nvidia gf4 problem on Windows XP

What a day. Got my 2.6GHz (1gb ram) machine, with WinXP Home preloaded. I upgraded to XP Pro, and I wasn't on xp home long enough (my fault) to see if it was running properly.

I then tried to run my games, and I got the error 'direct3d cannot initialize: make sure directx 8.1 or later is installed and that your video drivers are up to date ". I then noticed that it had not detected a video driver at all.

I have an nvidia gf4 440, and it does not detect it at all in WinXP. It just gives me 'vgasave', and it is very sluggish. It does not appear in device manager, and loading the drivers from the net for gf4 will not work.

I also changed the bios to suit it. (turned pnp on and made it AGP).

I will greatly appreciate any assistance.

Regards
Jonathan

 

What happens when you try to install the Detonator driver?

http://mirror.ati.com/support/driver.html

 

I had many of the same problems with GeForce4 MX 440 until I updated the Nvidia Drivers from the MS Update site.

BTW when you upgraded did you un-install and then re-install the Motherboard drivers ?

Also you may well need Directx 9a.

BillyBob

 

AFAIK I didn't un/re-install the motherboard drivers. (not very advanced). Is that the right thing to do? Will I find it in device manager?

I did get some drivers from the nvidia website; and they make no difference. Whats the MS update site addy? (not microsoft I assume).

The worrying thing is that the card doesn't even appear in device manager, which could be a motherboard or a video card problem.

Thanks for the help

 

What a day. Got my 2.6GHz (1gb ram) machine, with WinXP Home preloaded. I upgraded to XP Pro, and I wasn't on xp home long enough (my fault) to see if it was running properly.

If this refers to what I think it does ( an OEM machine Dell, Gateway etc.) then I am outta here. I have had nothing to do with them.

didn't un/re-install the motherboard drivers. (not very advanced). Is that the right thing to do? Will I find it in device manager?

YES. It is the right thing to do when upgrading or reinstalling the OS.

No to device manager. The chance to uninstall comes up when starting the install. At least that is they way my Via 4 in 1 drivers have worked, And this should be done as soon as the OS is installed and before anything else.

Lets us know what type of machine you have.

I did get some drivers from the Nvidia website; and they make no difference. Whats the MS update site addy? (not Microsoft I assume).

For me Drivers from Nvidia would work. But not properly. The Certified ( WHQL ) ones from MS did.

The Windows Update site ( MS update ) is gotten to by opening IE, Selecting Tools, then Windows update.

The worrying thing is that the card doesn't even appear in device manager, which could be a motherboard or a video card problem.

This may not really be a problem. Many times ( and is best if it does ) the Video card is picked up as a standard VGA PCI setup. MY Motherboard requires the MB drivers to be installed in order to get it out of it.

Last but should be first. Did up upgrade to Pro overtop Home or put Pro in clean.

BillyBob