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GlowStick
08-24-03, 03:23 AM
Hi,

Im gonna try to sum things up because its 3AM and i just finished alot of windows xp reinstalls.

When i installed ut2k3, it worked fine the first run. i played a cuple maps, then exited and patched the game. i started it up playes some more and closed it.

I didnt play the game untill the next day, when i started it, it gave me an Error. so, i decided to reinstall the patch, and the game worked again. but when i exited and treid to start again it gave the same error. it became aparent that ut2k3 was somehow getting corrupted.

I decided since i have not reinstalled windows for quite some time, that it would be a good idea to reinstall. I did that, and the same thing happend, there is my install procedure.

Windows Xp Pro SP1 (slipstream)
Intel Driver cd (inf + network)
ATi Cat 3.6 + Driver Panel in 1
DirectX 9.0b
UT2k3

This was very annoying, i decided to E-mail atari tech support anyways, though i was expecitng a generic answer such as (oh, update your drivers).

Meanwhile, i decided to reinstall windows, I thought that must be the problem, and after 2 attemps i was baffled.

Then i got the idea to use my backup video card that i got for 20$, a Nvidia Geforce 2 MX200. I used this order.

Windows Xp Pro SP1 (slipstream)
Intel Driver cd (inf + network)
Nvidia Det 45.23 WHQL
DirectX 9.0b
UT2k3

So i run UT2k3 and it runs the first time as expected. So i beat the first 2 dm levels and reboot. I run the game again, It loads up, and i beat another level then close the program, this time i patched it. started the game again, it worked fine, i played another dm level. Then i rebooted. and started ut2k3 it worked fine, i played a 'instant action' with bots. I opend and closed the game a few times.

After this, i felt adventurious. I have also been havieng problems with STEAM, valve's steam is beta and i just assumed that it was probly a problem with their beta code, but i could install STEAM, then it would update it self and then it would just crash.

I decided to download and install Steam. This time it worked flawlessly, it updated and worked.

Now, this could all be concidental. So just for refrence, i put back in my Radeon 9800 Pro, and reinstalled windows following this order.

Windows Xp Pro SP1 (slipstream)
Intel Driver cd (inf + network)
ATi Cat 3.6 + Driver Panel in 1
DirectX 9.0b
UT2k3

I install UT2k3 and it runs the first time, i close it, then run it again, it gives the same error. Next i update it, it runs one time, then it dose not run again. Then i move onto STEAM. I downloaded it, ran the install, it installed the program and then ran it. It crashed giving the same error.

How could the drivers be corrupting games and apps?

Meanwhile, my conclusion is that i am 100% sure the ATi video card and/or drivers are responsable for UT2k3 crashes. But i have a 30% feeling that the ATi hardware and/or drivers are the cause of Steam, because it is a beta after all, unpredictable.

rokzy
08-24-03, 04:31 AM
install dx9 before you install dx9 drivers

The Baron
08-24-03, 08:39 AM
Under System->Advanced->Performance Settings->Advanced, you don't happen to have memory usage set for System Cache?

That's the only thing I know of that could cause that.

raysusan
08-24-03, 08:54 AM
Originally posted by rokzy
install dx9 before you install dx9 drivers that is what i did:)

B&R
08-24-03, 11:00 AM
Originally posted by rokzy
install dx9 before you install dx9 drivers

Man that really is good thing to do.. other wise most of my games dont start at all.

GlowStick
08-24-03, 12:20 PM
Originally posted by rokzy
install dx9 before you install dx9 drivers Actually Micro$oft says to install DX9 after you install any video or sound drivers, includeing upgrades. example, i have some video card in now, i uninstall then put in new card and install new drivers, you are sapotsa run the dx9 install again. witch sucks for people w/o broadband.

GlowStick
08-24-03, 12:23 PM
for arugments sake i will do another install useing this order.

Windows XP Pro SP1 (Slipstreamed)
Intel Driver CD (mobo + network + sound)
DirectX 9.0b (from ms website)
Cat 3.6 all in one package
UT2k3

GlowStick
08-24-03, 05:32 PM
I finally got around to reinstalling winders (again) and i did this order.

Windows XP Pro SP1 (Slipstreamed)
Intel Drivers
DirectX 9.0b
ATi Cat 3.6 Driver + Control Panel in 1
UT2k3

Game started, rebooted, game started, rebooted patched game started, shut down game, then started again game crash.

rokzy
08-24-03, 05:49 PM
I always install dx9 before drivers and it's always worked for me so far. ATI drivers used to say to make sure dx9 is installed first, but it doesn't say that now they're bundled.

I assume you're patching UT2003 to the latest version. you could try patching it to the version before that and see if it makes a difference.

you could also try different games. is it just UT2003 and steam so far?

what are the error messages when stuff crashes?

after the game crashes, uninstall drivers and reinstall. is the "corruption" still present or is it reset?

after the crashes, run dxdiag and see if there is any useful info there.

GlowStick
08-24-03, 06:00 PM
The crash is allways with Engine.dll, i havent tried patching UT2k3 to diffrent versions.

MAME windows gui version also mysteriously woudlnt run after i ran it the first time. Even when i deleted the files, then unziped new ones it would give the same error, the only thing related between ut2k3 and mame is they both used DirectX, but mame uses DirectDraw portion, while ut2k3 uses Direct3d im assumeing.

saturnotaku
08-24-03, 10:41 PM
Have you tried installing XP without a slipstreamed service pack 1? I've had no end of problems installing Windows through manual slipstreaming. Only way I can get everything to work properly is to install Windows then SP1.

Sazar
08-24-03, 10:50 PM
Originally posted by saturnotaku
Have you tried installing XP without a slipstreamed service pack 1? I've had no end of problems installing Windows through manual slipstreaming. Only way I can get everything to work properly is to install Windows then SP1.

I do manual slipstreaming and have no difference than when I used to dl all the crap...

its faster and more efficient... and when done properly there should be no issues

GlowStick
08-24-03, 10:56 PM
Hm, i do not belive that could be the cause of the problem, mainly because it works fine with my Geforce 2Mx200 card.

If anyone cares, i am getting a new AMD mobo tuseday (52$ shipped @ newegg) and i just happen to have a spare. EnermaxPS&Case,2000+cpu,ram,hdd(s),cdroms,video

so i think ill tinker with that, see if the same problems arrise on a diffrent system.

budd_wm
08-27-03, 03:15 PM
I use a SP1 slipstreamed CD and do not have the problems you are having and I have an AIW 9700. And it really doesn't matter which you install first, DX9 or the drivers, as long as you have both (I install the drivers first myself). Anyway, if it was the CD then he would also get this problem with his nVidia card, so it isn't that. It's probably an ATI bug causing the corruption, though like I said I've never seen this particular problem with my system.

GlowStick
08-27-03, 04:00 PM
Hm, i also have a werid list of anomlies that i have noticed.

QuickTime, also dose not work, it runs the first time I install it, then it refues to open again.

I do feel that the common link here is DirectX app's. But i cant be sure.


However, i did receive my Mainboard and have my second system running, i have it hooked up to a KVM so i can switch between my monitors, while still haveing my second monitor power away.

I am tempted to put my Radeon in that system and test it out, but it dose seem like a lot of work heh.

budd_wm
08-27-03, 04:41 PM
Do you get this with every CAT version? You might try the 3.4s (I'm still using Omega's 3.4s because of broken DDC support in 3.5s and 3.6s).

GlowStick
08-27-03, 04:43 PM
Yeah i am thnking of doing a reinstall with 3.4's but im feeling a bit lazy right now and have to leave at 6 and have to eat dinner at 5 heh so maybe tomorow

Red Dog
08-27-03, 07:59 PM
have you tried disabling fastwrites? and or sba?

GlowStick
08-28-03, 01:18 AM
I have not, however FastWrites seem to be disabled by default. I dont know about SdieBandAddressing though

budd_wm
08-28-03, 10:03 AM
Your AGP settings I doubt would cause the problem you are describing...

euan
08-28-03, 01:07 PM
Direct X is composed of separate dll's for DX7,8 and 9. The NV card may be using the DX8 dll, and Radeon could be using the new DX9b dll, that perhaps the game has a problem with. Try the original DX9 (rev0) if you have it. I haven't had any problems, and haven't upgraded DX9 to 9b.

Is there any error text, or log created in the UT2K3 system folder?

Edit:

DX9 should be installed before the VGA drivers. MS say your then supposed to re-install DX just in case the drivers change DX9 files back to old ones. (like installing service packs). However I don't think that is likely to happen with either ATI or NV driver packages. Also re-installing DX9 after the drivers may remove settings the drivers need, or change GUID codes, that the drivers had recorded elsewhere. So effectively it's a cach 22 situation.

I haven't found any situation yet when I have had to re-install DX9 over itself.

GlowStick
08-28-03, 01:35 PM
hm, as soon as i get around to it im gonna.

reinstall
intel drivers
directx9b
cat3.4
ut2k3

i think that that will work for some reason, im hopeing.

budd_wm
08-28-03, 01:43 PM
Originally posted by euan
DX9 should be installed before the VGA drivers.

Again, you dont have to install DX9 before the drivers. But you do need both installed before trying to play a game. ;)

GlowStick
08-28-03, 01:49 PM
I belive it dose not make a diffrence what you install first, i have done them in both orders and the same results were obtained.

GlowStick
09-01-03, 02:21 PM
Anyways, i reinstalled winders and used cat 3.4 and it seems the same.