- Joined
- Mar 23, 2004
- Location
- Santa Monica, CA
SYSTEM & BASIC COMPONENTS
Dell Dimension 8200 desktop
1.8 GHz Pentium 4 CPU
Dell motherboard with Intel 850 chipset
BIOS - Dell Computer Corp., SMBIOS v.A03 12/07/01 (v. Dell - 8)
512 MB PC800 RDRAM (non-ECC)
80GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive (Maxtor 6L080L4)
48X Samsung CD-ROM Drive (SC-148C B100)
3 1/2 Inch Floppy Drive - DISABLED - REPLACE w/MEDIA READER ?
GeForce3 Ti 200 64 MB DDR AGP card
SB Live! Value sound card
19" Dell M991 Monitor
Cambridge Soundworks FPS2000 4.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System (had recent sound problem and changed speakers to troubleshoot - temporarily using Altec Lansing model ACS340 2.1 system - 2 speakers and subwoofer)
CNet PRO200WL PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Conexant HSF V92 56K PCI Modem (RTAD Speakerphone)
Microsoft Intellimouse Optical Mouse
Dell Enhanced QuietKey Keyboard PS2
Windows XP Home Edition (5.1.2600 SP1 - NTFS File System)
Internet Explorer 6 (Version 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2.030422-1633SP1 - Update Versions: SP1, Q818529, Q330994)
SystemWorks 2002 Pro Edition (NAV 2002 v.8.07.17C)
Windows XP built-in firewall
As displayed above, I have a Dell Dimension 8200 desktop with Windows XP Home Edition (NTFS file system), and a GeForce3 Ti200 64mb AGP card (factory installed). I've updated with NVIDIA graphics drivers (WHQL certified) several times over the 2 years I've had the system, with NVIDIA'S v.53.03 drivers installed until last week, and have had no real problems.
Last week, I downloaded NVIDIA'S v.56.64 drivers for XP, and did not discover the WHQL certification did not apply to my particular card until halfway through the installation. I continued anyway, and here's where things got screwed up - I don't recall why I removed the new drivers, but after rebooting, the "found new hardware" icon appeared in the system tray, and I went through all types of changes trying to restore the previous drivers. The installation kept failinig due to a "parameter" error, and I finally had to use the Dell Resource CD for Drivers & Utilities to install the drivers that originally came with my system. Once this was done, I was able to install/update to v.53.03 drivers - however, when I tried to use Coolbits to restore overclocking to the Display Properties, I ran into new problems (the same with attempts to edit the registry manually), .
Most of you are probably familiar with it, but if not, Coolbits is a Registry tweak used to restore the overclocking option in Display Properties for several GeForce cards; it can be downloaded from the Guru of 3D site: http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=201
You can also restore overclocking by manually editing the Registry as described here: http://oc3dmark.octeams.com/tip02.html
I don't believe I had to use Coolbits to restore the extra tab and overclocking functions to Display Properties the last couple of times I updated graphics drivers, but I can't be certain. However, on this occasion, the overclocking function was NOT present after updating to the 53.03 drivers, and when I double-clicked coolbits.exe to restore it, I got the following error:
"Registry Editor (title bar)
Cannot import C:\DOCUME~1\Daniel\MYDOCU~1\TEMP\coolbits.reg: Not all data was successfully written to the registry. Some keys are open by the system or other processes."
And when I tried to manually edit the registry by writing a new DWORD value for NVTweak in the NVIDIA Corporation key's right pane (HKLM\Software\NVIDIACorporation\NVTweak), I received the following error, and was not allowed to do so:
"Error Creating Value (title bar)
Cannot create value: Error writing to the registry."
In the Screenshot on the instructions web page (for dealing with the NVIDIA Corporation keys manually), the following appeared in the right pane of the registry for the NVTweak key:
"NcCplExposeWin2kDualView" (without quotes)
This does not appear in the right pane of my registry - "Default" only appears in my registry. In the past, when I used the Coolbits registry tweak, it worked properly and overclocking was restored to Display Properties.
In addition to the issues described above, inconsistent details on the drivers appear in different areas of Display Properties. When I click the Settings tab in Display Properties, and then the Advanced button, the "Dell M991 and NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 Properties" window opens; the "GeForce3 Ti200" tab displays the 53.03 Driver details, but when I click the "Adapter" tab, then the "Properties" button, followed by the "Driver" tab on the new "Properties" window, it displays the following:
NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 (Dell) Properties (title bar)
NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 (Dell)
Driver Provider: NVIDIA
Driver Date: 08/16/01
Driver Version: 1.4.6.2
Digital Signer: Not digitally signed
AND THEN, when I click the "Driver Details" button, the v.53.03 versions are displayed again:
NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 (Dell)
Driver files:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\nv4_mini.sys
Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
File version: 6.14.10.5303
Copyright: (C) NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.
Digital Signer: Not digitally signed
NOTE THE DIFFERENCE IN FILE/DRIVER VERSIONS!
I'M HOPING SOMEONE CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND:
1. Why the driver information appears to differ from one place to another in Properties, or am I simply confusing "File" versions and "Driver" versions - and does any of this represent a serious problem or issue I need to be concerned about...
AND OF GREATER CONCERN:
2. How to restore OVERCLOCKING in Display Properties? Will something have to be done to clean up the registry? What about returning to the original Dell drivers, and then removing ALL of the registry entries related to past NVIDIA driver installations, followed by updating the drivers all over again - might something along these lines be required to straighten this out? How can this, or whatever is required, be accomplished? If you provide a suggestion(s), please include step by step instructions - my tech abilities and knowledge are pretty limited.
Any and all suggestions are welcome - if more information is needed, please let me know, and I'll do my best to provide it - thank you to all in advance!
Daniel D.
Santa Monica, CA
Dell Dimension 8200 desktop
1.8 GHz Pentium 4 CPU
Dell motherboard with Intel 850 chipset
BIOS - Dell Computer Corp., SMBIOS v.A03 12/07/01 (v. Dell - 8)
512 MB PC800 RDRAM (non-ECC)
80GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive (Maxtor 6L080L4)
48X Samsung CD-ROM Drive (SC-148C B100)
3 1/2 Inch Floppy Drive - DISABLED - REPLACE w/MEDIA READER ?
GeForce3 Ti 200 64 MB DDR AGP card
SB Live! Value sound card
19" Dell M991 Monitor
Cambridge Soundworks FPS2000 4.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System (had recent sound problem and changed speakers to troubleshoot - temporarily using Altec Lansing model ACS340 2.1 system - 2 speakers and subwoofer)
CNet PRO200WL PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Conexant HSF V92 56K PCI Modem (RTAD Speakerphone)
Microsoft Intellimouse Optical Mouse
Dell Enhanced QuietKey Keyboard PS2
Windows XP Home Edition (5.1.2600 SP1 - NTFS File System)
Internet Explorer 6 (Version 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2.030422-1633SP1 - Update Versions: SP1, Q818529, Q330994)
SystemWorks 2002 Pro Edition (NAV 2002 v.8.07.17C)
Windows XP built-in firewall
As displayed above, I have a Dell Dimension 8200 desktop with Windows XP Home Edition (NTFS file system), and a GeForce3 Ti200 64mb AGP card (factory installed). I've updated with NVIDIA graphics drivers (WHQL certified) several times over the 2 years I've had the system, with NVIDIA'S v.53.03 drivers installed until last week, and have had no real problems.
Last week, I downloaded NVIDIA'S v.56.64 drivers for XP, and did not discover the WHQL certification did not apply to my particular card until halfway through the installation. I continued anyway, and here's where things got screwed up - I don't recall why I removed the new drivers, but after rebooting, the "found new hardware" icon appeared in the system tray, and I went through all types of changes trying to restore the previous drivers. The installation kept failinig due to a "parameter" error, and I finally had to use the Dell Resource CD for Drivers & Utilities to install the drivers that originally came with my system. Once this was done, I was able to install/update to v.53.03 drivers - however, when I tried to use Coolbits to restore overclocking to the Display Properties, I ran into new problems (the same with attempts to edit the registry manually), .
Most of you are probably familiar with it, but if not, Coolbits is a Registry tweak used to restore the overclocking option in Display Properties for several GeForce cards; it can be downloaded from the Guru of 3D site: http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=201
You can also restore overclocking by manually editing the Registry as described here: http://oc3dmark.octeams.com/tip02.html
I don't believe I had to use Coolbits to restore the extra tab and overclocking functions to Display Properties the last couple of times I updated graphics drivers, but I can't be certain. However, on this occasion, the overclocking function was NOT present after updating to the 53.03 drivers, and when I double-clicked coolbits.exe to restore it, I got the following error:
"Registry Editor (title bar)
Cannot import C:\DOCUME~1\Daniel\MYDOCU~1\TEMP\coolbits.reg: Not all data was successfully written to the registry. Some keys are open by the system or other processes."
And when I tried to manually edit the registry by writing a new DWORD value for NVTweak in the NVIDIA Corporation key's right pane (HKLM\Software\NVIDIACorporation\NVTweak), I received the following error, and was not allowed to do so:
"Error Creating Value (title bar)
Cannot create value: Error writing to the registry."
In the Screenshot on the instructions web page (for dealing with the NVIDIA Corporation keys manually), the following appeared in the right pane of the registry for the NVTweak key:
"NcCplExposeWin2kDualView" (without quotes)
This does not appear in the right pane of my registry - "Default" only appears in my registry. In the past, when I used the Coolbits registry tweak, it worked properly and overclocking was restored to Display Properties.
In addition to the issues described above, inconsistent details on the drivers appear in different areas of Display Properties. When I click the Settings tab in Display Properties, and then the Advanced button, the "Dell M991 and NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 Properties" window opens; the "GeForce3 Ti200" tab displays the 53.03 Driver details, but when I click the "Adapter" tab, then the "Properties" button, followed by the "Driver" tab on the new "Properties" window, it displays the following:
NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 (Dell) Properties (title bar)
NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 (Dell)
Driver Provider: NVIDIA
Driver Date: 08/16/01
Driver Version: 1.4.6.2
Digital Signer: Not digitally signed
AND THEN, when I click the "Driver Details" button, the v.53.03 versions are displayed again:
NVIDIA 64MB DDR GeForce Ti200 (Dell)
Driver files:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\nv4_mini.sys
Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
File version: 6.14.10.5303
Copyright: (C) NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.
Digital Signer: Not digitally signed
NOTE THE DIFFERENCE IN FILE/DRIVER VERSIONS!
I'M HOPING SOMEONE CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND:
1. Why the driver information appears to differ from one place to another in Properties, or am I simply confusing "File" versions and "Driver" versions - and does any of this represent a serious problem or issue I need to be concerned about...
AND OF GREATER CONCERN:
2. How to restore OVERCLOCKING in Display Properties? Will something have to be done to clean up the registry? What about returning to the original Dell drivers, and then removing ALL of the registry entries related to past NVIDIA driver installations, followed by updating the drivers all over again - might something along these lines be required to straighten this out? How can this, or whatever is required, be accomplished? If you provide a suggestion(s), please include step by step instructions - my tech abilities and knowledge are pretty limited.
Any and all suggestions are welcome - if more information is needed, please let me know, and I'll do my best to provide it - thank you to all in advance!
Daniel D.
Santa Monica, CA
Last edited:
