Can't install 7970m Drivers (black screen)

Hey all,

So I upgraded to Windows 10 on my machine and everything was going fine for about a week until one day I was gaming and I got a BSOD with error code "Thread stuck in device driver". After that I couldn't boot up a game at all without another BSOD coming up. I did some troubleshooting, but couldn't find a solution anywhere so I decided to downgrade back to Windows 7. Thankfully I haven't gotten any more BSODs, but now I can't install any drivers for my AMD card! It's been driving me crazy!

As you know the Sager NP9170 has both the Intel integrated graphics as well as my dedicated AMD 7970m card. I've been able to install the Intel graphics okay, but when I go to install the AMD drivers it doesn't work. The installation process begins and I can pick where I want to install the drivers and can also pick whether I want the custom or express install option. Then it starts installing and the little green bars start to fill up and BAM - the computer goes to a black screen with a blinking underscore (_)in the top left corner. And then it just sits there for as long as I leave the computer on. I've let it sit for four hours like that with nothing changing.

So yeah - that's annoying.

I've tried firing up a game like this and it works, but it only uses the intel integrated graphics because the drivers for the AMD card are incomplete or missing.

Here are a couple other things I've tried.
I've done complete driver uninstalls (for both intel and AMD) by using Guru 3d's Display Driver Uninstaller.

Then I reinstall intel's driver's first followed by AMD drivers. (error with black screen comes up when I try to install AMD drivers)

I've also gone back to the stock drivers from the Sager website - the 2012 versions - and I still get the same black screen. (Note I've completely wiped my drivers between each attempt by using the DDU tool)

I've also tried to use the latest "Leshcat Catalyst WHQL" combo driver set. I read in some places that people had luck with this. But no dice for my rig.

Out of desperation I have completely formatted the hard drive and reinstalled Windows - all to no avail.

Anyone have any experience on how to fix this? It's been broken for over a week now and it's driving me crazy. I'm happy to post any diagnostics or files if that would help diagnose it.

Thanks in advance,
The Rooster

 

Interesting ... things to do:

1. reset cmos
2. flash bios
3. flash vbios

And while doing so ... would you care to help sort out a nagging question?

The likely culprit there is either Windows 10, the Intel driver, the AMD driver or a combination thereof. Either way, something has changed your bios or vbios. Before you flash a new one, please export the current version and upload it somewhere. If possible, these three;

• bios before cmos reset
• bios after cmos reset
• vbios

Also, better check your display bios (aka edid) is still ok. Run this registry export and upload the .txt files.

 

Thanks for the quick response t456. I've never actually flashed bios or vbios, and I don't even know what cmos is, ha. I'll have to do a little reading up on this procedure... Will post results when I have time to run them.

 

Look into PremaMod (premamod.com) BIOS + vBIOS if they exist for your system + GPU.

 

The problem is Windows 10 drivers in Win 10. I had to use a Beta driver from June 2015 for Win 8.1 to avoid this problem (they work with Win 10). Also, use 3D guru driver cleaner to prevent automatic updates of the driver.

But the black screen sounds more like your GPU died, if no matter how many times you clean the drivers you still get a black screen the moment you install the ATI card drivers, it means you'll need to get it reballed, thats what also happened to me .-.

 

NP9170 here also. been using the last drivers for win10. so far ok.

 

I know it sounds weird, but when I installed Windows 8.1, I had problems with BSOD and black screens when installing ATI-drivers. I found out by disabling my wireless card, I fixed the issue. Then I found another wireless driver that didn't cause any trouble. I know it does not make sense, but it is worth a try.

 

Its funny how some drivers interact like that. There was the recent Audio drivers affecting the touchpad issue.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. I haven't had a whole lot of time to dig in to this lately, but I’m going to dedicate a good chunk of time to it this weekend. A couple updates from my end:


I called up the vendor that sold me the laptop. The first tech rep that I spoke with said I shouldn’t even be installing Intel drivers on my laptop – just skip those and only install the AMD drivers. I had never seen or heard that before, but I gave it a shot. No luck. Couldn’t get the drivers installed or the card to work. Then I called them up again and the other rep said it sounded like the GPU was dead and I should send it back to Sager.


As I’m not super excited about spending several hundred dollars to fix it I figured I’d try a few more things.


I started getting some errors with the Windows 7 install (I forget what they were, it’s been a while), so I figured that I would reinstall windows 10 just for fun to see what would happen. I did and it freaked out. It let me complete the install, but shortly thereafter I got a bunch of BSODs right after another – each with different error codes.


Last night I reinstalled a fresh copy of Windows 7 on a different hard drive, just in case there was something wrong with my SSD. So far all I’ve done is a couple of windows updates and installed a Realtek Ethernet/LAN driver from the Sager stock drivers website so I can connect to the web. Tonight/Tomorrow I plan on taking the next steps to get this thing back up and running.


@powerfull499 & Hutsady – I’ve read some similar comments before about audio and wireless drivers interfering with the GPU. I’ll see if that is the case here.


@littlecx – thanks for the info – and the hope! It can be done! Could I get the driver versions you’re running on some of your other components (audio / wireless esp.) to see if Powerfull’s theory is correct?


@t456 & i_pk_pjers_i – If the drivers method doesn’t work out I’m prepared to do reset CMOS and do a BIOS / VBIOS flash. I’ve never done these before though and am scared to brick my computer. Could you give me a quick overview of how to do this step by step? I went to the premamod website and saw lots of scary disclaimers about doing things the wrong way and bricking the computer.


Thank you all for your help!

 

Follow Prema's instructions to the dot and there's no reason to worry. Read them and, if you still have questions, just ask.

 

Here's Prema's flashing guide, it's really not that hard to do: https://biosmods.wordpress.com/flashing-guide/

 

Alright I got Prema Mod's BIOS flash to work so now I'm good there, but how do I flash my vBIOS? I don't see anything for AMD cards on PremaMod's website. Is there another website I should try?

 

I found a website that offers vBIOS for Clevo amd 7970M here: http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/128794/clevo-hd7970m-2048-120605.html

But this shows that it's for a Clevo P370EM Wimbledon XT A1 MXM GDDR5 300e/150m 0.9V OPM, but I have a Clevo P170EM - will this still work?

 

Maybe, but better not try that; the P370EM is a non-Enduro system and yours is Enduro. Have gathered sixteen 7970M vbioses, but only one Clevo+Enduro; download here.

Before flashing that, please first use ' atiflash -s' to write a backup of the current vbios and upload that somewhere.

 

Thanks t456. I just finished flashing over the vbios. I tried installing the amd drivers and I got the same black screen of doom. Looks like I'm back to square one. Any other things I should try or do I officially have a dead gpu?

 

If Intel HD is running fine, then yes. Although it is a bit suspicious it died right after installing Windows 10 ... Could try baking it, that way you may at least get another year or so out of it. Before doing that, try it on another system first, if you can.

Hm, and try flashing the ME as well (run MEInfo first); there's been some updates regarding Windows 10 compatibility.

Btw, you're a quick study, considering you've never flashed a bios or vbios before .

 

Urgh so lame! Okay I've got nothing to lose at this point. How do I bake this sucker? What do I need? Some thermal paste? Can I get that at best buy or only on line?

 

I have EXACTLY the same issues as you, simmilar Laptop (Also AMD 7970M, altough different brand), so I might think something else is wrong here.
Maybe we bricked our graphics card with trying to update the Driver somehow?

 

@I also .. have EXACTLY the same issue.

Hi everyone,

I also seem to suffer from this weird corelation of installing Windows 10 and my card dying. I plan to do some more investigation (whenever i find some spare time). This annoyies me! I also contacted AMD support.

For clarification I have a Clevo p170EM with AMD HD7970m.

If anyone has some more tips or did resolve this are more than welcome.

 

An oven.

There are guides on how to do this. Basically, it is a crude way of conducting a reflow. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, and if it fixes anything, it usually does not fix it for the long term.

Lengthy read, but does a good job of outlining the whys and hows of baking oven reflows (for motherboards, but same idea applies to a card): http://www.computerrepairtips.net/how-to-reflow-a-laptop-motherboard/

 

Which laptop? Or do you know which brand the card is, specifically (Dell, Clevo, etc.)?