Graphics Card (or drivers) issue. ATI 4870

FortuneSmiles · Dec 29, 2008

I am at my wits end and a begging for any advice or assistance to get me over this hurdle.

I have a new pc:

Core2 Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz
Gigabyte GA-EP45T-DS3R mobo
4GB DDR3 1600 RAM
H.I.S. H487F512P 4870 Graphics Card w/512 Ram
Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Western Digital 10,000rpm 160GB main hard drive
Seagate 750GB secondary hard drive
Liquid cpu cooling
Dell 2408wfp monitor connected via HDMI (converted from DVI)

The pc was put together by and purchased from Cyberpower. The graphics drivers were the Catalyst 8.10. My first attempt to launch windows media center led to a black screen. Nothing would "wake" the pc short of a hard reboot. Since that time I have confirmed that every single attempt to launch Windows Media Center will create the same thing. In addition, a number of other actions will cause the same unwakeable black screen some or most of the time including:

* Switching Users
* Logging Off (doesn't actually log off - just gets stuck)
* Logging On (after entering password). This is sometimes accompanied by a single fast repeating note from the speakers while it is locked up. This typically takes place after a hard reboot.
* Launching Picture Show
* Screen saver (if I leave the pc for sometime I return to an unwakeable black screen)
* Hibernate
* Installing a program (happened while installing 64-bit iTunes)
* Launching a program (happened while launching iTunes)
* And a a number of other actions I am not thinking of at the moment.

I have tried clean installs of 8.12, 8.11 (could not even boot up past the mobo splash screen after installing 8.11), 8.10 again. I have also tried a complete wipe (delete partition, format drive and reinstall Vista) on three separate occasions and a step by step from there. The problems start occuring immediately after the installation of the Catalyst drivers - even before I change the resolution to match the monitor. Before Catalyst I could launch media center - right after - black screen.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you may provide.

darkassain · Dec 29, 2008

there is 8.12 now available can you try this???

have you tried updating your bios???

GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - BIOS - GA-EP45T-DS3R (rev. 1.0)

sygnus21 · Dec 29, 2008

FortuneSmiles,

First, is this PC still under warrenty? If so, you might want to have them check to see that everything is working correctly.

With that said,

Try this remove the drivers, go to "Device Manager" and remove the video card. Reboot. After Window loads back up, let it find the card, but don't install the drivers, reboot, try reinstalling the drivers, go from there.

I have an ATI card myself and have had to do this once or twice to get drivers installed. Not supposed to work that way but...

You could also look CATALYST Drivers - Rage3D Discussion Area to see if someone else has your same issue. Lot's of good info on all things ATI.

FortuneSmiles · Dec 30, 2008

I had attempted clean installs of 8.12 and then 8.11. Same problems with 8.12. Problem was even worse with 8.11 in that I was unable to boot past the splash screen. I have rebuilt Vista from scratch (deleted partition, formatted the drive and re-installed Vista Home Premium 64-bit) on three separate occasions. I have removed drivers and reinstalled 8.10 & 8.12 on three occasions each and 8.11 on just the one occasion. I am flat out stumped.

darkassain · Dec 30, 2008

so have to update your bios???

as sygnus suggested do you have a warranty???

also have you tried this??

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBList.asp?folderID=11020

the last one saying HD4800 hotfix...

FortuneSmiles · Dec 30, 2008

have not updated bios. I am currently under warranty. They suggested rebuilding Vista - which I did. I have left several messages for their tech support since. They are not especially responsive for a company supposedly offering 24/7 support. I have removed and reinstalled drivers at least six different times to this point.

darkassain · Dec 30, 2008

have you tried the hotfix??
if that dosent work RMA it.....

FortuneSmiles · Dec 30, 2008

not yet. Trying that next. I will report back. Thank you.

sygnus21 · Dec 30, 2008

Ok, did you try the procedures I mentioned??? Did you go the website I provided??? Trust me, they have some really good info there.

Other then that, i'll reiterate my advice by pointing you to this post - http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/197959-hard-drive-problems-2.html#post919687 just something to think about.

darkassain · Dec 30, 2008

hello sygnus...
8.12 Vista 4850 hotfix.... some clarification - Rage3D Discussion Area

this is where the discussion on this problem...
although you see 4850 it does apply to 48xx including 4870

it seems to happen where people have more than 4gb of ram...

sygnus21 · Dec 30, 2008

darkassain said:
hello sygnus...
8.12 Vista 4850 hotfix.... some clarification - Rage3D Discussion Area

this is where the discussion on this problem...
although you see 4850 it does apply to 48xx including 4870

it seems to happen where people have more than 4gb of ram...

Actually, that particular hotfix driver is for those doing crossfire with 4850's. If you don't have 4850's in crossfire it's not really applicable. It's late and i'm too tired to look it up, but...

oh...wait...here it is - AMD Customer Care

Hint - i'm a rage3d member

darkassain · Dec 30, 2008

oops not been to the that forum for some time....
my apologies....

see i do know when im wrong too...lol

but the other links still stands....

Knowledge Base
AMD Customer Care Site Map > Radeon Support - PC > Radeon HD 4850 > Radeon™ HD 4800 Series Hotfix

The information in this article applies to the following configuration(s):

Radeon™ HD 4870 series

Radeon™ HD 4850 series

This Hotfix improves overall performance and stability. The Hotfix includes the Display Driver and Catalyst Control Center.
To download the Hotfix Driver, please click on the links below:
Radeon™ HD 4800 Series Hotfix for Windows XP (32-bit and 64-bit included)
Radeon™ HD 4800 Series Hotfix for Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit included)

Note: This driver is provided as is and is not supported by AMD. It has not completed full AMD testing, and is only recommended for users experiencing the particular issue described above

sygnus21 · Dec 30, 2008

@ Darkassin,

Note: The hotfix driver is only necessary if two or more ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphic cards are installed in the system with ATI CrossFireX technology

It's in the link I provided...

darkassain · Dec 30, 2008

sygnus21 said:
@ Darkassin,

Note: The hotfix driver is only necessary if two or more ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphic cards are installed in the system with ATI CrossFireX technology

Click to expand...

It's in the link I provided...

hi sygnus

i meant this link.....

this does not talk about crossfireX

darkassain said:
so have to update your bios???

as sygnus suggested do you have a warranty???

also have you tried this??

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBList.asp?folderID=11020

the last one saying HD4800 hotfix...

sygnus21 · Dec 30, 2008

Yeah, I went to that link. Those might be older drivers. As of this moment ATI only has to current hotfix drivers out -

One for AGP cards - http://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=31625
One for 4850 Crossfire Problem - AMD Customer Care
You can see both of them listed here - AMD Customer Care - under "Most Recent Topics"

Notice the version numbers. Your link references older drivers.

darkassain · Dec 30, 2008

i know...

but sometime you get lucky with older drivers....

i know this since i had a x1300 (some time ago)

7.1 would not install...

had to use 6.11

but what he should just use the warranty....

it would be better than fiddling around and who know maybe it was a bad board..

sygnus21 · Dec 30, 2008

darkassain said:
i know...

but sometime you get lucky with older drivers....

i know this since i had a x1300 (some time ago)

7.1 would not install...

had to use 6.11

That's a different issue, and he's already tried that with no success. He really should have his system (card) checked out. It could be faulty, although i'm somewhat confused with his symptons, which say software problem as well, and not just on the video end. Look at his problems again. He might have "other" problems. That's why I say have tech support look over his system.

At any rate i'm out for now.

Peace

darkassain · Dec 30, 2008

the thing that bothers me is that it happens right after Catalyst is installed....

maybe a incompatibility???....

buts its too system-wide...

and have a good day sygnus...

FortuneSmiles · Jan 1, 2009

ok. Updated the bios - there was a new version. Still hasn't fixed the black screen on attempted launch of Windows Media Center. I have also reviewed the forum and tried most of what had been discussed including turning off sidebar, disabling aero etc. No dice. I could try the hotfix but it seems to me that it came out prior to the 8.12 catalyst drivers and so I would assume had already been incorporated. I've already updated to 8.12.

sygnus21 · Jan 1, 2009

FortuneSmiles said:
I could try the hotfix but it seems to me that it came out prior to the 8.12 catalyst drivers and so I would assume had already been incorporated. I've already updated to 8.12.

The ones in my link came out after the 8.12's. At any rate they wouldn't necessarily apply to you. Read my post (http://www.vistax64.com/graphic-car...rd-drivers-issue-ati-4870-a-2.html#post924040) to see.

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