can see where the language barrier might have happened.

I actually gave my computer to an engineer friend, and he gave it back today after installing my windows 7 cd again, but the graphics problem still occurs. Everything in Windows works fine, but whenever I am watching a video, I get the green dots again and a flicker occurs to which i get this message, "Intel (r) windows vista stopped working and has recovered" or something along those lines. I tried to install an update from Intel for my chipset but it didn't work and now I am at a loss at to what to do about this display driver problem. The problem is now with my display driver, not installing windows 7 or reformatting. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[seavixen32]

You haven't given us any specs other than you're using Win 7 and an Intel chipset.

First, run the Windows Seven Upgrade Advisor and that should tell you if your graphics card is incompatible with Windows 7.

Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Before you begin the scan make sure you've connected and switched on peripherals such as a printer or scanner so that the scan will detect them.

Once it's done you'll have a better idea of what you need to do.

 

[thetvwatcher]

Thank you but I ran the upgrade adviser and there were no errors. I had already performed this procedure before I gave my computer to be fixed. And have no performed it again after your suggestion. All of my graphics card tabs say that they are compatible with windows 7. The only problem that occurs SPECIFICALLY is when I watch a video online or too many graphics are loaded the driver crashes then recovers saying "Display Driver Intel Graphics Accelerator Drivers for Windows Vista (R) stopped responding and has successfully recovered." I don't even use my computer for video games so I don't know why this is happening over watching videos.

Any other suggestions? And please try to remember I am not as well versed in computers, I am telling you everything that I know so if you need more "specs" I can definitely try and provide them for you. I appreciate the help!

 

[1Bowtie]

You haven't given us any specs other than you're using Win 7 and an Intel chipset.

First, run the Windows Seven Upgrade Advisor and that should tell you if your graphics card is incompatible with Windows 7.

Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Before you begin the scan make sure you've connected and switched on peripherals such as a printer or scanner so that the scan will detect them.

Once it's done you'll have a better idea of what you need to do.

I'm with you on this one 2 page thread and still no computer spec's, we've gone from format and install 7, reverts back to old OS to graphic corrupt in videos, which could be wrong drivers or codec is missing for a specific video format.

 

[thetvwatcher]

If you could kindly tell me what specs you need I can provide them for you, otherwise there is no need to reply to this thread if it's that irritating to you that I myself can't figure out the problem. This is supposed to be a forum for help and I think it's unfair for people to get so offended over here for trying to explain to you the problem. I've stated from the beginning that I am not that well versed in computer technology, so if you don't have the patience for it you simply don't need to reply. Yes, the initial problem was the "reformat" of windows 7 (please don't get on my case about the wording, the only meaning I know to that word is to wipe the whole system clean and start anew.) Which then was fixed by the engineer, I had given my computer to, which I also stated. This graphics problem has been there since the beginning so I don't know why you are saying that I keep jumping from one thing to the next. It is all part of the problem with the computer and the cause of the problem is the graphics drive hence why I provided my graphic card information. Anyway I do appreciate all your help but I ask for a little more patience on everyone's part as I am trying to do my best to provide whatever I can to fix this problem. We all have the same goal here.

 

[seavixen32]

Thank you but I ran the upgrade adviser and there were no errors. I had already performed this procedure before I gave my computer to be fixed. And have no performed it again after your suggestion. All of my graphics card tabs say that they are compatible with windows 7. The only problem that occurs SPECIFICALLY is when I watch a video online or too many graphics are loaded the driver crashes then recovers saying "Display Driver Intel Graphics Accelerator Drivers for Windows Vista (R) stopped responding and has successfully recovered." I don't even use my computer for video games so I don't know why this is happening over watching videos.

Any other suggestions? And please try to remember I am not as well versed in computers, I am telling you everything that I know so if you need more "specs" I can definitely try and provide them for you. I appreciate the help!

On the basis that you have tried everything you can think of, and that there are no compatibility issues, you may have to consider whether you have either a faulty graphics card or motherboard.

You may want to download SiSoftware Zone and carry out some benchmarking tests to see if you pin it down to a hardware problem rather than software.

 

[thetvwatcher]

specs

Attached are the specs that might aid you in helping me with the problem...along with the perfmon report.

Some more specs

- x86 (32-bit) or x64 ? x64
- the original installed OS on the system? Windows Vista
- an OEM or full retail version? Windows Vista
- OEM = came pre-installed on system
- Full Retail = you purchased it from retailer

- What is the age of system (hardware)? October 2009
- What is the age of OS installation (have you re-installed the OS?) I have upgraded to Windows 7 64 bit.