Driver Problem

[Niclov]

I just purchased a new computer and am installing Win95 on it. (Quit laughing, I can't find my 98SE CD). I get that Windows protection error as well, but I can work around that with step-by step confirmation, so that's not the real problem. When I installed the diver for my graphics card (RIVA TNT 2 Pro) Windows would no longer boot up but stall at the flying window screen. I can boot in safemode, so I figure its a driver problem, but when I check in the device manager, it doesn't appear to be conflicting with anything

 

[cdogg]

First, you want to make sure the driver is compatible with the version of Windows 95 that you are running. Some video cards mention that you have to have at least Windows 95 version C (for example), or may not be compatible with Windows 95 altogether.

Check the card's documentation...

 

[butchrecon]

Is it an AGP card? Though AGP itself does not mean problems occure, Win95 Does not support fully AGP. To have AGP support you need atleast Win98. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[Niclov]

I assume it's compatable with windows, since the windows cd comes with a driver for it as well, which I also tried. Unfortunately I'm missing most of the cards documentation, the system was a package deal, so I just have a CD with the drivers for it, no booklet or even statistics sheet.

 

[butchrecon]

Well as I stated Win95 does not support AGP. It will run under Win95, it will just have issues and memory address problems that will cause lock ups. If its PCI then there should be no problems. If you want to run AGP you need at least Win98. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[jdrake]

I will just re-state what butchrecon (MIS) said. Even though there are drivers for WIN95 AGP, very rarely if ever will they work. It seems that for all the pc's I have built I may have gotten an AGP card to work in win95 once but I could be wrong. More often than not you will either have the lock up problems or have 16 colors at 640x480 res. I just upgraded my dads PC and the motherboard has onboard AGP. It locked up EVRY time no matter what I did - went into safe mode just fine. I UNINSTALLED the drivers for the AGP and was able to boot into windows again. I tried muliple drivers and then just disabled the onboard video and installed his old PCI card. I did not have any problems once I went to PCI. It's bad but its a fact of life. AGP debuted about the same time Win98 did and fixing it for Win95 was never a real issue for Microsoft. I found one resolution for this early on at MS's web site and it was "Upgrade to Windows98".

 

[Niclov]

Checked it, and lo and behold, it's an AGP card. I just upgraded to Win98 and it works fine. Thanks guys