Vista 64 keeps reinstalling drivers

[flashbacck]

I finally decided it was time for a format and clean install of my desktop running XP, so I figured it was a good time for the switch over to vista 64. Everything seems ok, except for the fact that every freaking time I boot up, Vista tells me it wants to reinstall drivers. The driver reinstall always completes and there's no error message. But inevitably on the next boot, it'll install them again.

The drivers it wants to reinstall are for my Audigy 2 (I have the latest 7/16 version), PCI to PCI bridge, and two other PCI related devices that I can't remember atm.

Does anyone know why this is happening and how to fix it?

Thanks for any help!

 

[nerp]

Did you install the correct chipset drivers for your motherboard?

 

[flashbacck]

I downloaded the latest via chipset drivers from viaarena and that seems to have stopped the driver reinstalls for the PCI devices. For the Audigy drivers, I just selected Don't Notify Me Again. Seems like a less than ideal solution, but I guess it works...

 

[Majic 7]

Did you do the check for updates thing under control panel>system and maintenance? This helped me get rid of some updates that I had already done. You situation does sound a little different though.

 

[flashbacck]

I kept getting the Need to Install Drivers notice for my Audigy 2, so I found the modded audigy drivers by Daniel_K and installed them. Hopefully this'll work better...

 

[flashbacck]

*sigh* I think I'll just reinstall w/ Vista 32. Doesn't seem like the advantages of using Vista 64 are worth the driver headaches.

 

[Lepard]

If you are going to be reinstalling, try Vista 64 again.

This is not a driver issue per se, but I would double check that the correct chipset drivers are installed after the reinstallation.

Keep us updated.

 

[Crusty]

Or just throw the Audigy 2 out the window. Creative really dropped the ball when it came time to write Vista drivers.

 

[Lepard]

Originally posted by: Crusty
Or just throw the Audigy 2 out the window. Creative really dropped the ball when it came time to write Vista drivers.

Up until recently I had an Audigy 2ZS, and it never gave me any driver problems in Vista x64.

 

[flashbacck]

Well, I found out what the problem is: http://www.tkarena.com/forums/...l-every-cold-boot.html

Apparently the VIA VT8237A southbridge has issues with vista. It randomly assigns device IDs on every cold boot, which makes vista think a new device has been added, so it reinstalls its drivers again. I haven't found a solution for my crappy ecs PT890Ta

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: flashbacck
Does anyone know why this is happening and how to fix it?

Its not the VT8237A, per se, but rather a VIA-specific BIOS flaw that fails to program the PNP PCI ID stuff in a format that can be decoded properly by Vista. This was supposed to be fixed in the latest BIOS update. I created a bootable BIOS update CD that will automatically flash your PT890T-A to the latest BIOS from ECS:

http://s89934018.onlinehome.us/BIOS/PT890TA.ISO

Remove the Audigy2 and any other non-essential PCI cards that aren't needed to boot the system. Create CD from ISO, boot from CD, sit back and watch the show. When update is complete, follow the instruction to reboot and remove the CD, or just remove the CD if the system automatically reboots itself.

Upon first boot, you may receive an error message like "Checksum Error" or similar. This is normal. Follow the instruction to enter BIOS Setup. You may also find many BIOS settings have been reset to default values. Again, perfectly normal. Go through all BIOS pages and restore settings to preference. When finished, Save Changes and Exit.

Install Vista 64 again from scratch. Install out-standing critical, important, or recommended Windows Updates, including SP1 (if your install media is pre-SP1).

Install the latest VIA drivers (restart when prompted):

Hyperion Pro 4-in-1

VIA Rhine Integrated LAN (Windows Update may offer a VIA LAN driver. If so, grab it and skip this one)

Lastly, install your Audigy2 and other optional devices.

 

[flashbacck]

Thanks for your help tcsenter. I shouldn't have to reinstall vista before the driver reinstall problem is fixed, right? I flashed my bios using your iso, and it's still doing the same thing on every cold boot.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: flashbacck
Thanks for your help tcsenter. I shouldn't have to reinstall vista before the driver reinstall problem is fixed, right?

That's right, I enjoy detailing ordered steps or procedures that have no merit or purpose so that people will just ignore them. Its kind of a hobby.