Drivers

[Robz]

Does anyone know a free program that will tell me drivers I'm missing? For example, my colours are in '16 Colors' because the default graphics adapter is on, and I need my real ones.

[Paul K]

You'll need to identify your graphics card/ chipset so that you can download the correct drivers.
Try running this tool and check what graphics chipset it is, post back if you need help finding the information or the drivers
http://www.lavalys.com/products/down...?pid=1&lang=en

[monkey2468]

Originally Posted by Robz

Does anyone know a free program that will tell me drivers I'm missing? For example, my colours are in '16 Colors' because the default graphics adapter is on, and I need my real ones.

Can you not use microsoft update from there download section?

[Paul K]

You need to have already had the hardware identified within Windows for the Update site to go looking for a new or better driver for it. If it's running generic VGA drivers then Windows hasn't identified it properly and installed proper drivers for it yet.

once you know which card you're using, either geforce nvidia, or Ati, then here are the sites to go to:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.85.html

or for Ati, go here:

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/...e&folderID=293

If your card is an ATi card, before downloading and installing the driver, you MUST go to windows update first, and download ALL the .net software, from the software optional tab, it comes in two parts, so download the first section, then go back to windows update to download 2nd, then go to ati and download/install driver, otherwise the ATi software will not install/work correctly

[Robz]

Originally Posted by Paul

You'll need to identify your graphics card/ chipset so that you can download the correct drivers.
Try running this tool and check what graphics chipset it is, post back if you need help finding the information or the drivers
http://www.lavalys.com/products/down...?pid=1&lang=en

That told me which drivers I needed, and I have downloaded them and they work. Thanks

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Robz

That told me which drivers I needed, and I have downloaded them and they work. Thanks

No probs, it's a tool that comes in very handy so it's always useful to have it installed just in case.

[patrickp]

Originally Posted by monkey2468

Can you not use microsoft update from there download section?

Originally Posted by Paul

You need to have already had the hardware identified within Windows for the Update site to go looking for a new or better driver for it. If it's running generic VGA drivers then Windows hasn't identified it properly and installed proper drivers for it yet.

Also, M$' offered drivers are not always the best ones to use. In fact, they can sometimes even be problematic. If M$ are offering them for an M$ device - probably. Otherwise, go to the manufacturer's site, not Windows Update.

Originally Posted by atlantis

once you know which card you're using, either geforce nvidia, or Ati, then here are the sites to go to:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.85.html

or for Ati, go here:

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/...e&folderID=293

If your card is an ATi card, before downloading and installing the driver, you MUST go to windows update first, and download ALL the .net software, from the software optional tab, it comes in two parts, so download the first section, then go back to windows update to download 2nd, then go to ati and download/install driver, otherwise the ATi software will not install/work correctly

Still not true (fortunately). Older ATI drivers don't need it at all; the most recent Catalyst drivers are still offered with either their Control Panel or the Control Center. Only the Control Center needs .net. Since, as yet, the Control Center + .net combination has proved to be mostly bloat, and most or all of its functions can be performed by much leaner custom apps, only those with fast machines are advised to even consider this option. Many ATI users are not intending to use versions of the Catalyst drivers past the date ATI stop releasing Control Panel versions. Scuttlebutt has it that this will be in the NEW Year, when Catalyst 6 is released.

[QUOTE= Still not true (fortunately). Older ATI drivers don't need it at all; the most recent Catalyst drivers are still offered with either their Control Panel or the Control Center. Only the Control Center needs .net. Since, as yet, the Control Center + .net combination has proved to be mostly bloat, and most or all of its functions can be performed by much leaner custom apps, only those with fast machines are advised to even consider this option. Many ATI users are not intending to use versions of the Catalyst drivers past the date ATI stop releasing Control Panel versions. Scuttlebutt has it that this will be in the NEW Year, when Catalyst 6 is released.[/QUOTE]

You, like everyone else here, are entitled to their own opinions.

My mates, who are real mad gamers, prefer to have the full control centre download, and rate it highly.

I myself use the 7800 geeforce card, so am only able to advise on what I know from knowledge given by close friends and users of the ATI cards.

We are all here to do our bit to help, not score points of each other.

[patrickp]

Originally Posted by atlantis

We are all here to do our bit to help, not score points of each other.

Quite true, and I feel somewhat offended that you suggest I posted to 'score points' rather than to correct a misleading statement that you made.

My intention was to correct your error, not to criticise you; as you say, we are all here to help. I find myself somewhat at a loss to understand your response.

Originally Posted by atlantis

You, like everyone else here, are entitled to their own opinions.

My mates, who are real mad gamers, prefer to have the full control centre download, and rate it highly.

I myself use the 7800 geeforce card, so am only able to advise on what I know from knowledge given by close friends and users of the ATI cards.

We are all here to do our bit to help, not score points of each other.

I'm surprised that you saw patrickp's post as an attempt at 'point scoring', I read it as him trying to make sure the whole story was available, from which anyone it is relevant to, could make a choice.

- and he did say that those those with fast machines, e.g. (I presume), 'mad gamers' , are advised to consider the option of the Control Center (sic)

- to be honest, I don't use the Control Center, myself, but I am not a gamer (not with a Radeon 9800se, I'm not )

I really think Patrick was trying to suggest 'horses for courses', not score any points

[patrickp]

Originally Posted by homealone

I'm surprised that you saw patrickp's post as an attempt at 'point scoring', I read it as him trying to make sure the whole story was available, from which anyone it is relevant to, could make a choice.

Thanks for that, Gaz. "trying to make sure the whole story was available" expresses it a whole lot better than I did...

Originally Posted by homealone

- and he did say that those those with fast machines, e.g. (I presume), 'mad gamers' , are advised to consider the option of the Control Center (sic)

Well, actually I said "only those with fast machines are advised to even consider this option," which is a bit more critical, I think. But generally, even those in favour of Control Center (don't bother 'siccing' Americanisms any more - Americans will do what Americans will do... ;-D) seem to agree that it's only indicated for faster machines.

Originally Posted by homealone

- to be honest, I don't use the Control Center, myself, but I am not a gamer (not with a Radeon 9800se, I'm not )

With a 9700 Pro (my _fastest_ card...), nor am I!

Originally Posted by homealone

I really think Patrick was trying to suggest 'horses for courses', not score any points

Pretty much. Nor do I think that atlantis was trying to misinform about the Catalyst drivers and .net - nevertheless, his information was incorrect, and I felt it was necessary to put that straight.