Lost my ATI CD, can the card be installed and config'd for OS still?

[Bob151]

I've lost the ATI CD for my 9800 AGP Pro. I'm not sure if it really is nessesary to install in an OS that hasn't had it installed yet or not?

I want to sell it and I am wondering if the CD is really nessesary for someone to install it into their fresh OS.

 

[IceWindius]

Yes, you can install an OS, the OS will just try to load in appopriate drivers, in this case, it will load generic ATi drivers for the 9800pro until you load the new catalysts in. Be sure to do your mobo/chipset/directx9 before you do video

 

[xtknight]

The MS driver will run in 2D mode fine. It won't start any Direct3D or OpenGL games. If the user doesn't know about ati.com I suppose a CD would be needed. But anyone buying a specific card from ebay or FS/FT/etc. in the first place oughta know you can download drivers (and the latest ones at that). Don't worry about it not selling because there's no CD.

 

[Bob151]

I understand what you are saying, and it would seem to make sense based on all my past experiences.

However, when I installed my X850 XT in the same OS install instance which had the 9800 Pro, the OS wouldn't recognize it. Even while I had the newest Catalst drivers. All the times I pointed it to the directory when I put the new drivers (and the OK was highlighted) it wouldn't take the web site drivers.

The OS wouldn't recognize the darn thing until I put the CD that came with the X850 XT in a drive.

So that has me wondering if INF files don't come with the downloaded drivers. I can't imagine that ATI would make that choice, but some companies do make bad decisions.

 

[Markbnj]

Just install it, let Windows choose a default resolution, and then go grab the catalyst drivers from ATI's site.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Bob151
I understand what you are saying, and it would seem to make sense based on all my past experiences.

However, when I installed my X850 XT in the same OS install instance which had the 9800 Pro, the OS wouldn't recognize it. Even while I had the newest Catalst drivers. All the times I pointed it to the directory when I put the new drivers (and the OK was highlighted) it wouldn't take the web site drivers.

The OS wouldn't recognize the darn thing until I put the CD that came with the X850 XT in a drive.

So that has me wondering if INF files don't come with the downloaded drivers. I can't imagine that ATI would make that choice, but some companies do make bad decisions.

don't install through device manager.

just double click the install exe and it will work just fine.

heck, you could just choose 'run' when you click the link to download

 

[flexy]

i am w/ ATI for years already (since the 8500 days) and NEVER even touched the CDs which come with the cards

I also already sold various ATI cards on ebay and it never even came into my mind to include the CDs in the package...

Just d/l the drivers from ATI's website which are more up-to date. You dont need the CD except you have an URGE to run outdated software. If yours doesnt run w/o the CD you did something wrong.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Bob151
I understand what you are saying, and it would seem to make sense based on all my past experiences.

However, when I installed my X850 XT in the same OS install instance which had the 9800 Pro, the OS wouldn't recognize it. Even while I had the newest Catalst drivers. All the times I pointed it to the directory when I put the new drivers (and the OK was highlighted) it wouldn't take the web site drivers.

The OS wouldn't recognize the darn thing until I put the CD that came with the X850 XT in a drive.

So that has me wondering if INF files don't come with the downloaded drivers. I can't imagine that ATI would make that choice, but some companies do make bad decisions.

That's because Windows was expecting a different device ID. Always uninstall drivers before installing new cards. ("Do as I say, not as I do" goes through head) But my ForceWare still worked on XP64 going from 6800->7800GT, but I had to reinstall the drivers to get 3D to work, despite the current drivers supporting 78xx anyway (I'm pretty sure). The INF file comes with the download. It lists all vendor and device IDs and corresponding names for the Windows graphics adapters list.

 

[Bob151]

Alright, thanks everyone.

Off to ebay.