All in Wonder Radeon--Need help on latest drivers

[SamAlem2002]

I have posted a message on this thread a week or so ago and this is more on, if not a repeat of, it.

After installing an All-in-Wonder Radeon graphic card (32MB/AGP) using the international installation CD (ATI Multimedia Center, Software release 7.13), the various ATI features seem to work more or less OK if my computer handles only one of the ATI programs (play dvd, or view TV, etc) and nothing more.

Now here is the problem. When/if I try to activate another application for example MS Word or the connect to the internet while any one of the ATI features is launched (ex. watching/listening to a TV program and/or capturing video) my monitor suddenly goes blank or freezes eventhough the sound could still be heard. I suspect that the installation CD that came with the card does not have the latest drivers and these seem to be provided on the ATI website. But it is not clear to me which suggested new drivers go to upgrade which ones since the names are not all similar and/or some are not readily visible/available, for example, in the Device Manager list.Is there somebody out there familiar with these particular drivers and is willing to help on how to go about installing/upgrading them? I have read the ATI FAQ pages and tried to browse over some of issues discussed at ATI site, but it did not seem to help much. :confused:

[Whyzman]

Sam,

Are you using a sound card? If so, is it a Soundblaster?

[SamAlem2002]

Hep! Whyz; got Creative sound blaster PC128. Note the sound system shows no problem, it is video/TV capture aspect that may need some fixing. Anyway, the answer to your question is a YES.

[Whyzman]

Sam, I'll have to see if I can find my notes on this...In the meantime I'll try to steer you in the right direction for some research.

There's an order to follow for the installation of the Creative and ATI drivers...I just don't remember off hand. There's a known conflict!

Perhaps someone else is up on it. It's just been a while since I installed...ARGH it's not fun getting old! hehe

I'd check the Creative and ATI sites and see if they are helpful...or, do a Google search in the meantime.

[SamAlem2002]

Hi Whyz,:-Well, I will wait until the point comes back to your mind, and
honestly speaking I don't have the time and patience to browse over the often static pages of these providers.

BTW, my soundblaster is an 'on-board' sound card on a GA-ZMM M/B and if what you are talking about has direct relevance to the problem at hand, then it may involve disabling and activating again to satisfy the sequence issue that may arise.

Since the world has to roll on in the meantime, may I ask if you are familiar with the workings of the latest ATI drivers to this particular card. I have read/heard somewhere that they 'kinda suck' suggesting that they are either not user-friendly or bring more problems than solutions. Since the drivers are not in one bundle, there are at least three for those for Win98SE users, the sequences involved as well as the procedure to follow are not, at least to me, that very clear. That was why in my earlier posting on this issue, I asked if there was an ATI installation CD with all the latest drivers included. The ATI or the dealers support services, at least in our part of Europe, often hide behind non responding sites or telephone lines. Such forums are by far lively and helpful.

One may get more forgetful with age, but then don't many things deserve to be forgotten lest they unnecessariy jam one's mind. Cheers

:p :)

[Whyzman]

Hey Sam,

I'm using the All in Wonder Pro 128 so the soundblaster issue might be unique to my situation. I remember when I built the system I had quite a headache with the ATI Soundblaster driver conflict. I was actually using an ATI Beta release set of drivers at the time at the request of Soundblaster if I remember correctly.

And, you are correct, I do believe that our brains are much like a Harddrive. We have a limited amount of storage and often it is fragmented...requiring us to routinely defrag. There appears to be an inate software program that dispenses with data not used after a certain amount of time. This is probably a good thing as we tend to store trivia as though we expected to be called on to appear on Jeopardy or some quiz show. This results in wasting our individually limited amount of space. Actually, I no longer call it forgetting...I'm editing out useless material! ;)

Don't know which version of the All in Wonder Radeon you're using.... You might want to have a look HERE (http://www.ati.com/support/products/pc/radeon8500/win98/aiwradeon8500win98drivers.html) for updated driver information.

[SamAlem2002]

OK Whyz:- Read you clear.
The version of my graphic card, as mentioned at the top above, is an All-in-Wonder Radeon, no numbers following, a 32MB AGP card which I assume could be of an earlier release to yours altho it was purchased recently.

The TV tuner and the video capture (especially from VHS-video) features are my main interest with the card.

Yes, I too have gone thru quite torturous hours resolving, in my case, the conflict between my earlier 'on-board' graphic card and this one.
Finally the various components were in place (without any conflict message in the Device controller page)but the screen/monitor keeps going blank on me if/when I activate any other application along with the one ATI feature that is running at a given time.

I use WIN98SE and I have not only seen but also downloaded already the 3 or four suggested new drivers provided under the OS (wme-radeon 4.1---, tv-capture wdm.,dvd 7.6, and the ATI Mediacenter 7.7). I remain uneasy, however, to venture upgrading until/unless I am reasonably certain that I at least associate the right driver for the right component and also the correct sequence thereof. For example, I can not find the component for dvd player clearly identified in my Device Manager list or anywhere else. That is, if I want, for example, to upgrade this component separately using the above dvd 7.6 driver. I assume the wme-radeon driver refers to the graphic card and the tv-capture one for all the components in the Sound and video listing in the device manager. And then there is the driver for the ATI M.Center of which I am not sure how to go about, which seems to involve removing the current one using the ADD/Remove programs
option and then reinstalling the new one instead. What I don't understand is why ATI chose to offer several drivers separately rather than include them in one new installation bundle or CD and thereby spare us all this avoidable excercise. Well, Whyz thanks you for hanging around to help, but I think in view of the difference between the versions and the kind of problems we are dealing with, it may be that this is how far we can go unless you have some more suggestion to add. And that is always welcome.

And as for the memory retention-refreshing aspect of our tangential discussion, I think you have set yourself up in a win-win mode, so
I wish you good luck while taking good lesson from it. Thanks again for help/suggestion provided so far.:)

[malcore]

Hi again Sam,

Sorry to hear you are still experiencing problems with your video card.

I have never used an ATI card and am not familiar with issues involving their drivers.

One thought I did have is : what version of Directx do you currently have on your machine. If you do not have Directx 8.1, you can get it here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/downloads/default.asp) .

This may help. Much luck.

_Edit-Also, when your screen "goes blank", are you getting any error messages?

Double Edit- Have you looked on this (http://www.ati.com/products/pc/aiwradeon/) ATI page. It is all about the Raedon All-in-Wonder 32 MB card. Check the links on the left for installation tips and drivers. There is a single download for video,DVD and apps. Hope it helps.
malcore;)

[SamAlem2002]

Hi malcore: Great to link up with you again.
Yes, unfortunately some snags seem to persist with respect to this normal functioning of this card. I understand that you may not be faimiliar with this particualar card and thanks for trying to throw in some helpful tips. As regards the questions and leads you mentioned:-.
--I have DirectX 8.1 for some months now.
--No error message when the screen goes blank. BTW, the sound continues despite the no picture on the screen/monitor.
--Yes I have checked over the week the ATI websites and the drivers site you cited which in fact leads one further to another page with several separate downloads the particulars of which I discussed in brief in the message preeceding this one. You see malcore, the drivers with installation CD could very well need upgrading or using the latest one. But I just don't feel adeequately clear on how to go about trying out these new drivers, if at all that is going to help. As things stand now, I can use any of the features of the card ( watching TV programs or video playbacks, or dvd films, etc. on my PC ) as long as I don't press a key or click the mouse to do anythingelse at the time time. And this is not worth going for the card, unless fixed. Well, there you are
and what do you say? :confused:

[malcore]

Sam,
I would go ahead and download and install the drivers from the link I gave you. They are much newer than the version you have.

The 98 drivers are NOT supported. If you use them you will need to download the dispaly drivers and the video capture drivers. Both are self-extracting. Just download and click on the executable.

The ME drivers ARE supported and WILL work with 98. They are also very recent (Sep. 2002). If you use them you will need the display drivers, the video capture drivers and the new control panel.

You may want the new multimedia centre and DVD player, but it's not necessary to use the new drivers. If you do use them, download and install the new DVD player first.

Your current drivers are quite old, April 2001 as far as I can tell. Definitely try updating!


Install the display driver first, then the video capture driver, then(if using the ME package) install the control panel.
The DVD and Multimedia Centre are upgrades, so there is no need to uninstall the previous versions.

Edit- One last thought. How old is your comp and did you build it yourself?
It might be a good idea to update your motherboard's chipset drivers to the latest Via 4 in 1 drivers before updating the video card drivers. You can find them here (http://www.giga-byte.com/support/support.htm) or
here (http://www.giga-byte.com/support/d_via.htm#via4in1)
Good Luck Sam;)

[SamAlem2002]

Great to hear from you again, malcore:- How readily helpful and skilled you are, really, at identifying and grabing a problem by its balls.

Assuming that you would walk with me for the second time thru this slippery jungle of an ATI card, I am opting to go for the upgradings according to your suggestions. As I have some other work to handle for the better part of the day, I will to come back to it at the earliest opportunity later on early tomorrow morning. In view of the time zone difference we may have, I thought of dropping in the meantime, however,a few lines seeking for more clarification and/or as a response to your question.

--My computer is less than 2 years old and bought ready-made.
--I have already downloaded the Via 4 in 1 driver(s).
Now as the 1st step towards starting the upgrading process, I assume I should start with installing the Via 4 driver above. If that is so what do I do, I click on and let it go or are there other preparatory steps involved?

--As suggested, it would be wise to use the WINME drivers and I will download them soon ignoring the WIN98-ones I already had downloaded--still available untouched in my Download folder-few days ago.

--At the second step ahead,would I need to uninstall (remove from the Device manager list)the display driver and the video capture driver (I don't recall where I saw that at this point in time)first before installing the new ones or do I run the new ones without uninstalling the old ones first? I assume they have to be removed first, but I just want to be sure since it is left implied in your description thereof. More later as the process unfolds. Having gone smooth and to the target on the previous task, I am reasonably confident this one will be a successful one too. :p

[malcore]

Ok Sam, here we go again.

Go ahead and just click and install your new Via 4in1 drivers. When installing any drivers, always make sure there are NO applications running in the background. Shut off any anti virus software and any and all Windows programs except Explorer and Systray.

After that, you will have to remove your previous ATI installations. Best to start with an entirley clean slate. Here (http://www.pcphotovideo.com/richa/ati1.htm) is a link that will guide you through a thorough uninstall. When he gets to the part about "regedit", just use your new "RegCleaner" to remove any mention of ATI. While in Add/Remove programs remove the multimedia center and any and all ATI apps.

Install the dispaly driver as he outlines, then the video capture driver. Next (if you downloaded the new versions of the DVD player and multimedia centre) install the DVD player first. You will need your original installation CD to verify that this is a legitimate upgrade. Now install the new multimedia centre.

If you choose not to download and install the new DVD and Multimedia apps, then follow the advice in my link and install from your CD using the "custom" option and unchecking the installation of drivers as you will already have newer drivers installed.

Post back if any uncertainties may arise.

Just a last question. I haven't asked this and should have. What processor are you using and how much RAM do you have? Just curious.

As for this:Great to hear from you again, malcore:- How readily helpful and skilled you are, really, at identifying and grabing a problem by its balls. PLeeeease!! Let's not exaggerate!! I will need an extra helping of humble pie tonight.;)
Keep it coming though. Flattery will get you everywhere!:D

Fingers crossed, luck,
malcore

[SamAlem2002]

Hi malcore:-Hope you have nice weekend. I am away from my PC on this weekend but could access my mail-program anyway.

To start with your footer comment:- It was not intended to flatter you, I was simply stating a fact as I found it, and fact is often a stubburn thing, so your modest self has to learn to live with it, ha! ha!:D

As to the task ahead, I think I am now adequately clear as to how to go about reinstalling the 'big naughty boy' all over again which I hope to do when I get back to my place tomorow or there about. As per my take so far, it involves installing the WinME version of 1) the display driver 2)the TV/tuner/video capture driver 3) a new DVD player 4) most likely a newly downloaded ATI Media Center and 5) the control panel that is recommended to go along with #4; and all these in that order. I will get in touch with you again after trial. I hope to get it right and in place this time.

In the meantime to respond to a passing question you posed, my processor is an AMD Atholon(TM), 1000 Mhz, and the RAM currently stands a 256 MB. BTW, I recall altering in the CMOS the VGA buffer and whatever else it is called from 16 MB to 32 MB at the time of initial activating this AGP card and disabling the previous 'on-board' card. I wonder if there was/is a need to do that in the first place since I must have done that along the line suggested in one of earlier FAQ readings or the likes.

OK more later. Regards, Sam.

[ErnieK]

To install the latest ATI drivers you have to install the "WDM" driver first. It makes no difference the OS you are using.

This is ATI's so called improved upgrade. Everytime they try to make things better they make them more difficult.

If you want to contact them I would suggest sending an e-mail with a web-mail address, then read the automated (unhelpful) replies then go on a long holiday, a minimum 3-4 months, as this is the least amount of time it takes them to start to give a positive response. You must then be prepared to spend another 3-4 weeks going in in square circles before going back to step 1

If you want to phone them just leave a message on their answering machine, (after making international telephone call), then be prepared to be totally ignored by them. At least this is the format here in the UK

[Whyzman]

Ernie, do I sense a bit of sarcasm here?

"Square circles!?" I love it! :p :D I'll have to remember that one...sounds a bit cutting edge! Ah man, I can't believe I just did that.... :rolleyes:

When I had Creative and ATI conflicts my calls to both techsupports were most helpful. Perhaps it's just an "other side of the pond" issue?

Hey, how's the health? I don't mean to bifurcate the thread here...I hope you're doing well! ;)

[SamAlem2002]

Hi ErnieK & Whyz:-
Thank U Erniek for bringing the point of doing the wdm driver first,
In fact I recall reading that recommendation on the details provided by ATI regading it. If I remember correctly, they suggest that the installation starts with-wdm, (no rebooting), then the recommended ATI display driver and then to restart windows and assumingly proceed with the installation of other components (like DVD player, control panel, etc). According to them, if the display driver comes before the wdm (video capture) driver, then one should expect an "unknown Device* notification during New Hardware detection, a condition I gave not that much weight to worry about in view of what seems to be common procedure of installing the display driver first. Now that you raised the point, however, I wonder if you have found in practice that installing the display driver first would give rise to one or some snag(s) later on or conversely doing the wdm first as they say went without any problem at all?

As for the support/techs responses, believe me you are not alone on the unsparingly true observations you made. Thanks to such forums, otherwise some of us (at least those of us who unlike Whyz are on your side of the 'pool' and/or thereabout) would have long ago giving up on anything that has an AT before I.:p

[Whyzman]

Sam,

Not to confound the issue, but thought you might want to poke around HERE (http://www.rageunderground.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi) while you pondering your next move.....

I'm headed back myself to have a look see...regarding my AIW Pro and I'll be looking for info regarding yours also.

Also, there's a section on the DVD you might want to check out.

I personally use PowerDVD rather than the ATI Hardware DVD and have excellent results...although, that's not utilizing a feature I "paid for!" I know, I know..... :rolleyes:

[SamAlem2002]

Hi ALL:-
Made a couple of trials and thanks for the help, tips and suggestions forwarded since the initiation of this thread, it was finally a BINGO! Every feature of the 'naughty card' seems to work at near-optimal level.

By way of a personal summary note regarding the installation of an AIW Radeon (AGP) on an WIN98SE with the latest (WMe) drivers, the best result was obtained, in this case, under the following procedure and sequence.

A) Removing all ATI drivers and components from previous installations or any attempt to install. (The more thoro the better).
B) Installing the above mentioned Radeon graphic card with the most recent drivers and ATI software:-

1st) Install tv-capture-wdm 6-13-10-6125v5.exe.
-- NO Rebooting (No Windows restart)!
2nd) Install the ATI display driver WME-radeion 4-13.--
-- Now Reboot (Restart Windows.
---------------------------------------------
3rd) Install the newly downloaded DVD-player 7.6. (here the IDing/insertion of an ATI installation CD is part of the process).
-- No Rebooting!
4th) ATI Multimedia Center 7.7.0.1
-- Now Reboot (Restart Windows)
---------------------------
5th) Checked and works fine (without the new control panel)
6th) Now install Control panel 6-13- .. and Reboot.
--------------------
7th) Everything in place with all available components installed. Proceed with setting up and checking screen/monitor and ATI features. And it was/is easy sailing hereafter.

And I rest the case under this thread here.
Again with thanks,
Sam.
The best time to worry is tomorrow!

[ErnieK]

SamAlem CONGRATULATIONS!http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/otn/laughing/icon_smile_lachuh.gif

Whyz
WHAT? me sarcastic? NEVER! Just painful costly experience. Over here the level of support is virtually nil in a lot of cases and zero in the rest. Great looking link. Going back later on.

As for the health, I am getting there. Concentration level is very low and easy tired. Still not had a cigarette and screaming like a banshee for one. Thank God for the patches which are taking the edge of the craving. But an hour at a time I am managing. Just do not talk to me or look at me. The dog has taken up permanent residence with the cat on the top branch of the nearest tree :) Thanks for asking