Miserable luck with Catalyst 3.7...dare I try 3.8?

[PaveLow]

Starting from a clean install of Windows 2000 Professional, Catalyst 3.7 used to destroy my Windows installation--most of the time, my computer would spit out an error message and lock up before Windows even started. Sometimes I'd be able to get into Windows, but uninstalling and cleaning up the drivers wouldn't work. Only a complete reformat would restore stability. Has anyone else experienced anything like that? Since then, I've only used the drivers that came on the CD (Catalyst 3.2).

Epox 8K7A
512 MB Crucial PC2100 DDR
128 MB Radeon 9600 Pro
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

Now I'm at college and have no way to back up my data.

Are the 3.8s safe for me to install?

My computer is pretty much the same, except I now have an Asus A7N8X motherboard and half the RAM. It took me about a week of reformatting and installing Windows for me to figure out that the 3.7s were killing my computer, and I'm really trying to avoid anything like that.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Why not? They worked for me and aren't getting bad reviews...I can't imagine why they would work so terribly in the first place, maybe incorrect installation or something.

 

[lordtyranus2]

I wonder why you had such problems with the 3.7s. But I haven't heard of any problems with the 3.8.

 

[dajo]

I don't know if it helps or not, but I was never able to install any of the Catalyst Suites until 3.8. It didn't trash my system, but no matter what I did it would lock at install. I had to install drivers using the "have disk" find inf file method, and forego the Control Panel install (didn't matter if I used the all-in-one file, or the individual exes - they all locked up at install).

I had no such problem this time. Everything installed beautifully, so I think they have fixed some installation issues. My board is an Asus P4P800 intel chipset. The manual says don't use Radeon 9500 or 9700 with part number ending less than "30". My 9600 Pro does have a lesser ending part number and maybe that is why.

I can understand your being hesitant - what a hassle!

It's up to you, but I think there is a fairly good chance it might run okay. Something they did fixed my issue.

Good luck!

 

[dguy6789]

try em as long as you dont plan on using a 9000/9100 radeon. 3.8 runs perfect on all games that i know of, except C&C generals zero hour. That is my fave game, so im back to omega 3.7s untill they fix it. Everyone else that i know of is having good luck.

 

[PaveLow]

Ok, I installed them and they seem to work great! My guess is that the Epox motherboard was the problem, so I'm glad that ended up dying on me.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
try em as long as you dont plan on using a 9000/9100 radeon. 3.8 runs perfect on all games that i know of, except C&C generals zero hour. That is my fave game, so im back to omega 3.7s untill they fix it. Everyone else that i know of is having good luck.

Why not use with 9000/9100?? I have a 8500 and they work just fine.

 

[Jeff7181]

But I thought ATI's drivers have come a long way and are just as good as nVidia's in terms of stablitiy? :evil:

 

[Ferocious]

If you're having trouble....always upgrade the drivers.

I'm still using 3.4's with no problems in anything.

 

[Regs]

Problem with Epox? ugh!

*Puts the nforce 2 mobo on hold

Maybe I should go with soltek...

 

[MemberSince97]

IMO , they are slickery...

 

[Mem]

If you're having trouble....always upgrade the drivers.

I'm still using 3.4's with no problems in anything.

I don`t have any problems with my Epox/ATI combo and always upgrade to the latest drivers,why? People forget that newer drivers have quite a few bug fixes.

Another reason to use the new 3.8s is they have a uninstall program for Catalyst driver software which is in the add/removes program icon in Windows Control panel,so in theory I shouldn`t need to use Driver Cleaner from now on.