Issues installing AMD Drivers

[aez5]

My gf recently got a new PC and I'm trying to convert her old one to use for some light gaming (specs below). I did a fresh install of Windows 8.1, and got everything (except graphics) working properly.

Problems started when I tried to install a Sapphire HD 7750 1GB GDDR5. I can boot with the card in, but during the install of the drivers (latest downloaded from AMD website---Catalyst Software Suite Omega 14.12), the screen goes black and never comes back on. I tried accessing the machine with TeamViewer during the install, and it turns out that the machine is actually freezing up at this point (causing me to lose my connection). When I try to reboot after the black screen, I get the Windows icon, followed by a black screen. I can't actually get into Windows unless I remove the graphics card and boot with the integrated graphics. At that point, I can use Display Driver Uninstaller to remove the drivers, after which I can boot with the graphics card in. I had an HD 5450 lying around, and was able to install that just fine, but would love the boost to the 7750. Any ideas what could be going on?

Thanks!

PC Specs:
CPU: AMD Athlon II x4 640 3.0 Ghz
RAM: 2x4Gb Kingston HyperX Red
Hard Drive: Seagate 500Gb
PSU: Thermaltake 450W
Motherboard: Biostar A780L3C
OS: Windows 8.1 64bit Home

 

[Hitman928]

This should be posted in the computer help forum, you can ask a mod to move. But just as a starting point, are you sure the 7750 isn't broken? Have you tried it in another computer? Did you double check the power connections?

 

[sandorski]

Check the Biostar website for a BIOS update. If there is another PCI-E slot, try switching that one.

 

[Attic]

Try uninstalling the onboard graphics drivers completely and shutting off onboard graphics from BIOS. Set BIOS first display for the 7750 (PCIE instead of Onboard), then load the AMD 14.12 drivers.

 

[aez5]

Turns out that I actually can boot after the failed install and get a good screen resolution, but the display driver being used is the Basic Display Adapter.

Anyways, I tried updating BIOS and disabling the onboard graphics, as well as increasing the GPP slots power limit from 25 W to 75 W, and results are the same. I don't have the ability to test the 7750 on another computer, but the fact that I can get it to display at high resolution before the driver install makes me think that the card is functioning properly.

Any other ideas?

 

[sm625]

Teamviewer disconnecting may not necessarily mean the whole machine is frozen. The video driver is being unloaded and that in itself might cause teamviewer to drop out.Use another method to tell for sure if the machine is frozen. Try tapping caps lock and num lock on the keyboard. A frozen machine will cause the lights on the keyboard to not follow caps lock, num lock etc. If you find that it is actually not entirely frozen, then try a different monitor, cable, cable type, video port, etc.

 

[aez5]

Teamviewer disconnecting may not necessarily mean the whole machine is frozen. The video driver is being unloaded and that in itself might cause teamviewer to drop out.Use another method to tell for sure if the machine is frozen. Try tapping caps lock and num lock on the keyboard. A frozen machine will cause the lights on the keyboard to not follow caps lock, num lock etc. If you find that it is actually not entirely frozen, then try a different monitor, cable, cable type, video port, etc.

Hadn't thought of that; thanks for the suggestion.

It does look like an actual freeze. When the screen goes black (and shows something like 5 or 6 small downward pointing white arrows in the center for a second before going totally black) the caps lock key becomes unresponsive.

 

[Attic]

Turns out that I actually can boot after the failed install and get a good screen resolution, but the display driver being used is the Basic Display Adapter.

Anyways, I tried updating BIOS and disabling the onboard graphics, as well as increasing the GPP slots power limit from 25 W to 75 W, and results are the same. I don't have the ability to test the 7750 on another computer, but the fact that I can get it to display at high resolution before the driver install makes me think that the card is functioning properly.

Any other ideas?

Did you wipe the Onboard Graphics Drivers? Thorough wipe here, might need a driver cleaner utility.


If you can reformat and never install the Onboard Graphics drivers I suspect you'll have a working system with the 7750 and 14.12's. You can try the idea on her system on spare HD if there is one available and available Win7 media.

If no spare HD, you can look into dual booting a new Win7 install by partitioning her drive.

 

[aez5]

Did you wipe the Onboard Graphics Drivers? Thorough wipe here, might need a driver cleaner utility.


If you can reformat and never install the Onboard Graphics drivers I suspect you'll have a working system with the 7750 and 14.12's. You can try the idea on her system on spare HD if there is one available and available Win7 media.

If no spare HD, you can look into dual booting a new Win7 install by partitioning her drive.

Could I also just create a system restore point? How do I go about removing the Onboard Graphics Drivers?

 

[Hitman928]

Did you purchase the card from retail, used, or is it an older card you had lying around? Just because it works with the generic driver with high resolutions doesn't necessarily mean it isn't the card. Installing the AMD driver will allow the card to use additional functionality, even on the desktop, that could be introducing the hardware fault. I'm not saying this is the case, just that I've seen it happen and is still a possibility.

I'm assuming the integrated graphics are AMD graphics? When you open the graphics installer, there should be an uninstall option. If not, go to device manager, find the integrated graphics, right click, uninstall. Be sure to remove driver when you do it this way (not sure if it's the same on win 8). You can also try a different driver version just to be sure. The latest are 15.5 beta (don't let beta scare you away, it doesn't make a difference), or you can search for an older driver.

 

[aez5]

Did you purchase the card from retail, used, or is it an older card you had lying around? Just because it works with the generic driver with high resolutions doesn't necessarily mean it isn't the card. Installing the AMD driver will allow the card to use additional functionality, even on the desktop, that could be introducing the hardware fault. I'm not saying this is the case, just that I've seen it happen and is still a possibility.

Gf purchased it from retail a couple years ago; when she had the same problem, she just removed the card and turned it into a work PC. So it's been lying around, but never actually used.

I'm assuming the integrated graphics are AMD graphics? When you open the graphics installer, there should be an uninstall option. If not, go to device manager, find the integrated graphics, right click, uninstall. Be sure to remove driver when you do it this way (not sure if it's the same on win 8). You can also try a different driver version just to be sure. The latest are 15.5 beta (don't let beta scare you away, it doesn't make a difference), or you can search for an older driver.

Yes, they are AMD. I'll give this a try and report back.

 

[Hitman928]

Gf purchased it from retail a couple years ago; when she had the same problem, she just removed the card and turned it into a work PC. So it's been lying around, but never actually used.

Hmmm, sounds like she bought a card that was DOA. Hopefully something works for you, but it doesn't sound promising given this information.

 

[aez5]

Tried to install after removing the onboard graphics drivers and no luck.

Is it safe to assume at this point that this is a hardware problem with the graphics card? I'd like to buy a new card to improve the graphics capability of the machine, but if I'm likely to have the same installation problems (which would not be the case if this were a problem with the graphics card hardware), I don't want to waste the money.

 

[SolMiester]

got .net installed BEFORE you install the AMD catalyst drivers.

 

[96Firebird]

got .net installed BEFORE you install the AMD catalyst drivers.

Along the lines of this, also make sure Windows is all up-to-date.

 

[aez5]

Along the lines of this, also make sure Windows is all up-to-date.

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, Windows, including .NET was fully updated (including optional updates) before trying the driver install.

 

[Hitman928]

Tried to install after removing the onboard graphics drivers and no luck.

Is it safe to assume at this point that this is a hardware problem with the graphics card? I'd like to buy a new card to improve the graphics capability of the machine, but if I'm likely to have the same installation problems (which would not be the case if this were a problem with the graphics card hardware), I don't want to waste the money.

With everything you've told us, I think the most likely culprit is the card itself. You can pick up a 7750 equivalent or better pretty cheap right now, especially if you're willing to buy used. Good luck.

 

[Erenhardt]

Try other driver - older one.

Don't know if it is possible, but try to increase voltage in msi afterburner. Or at least power limit and decrease clocks. Driver probably override this during install, but trying never hurts.

The other option is to flash card's bios. I know my 7870 worked perfectly in my system, but was freezing a system for a guy I sold it. Bios flash helped.