Enormous ATI Catalyst Headache

[andrewjnyc]

Hey Guys--

I just joined up and am hoping you guys can help me out where ATI tech support has failed me. Here's my problem: If I attempt to install Catalyst drivers on my system (Athlon XP 2500+, MSI K7N2 Delta-L mobo, AIW 9600 video card) using the single installer I download from ATI, my system is FUBAR when I reboot--screen redraw is slow as molasses and, per SiSoft Sandra, I have no OpenGL functionality whatsoever (which makes it impossible to run Doom 3 and any other OpenGL games). The only way I can get the system to work is to uninstall all ATI software and then use Windows' Found New Hardware wizard to install the driver, then install the ATI control panel separately. The big drawback there is that smartgart does not get installed, and I'd really like to be able to access it to control additional settings.

I've had this problem ever since late summer when I followed Koroush Ghazi's instructions in his Catalyst Tweak Guide at tweakguides.com for removing old drivers when I was trying to optimize my system for Doom 3. I emailed Koroush for help and he advised me to contact ATI tech support, which I put off forever. When I finally did so the other day, I was on the phone with them for an hour and they were totally unable to solve the problem--in the end, they were like "You don't really need SmartGART, so you don't really have a problem". Maybe I don't really have a problem, but I do like to have my system running smootly. I'm seriously considering doing a new Windows install to see if that solves the problem, but before going that far I thought I'd see if y'all had any possible solutions to suggest.

 

[Auric]

Foistly, there are two integrated installer packages -one of which includes the Catalyst Control Center in addition to the Control Panel. My advice and the general consensus on rage3d is to avoid the CCC. In any case, the setup.exe's for the driver and CP can still be run individually once any installer package is unarchived.

I would unarchive a package (either using WinRAR or by running and then cancelling the setup) go to the folder and run AtiCimUn.exe (ATI Software Uninstaller). Upon reboot, cancel the two Hardware Wizard prompts. Then go to the Driver folder and run Setup.exe. Do not reboot yet. Go to the CPanel folder and run Setup.exe. Now reboot.

If you wanted to throw in another step, or the above does not work, get the free version of RegCleaner and remove any existing ATI entries (although AtiCimUn should take care of them). I would not personally recommend any "driver cleaners" unless perhaps if other graphics cards without good uninstallers were used previously.

If this does not work, then rather than doing a "new" Windows install, boot from Windows CD, choose repair, then setup over the existing installation. All applications and such will remain and virtually all settings will be maintained. Some drivers will need to be updated, particularly graphics of course, but there shouldn't be any reason for problems then if something was borked following that guide.

Otherwise, the best source for help is the rage3d forums. Good luck.

 

[BFG10K]

Use dxdiag to determine if AGP is working properly. If it isn't make sure you're running the latest BIOS and chipset drivers for your system.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yep, I think you just need to reinstall your mobo chipset drivers after installing the ATI drivers to get your AGP working properly.

 

[rpv]

Should have seen this post earlier...Had to uninstall catalyst over the weekend as i could not run prime after the OC..uninstalled with a lot of errors and then the machine would not boot....had to reinstall windows all over:|. Worked out well..now it is prime stable...