Directx doesn't work on nVidia Geforce 4 MX

Ok so my friend had ram trouble and we fixed that but now we have a directx problem.

My friend was playing wow when he was directed to blue screen after about 2-4 hours of playing. I checked to see what the problem was and i updated the wayyyy out of date drivers. Well now Directx is causing a problem...

Directdraw and Direct 3D are Not Available as it says. When testing Directdraw. it will run the 2 non-fullscreen tests and then fail on the fullscreen one with this error.

Code:

DirectDraw test results: Failure at step 20 (Colorfill to back buffer): HRESULT = 0x887601c2 (error code)

I have done a clean install of the nVidia drivers removing them in safe mode when uninstalled in regular mode and then reinstalling them in regular mode but no go. They are the most recent drivers. I tried these options from Microsoft but non seem to work...

This is my friends computer and i help him via Remote Assistance.

So what could be the culprit?

 

Hi,
Probably a case that the drivers are too modern now

The best set of drivers is usually released a few versions after the original.

If I were you I would reinstall the drivers from the original CD, then go to the actual graphics card manufacturer's website and find the version they recommend there (nVidia do not manufacturer, they sell the chipset). If the card's (adapter's) manufacturer directs you to nVidia, you can find older versions in their archives. Choose a set a few versions later than the original.

DirectX, don't upgrade to DirectX 10 with such an old graphics card. DirectX 9.0C should be compatible.

Matt
Edit: a good way of finding the the best set of drivers is to put the card's/adapter's full model number into a websearch. Look at the results in the gaming forums, they will have tested the drivers extensively

 

He doesn't have a CD. It is integrated into his motherboard. His computer is a eMachines T-2865

 

To follow up:

I deinstalled the "newer" drivers, and installed the ones from the eMachines site, still no joy...

 

My reply was "lost ", so I will give you a summary.

The unofficial website, check if there are more updated drivers:
http://www.emachine-upgraders.info/

DirectX, try reinstalling it. The download may be suspect, try downloading it again.

Directdraw has given me problems in the past, unfortunately, I did not find a magic fix for them.

Matt

 

Actually, I have not experienced with this before.
But here is a suggestion.

Try scanning your system to see if it is losses some files by
running this command-line at command prompt : sfc /scannow to see if this is help.



The attached image is the driver version I currently in use.
See my sign for my computer configuration.

 

What driver version is that and he has SP2 of XP, so how can i uninstall directx 9.0c and reinstall it

Also what tool did you use to show that

Also he doesn't have an XP cd so sfc /scannow will not work for us. I already tried and it asked for a disk.

 

You cannot uninstall DirectX, but (unless I am mistaken) you should be to just run the installation program to reinstall it over the top of the current install (download it again in case there was a download error).

Matt

 

All it seems to do it just make click agree,which i do, andthen it goesstaright to the "Compnents have install successfully" screen in less than 2 second.

Doesn't even check. I have downloaded it at least 3 times. The newer drivers i am using have the integrated version of geforce 4 mx listed as supported...

Also directdraw does work now when doing a test but still says not available.

 

Try reinstalling the motherboard's chipset drivers. From what I can find out it's an nForce2 chipset. You will need to reinstall the video cards drivers after doing this.

For DirectX try the web installer. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displaylang=en

 

EDIT: Your solution worked. Thats how we got the DirectX to show enabled.

Well we got it to where it is enabled but now when he runs WoW all the colors are really messed up...

Plus that web installer says the same thing.

 

Direct3D 7 passes but 8 and 9 don't.

Direct3D 8 test results: Failure at step 32 (User verification of Direct3D rendering): HRESULT = 0x00000000 (error code)
Direct3D 9 test results: Failure at step 32 (User verification of Direct3D rendering): HRESULT = 0x00000000 (error code)

Those are the error messages he receives.

 

Does he have more than 512Mb of system RAM? The integrated graphics will use part of the system RAM, so just having a 512Mb module installed will not be enough.
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/faq/technology.html

Level 8 and 9 might be beyond that adapter's capabilities, but I don't have a GF 4MX to check.

If you remain stuck, boot into Safe Mode. Uninstall the nVidia listing in Add or Remove Programs, check in Device Manager and uninstall any listing there for the Display Adapter. Reboot into normal mode, direct the Add New Hardware wizard to the drivers you are currently using or click Cancel and run the driver installation program when you get to the desktop.

Matt

 

We know it is but he has been running it fine until now with all these problems.

My card is only a directx 8.1 and works okay.

We will try this later and see. Using driver cleaners is okay right? Because when we were looking for help on other sites using google, they told us to use a Driver Cleaner Pro program.

 

OK, just remember that it is running at less than minimum.

Run dxdiag on your machine (DX 8.1) I don't think level 9 is offered in DirectX 8.1 and maybe not level 8. The levels are the capabilities of DirectX, whether they can be achieved is dependent on the abilities of the graphics adapter. ALTHOUGH, I agree that you seem to be still having problems (graphics drivers I would guess).

ME, I don't use driver "cleaners" (or registry cleaners for that matter), I will try to uninstall drivers in safe mode instead. I have had bad experiences with registry cleaners, so, I don't install junk programs I have always solved driver problems without the aid of cleaners (when it comes to a difficult driver problem, I uninstall in safe mode).

Matt

 

It didn't work... same results. Directx8 and Directx9 fail...

WoW has worked before so we know the card will run it... we just cant find the problem.

 

Were you able to try uninstalling the drivers in safe mode? The driver files can get muddled by installing different versions.

As I mentioned, uninstall any nVidia programs in Add/Remove programs (safe mode). The problem might not the drivers, but the nVidia "Control Panel ", the control panel may work with some set of drivers and not others. The control panel may been corrupted.

You could try using Driver Cleaner Pro, but my suggestion would be to uninstall in safe mode (Add/Remove programs and check in Device Manager).

From what I see, you seem to have checked DirectX. I think the problem would be that the drivers or the nVidia control panel is corrupted. You need to remove all the current files (use safe mode) and replace them.

Check around the Emachines website. How might he be able to reinstall if the OS was to fail? Are the system files stored on his HDD?....In any case, backup the data.

Matt

 

Un-install your video driver. Install the latest ForceWare/NForce driver for your machine. Then use the nVidia control panel to force Anti-Aliasing OFF. That fixes MOST GeForce4 problems.
Also, the GeForce4 is only compliant with up to DirectX 8. You can install DirectX 9.0c and the test can pass, but if you try to run a DX9 app it will crash and/or glitch badly.

 

Well we could try that but the problem is i dont want to delete everything and then he cant boot the computer at all... Also he had the computer fixed by a friend.. I don't live there i dunno who lol

Also we try your advice Acupro but it didn't work...

 

If you find problems after uninstalling graphics drivers, use the F8 key at startup, in the Startup Menu (Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, etc.) there is a selection for Enable VGA mode, that will allow you to run in normal mode using standard VGA drivers and run the driver installation program.

If you have uninstalled the drivers and the Add New Hardware wizard runs when Windows is loading, if you select the wrong drivers or Windows cannot find the files it needs, that's when you may end up getting a blank or garbled screen. Safe mode will work without graphics drivers installed, so will VGA mode.

Trying is up to you. Graphics drivers are the most complex set of drivers in the system. If, say, the audio drivers are "broken" you can still work in the normal system, if the graphics drivers do not work, then you are stuck. Safe mode and VGA will still work though...that's where you need to make the adjustments.

Matt