big problem - cant install VGA drivers!

I had 84.63 for my go7300 and got 1496 in 3DM05.

I wanted to see the performance with newer driver versions and tried the following versions from LV2G:

97.92 (most popular) - 3DM05: 1463
165.01 (latest) - 3DM05: 1456

I then decided to go back to my trusty 84.63 but during the installation it said something about overwriting new files, for consistency i clicked ok. After the screen going blank a few times i then got the BSOD and then it restarted.

Since then no matter which driver version i try it does the exact same thing so right now im stuck on 800x600 on the default software driver.

Can someone tell me whats going on? Im planning on reformating the HD tomorrow and so thats why i was seeing which driver to install afresh. Please tell me that will cure it or im in deep crap

 

Reformatting the hard drive should remove and old drivers (or partially installed ones) and give you a fresh start. Does anyone else agree with me? <-- Lets just make sure.

Have you tried booting up into safe-mode, uninstalling drivers (if possible), then installing drivers (all in safe-mode)?

 

Absolutely! Formatting is typically what I do whenever I have serious driver issues. Even if you do manage to get it working, you never know if a an old file was left in place and is causing you to lose performance.

Other than formatting, safe mode is the way to go.

 

ok ill try safe mode now and report back here in a bit.

I guess this is the price i pay for trying to fix something that wasnt broke.

Personally, when watching 3DM05 run i thought the 165.01 drivers were doing well ~ 1-2 FPS more then normal but when it finished it gave me a lower score. Do drivers that perform badly in 3DM05 do the same in real games? Also are the latest driver versions the best?

edit: ive also lost "stand by" mode (greyed out), whats up with that?

 

Not always. I've had a terrible time with the last 2 ATI driver releases, forcing me back to where I was originally. I'm not so gung-ho about updating drivers anymore............

 

OK safe mode let me complete the driver install but when i restarted the desktop loads and then when the final systray item loads (nvidia control panel im guessing) i get the BSOD and it restarts automatically.

So im back to using the crappy software driver! Thing is when it starts the resolution is changed to 1280x800 so something is working.

Hopefully i will get it fixed tomorrow when i reformat. I will go back to the 84.63 drivers that gave me no hassle at all.

 

I'm guessing the downgrade corrupted something in the system 32 folder, because a driver rollback *should* have worked.

 

Sounds like a good plan to me. It doesn't seem like the newer drivers gave you a performance boost to begin with, so there is no real necessity for you to upgrade to the new ones. I doubt the problems are being caused by the new drivers themselves, it seems more likely that it was a botched install that is causing all the problems. You should be safe with either version, but go with what makes you comfortable.