Cannot install new drivers on MSI 270X Hawk edition

[FireTrance]

Okay so I bought a new MSI R9 270x Hawk edition on Friday to upgrade from an older 5770 and I cannot install the latest WHQL or beta release drivers. I will explain step by step my issue below.

After removing the 5770's drivers, rebooting and installing the latest 13.12 WHQL release then rebooting I get a black screen after the Windows logo, usb devices stop working, computer locks up etc.

I cannot boot my computer normally without it crashing like this. My only option is to use start-up repair which fails to do anything meaningful after 5 minutes and asks me to contact Microsoft or whatever.

Anyway, I am forced to boot into safe mode where I cannot use the official catalyst install manager to remove the drivers from control panel so instead I must use drive sweeper to completely remove all existing GPU drivers from my computer.

I am then able to boot the computer normally with no graphics drivers where I attempted to install 13.12 WHQL and the older 13.11 beta drivers with no luck, each time on reboot after an install, the computer gets a black screen after the windows logo and lockups forcing me to reset again.

I decided to try the drivers that came on the MSI CD with my card and they work fine so I am using them for now (In CCC they are listed as driver packaging version 13.101-130604a-161553C-ATI).

I have no idea how to solve this except people on the MSI forums have posted about having various similar issues such as stuttering during games and desktop use, getting a black screen during driver install or after driver install along with a failure to boot and I believe at least one person posted the same issue that I am having albeit with the regular gaming edition of the 270X.

Apparently people have successfully resolved all of these issues by flashing the GPU BIOS to a newer version but they differ from card to card and even serial number to serial number. I made a post on the MSI forums but no one feels like replying to my post.

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas on a fix? Will a GPU BIOS update solve this? If so could someone point me to the correct BIOS and instructions?

R9 270X Hawk 2GB
S/N: 602-V303-02SB1310008582
Current BIOS version: 015.041.000.000.002887(113-C6310100-X15)

Thanks in advance!

 

[stahlhart]

Welcome to the AnandTech forums.

Does your motherboard have integrated graphics? If so, as you certain that they are disabled in the BIOS?

Driver Sweeper might not be the best approach to take for removing old drivers -- do you have the steps for a manual removal process?

 

[FireTrance]

Hello thanks for the reply.

Just rebooted and double checked, I can confirm integrated graphics are disable in the BIOS.

I do not have full steps to remove all trace of drives without the use of an external programs, if you have them I will give it a shot installed them again.

*EDIT*

If it helps here are my full system specs:

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
CPU: i5-3570k (stock settings, no OC)
Ram: Corsair Vengeance 8GB 1600mhz
Mobo: Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H (BIOS revision R17)
GPU: MSI R9 270X Hawk 2GB
HDD: Crucial M4 128GB SSD, 2 mechanical drives
Sound card: Creative X-fi Xtreme gamer
Case: Antec 900
Cooler: NZXT Havik 140
Optical: LG bluray drive, LG dvd drive

 

[stahlhart]

Are you first removing the drivers through Control Panel --> Programs and Features, then running Driver Sweeper in Safe Mode, then rebooting and redetecting the card in Control Panel --> Device Manager as a standard VGA adapter, before reinstalling the drivers?

Still looking for the manual driver removal steps. I've got them for GeForce drivers; I would have thought someone has compiled a similar set of steps for Catalyst.

 

[FireTrance]

Yes that is exactly what I done the first time, on future re-install attempts after a failed install and failed boot I obviously could not uninstall from CCC install manager in safe mode so I just used driver sweeper in safe to remove them so I could boot normally with no drivers to try again.

Thanks for trying anyway, it would be great if you could find 100% full removal steps, I am aware that an incredible amount of stuff gets left after an uninstall so I suppose I could be missing something.

 

[stahlhart]

Found it: http://www.overclock.net/t/988215/h...l-ati-amd-software-drivers-for-graphics-cards

 

[BwwwJ1st]

There is a small switch that sticks up on the 270X Hawk. Looking at the cards fan it is on the top right. It has two positions. I could not get my computer to boot after install until I moved the switch to the other position.

 

[Kenmitch]

The link Stahlhart provided should clear out the drivers.

Before you install the drivers make sure you do the .net update that is linked on AMD's driver page.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851

Might not hurt to hit windows update after you run the .net update above.

Another thing that may help is clearing out any hidden AMD stuff in the device manager.

Run command prompt as admin

Type the following and hit enter after each line.

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

start devmgmt.msc

Once device manager opens up then you'll need to select show hidden devices from the view menu.

You'll only need to look under the display adapter and sound tabs. Right click and select uninstall if you see any. Only delete the ones you know are AMD such as AMD high definition audio.

 

[Attic]

I'm having the same issue with an MSI 7850 on a system that previously used a 280x. Something with Cat 13.12's and certain GPU's i'm thinking. The issue, similar/same to OP follows the card across multiple Win7 installs on different mobo and hardware, minute I remove the 7850 the systems are fine. 7850 installed and both systems are destroyed when an ati driver loads. I had resorted to OS reinstall, but now I won't do that, and it sounds like it wouldn't work anyways.

Thanks for thread, good stuff in here, will try.

OP, you may try the 13.11 latest beta drivers available from AMD's website beneath the official 13.12's.

 

[FireTrance]

Okay guys I am awake again and have tried all of your solutions

First of all, I followed every step in the guide that Stalhart linked me to, rebooted when appropriate etc.

I just installed the latest .NET framework 4.5.1 through Windows update on Friday. Your link confirms I have an equal or higher version installed when I go to put the version you provided on.

After following instructions from Stahlhart's guide I followed Kenmitch's using command prompt. I found "AMD Radeon R9 200 series" listed under display adapter and uninstalled which was not visible in regular device manager.

I am not sure if it matters but I also found listed under "Non-plug and play drivers", the top entry was called "amdkmdag". I was not 100% if it related to AMD so I *did not* touch it

Anyway after following both your instructions I attempted to install the latest 13.12 drivers, initially with my BIOS switch set to the right (what I believe is the LN2 profile) and was once again greeted with the black screen after windows logo on reboot.

I powered off and swapped my BIOS back to the default profile on the left. It actually booted normally but seemingly without proper display drivers, I was immediately prompted to reboot where once again I got the black screen after windows logo.

I am going to go completely wipe all trace of drivers according to your instructions again and this time try 13.11 beta drivers but I get the feeling it will again result in a failed boot.

*EDIT*

13.11 beta driver install failed as was kind of expected. Back with standard MSI CD drivers. Would absolutely love more input from you guys.

@Attic:

Yeah people who have reported issues with 7870's/270x/280x seem to say fresh windows installs or trying the cards in another computer doesn't do anything, I believe that's why they seem to think it is a vBIOS issue. I know that there is a newer version of the vBIOS for the regular gaming edition of my card and it fixed some issues such as stuttering, screen flickering and getting a black screen DURING driver install as opposed to AFTER driver install as occurs with my card by I have not been able to locate information on whether or not their is a new vBIOS available for my card and if it would definitely solve the problem.

Also, if you go to the likes of the toms hardware forums and search "270x black screen" there are pages of problems, most of which offer no help or solutions.

 

[Attic]

Damn. That's a real PITA.


I'd recommend avoiding doing the lengthy driver uninstall process where possible. We know it's not solving your issue and we know 13.12 is somewhat of a lynchpin to the problem here. So I would recommend going back driver releases to find the most recent one that works.

I don't recall what driver version I was using without issue on my 7850 before I started using 13.12's in all my rigs. I had thought it was 13.11 beta5, but looking back it is more likely it was 13.11 WHQL. I have the card mining now which is partially what through me off, linux the card works fine and i've been moving it around some computers. Only after reading your thread did I pin it's consistent and confusing failure in Windows 7 to 13.12's. I haven't rolled the card back to 13.11 WHQL on Win7 becuase it's a job to get it out of it's current slot and into another rig.

Depending on purchase date it's worth an RMA IMO. This kind of hassle, though likely resolved in future driver, is a deal breaker. If you find a recent driver that works then it's a tough call. I'd be very surprised if the issue remains unresolved in next official driver,.. . but it's a lousy risk.