DirectX 9 (maybe) Problem

Is this the right place or does it go in the Software forum?

I installed DirectX 9 the other day since I was updating graphics drivers. Soon after updating everything, I was browsing a message board when all of the sudden the text became unreadable. Parts of the letters dissappeared. It was everywhere in Windows apps, from IIRC clients, to Word, To Windows itself unless the text was in a graphic, in a title bar or in a very large font. Only way to make it go away is to reboot. Logging out or terminating Explorer and starting it again won't fix it. It even does it in the login screen if you log out (welcome screen is turned off) and in the task manager.

Sometimes the comp will crash right after this happens, sometimes it will run normal with only the text screwed up and sometimes the whole comp slows down when it does it.

My first assumption was the Graphics driver (ATi Catalyst 3.5) was bad, so I went down to 3.4, which is what I had before and didn't have this problem with. But it didn't fix it. The only other change I made was installing DX9.

This isn't my first problem with DirectX 9 either. I had once installed it and it made all my games crash within 5 minutes of starting, forcing a Windows Re-install.

On another note, the power grid in my neighborhood is week and voltage sags and outages are common (like one or two a day). Could this be a sign of a damaged HDD? Even though I doubt it, I want to be sure...

Any ideas to fix the problem? Is DirectX a Red Herring?

Specs:
Windows XP Home
Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz
ATi Radeon 9700 Pro
Soyo Dragon Motherboard with Via P4X400 chipset
512 Mb DDR PC2700
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum
Audiotrack Maya 7.1 GSIF
WD Caviar HDD, 100Gb
Sony DVD ROM
Yamaha CD-RW

 

If you get a UPS (UPC??), make sure it has an AVR(AC
line voltage regulator). If you don't have clean power an AVR is definately the way to go, instead of just a simple battery backup.

 

2 questions and a comment.

So you're saying I probabaly can't fix this without a format?

What would be a good inexpensive UPS? (I've been meaning to get one anyway.)

I really haven't had any problems with Soyo boards. Every Soyo board I have used has performed at or better than my expectations. I've only had one major problem, and I caused it. (bad BIOS Flash). Every time I post a problem here people bash Soyo... (keep in mind I didn't have this problem until I updated DirectX and Catalyst.)

 

This is XP right?

Try this, go to Device manager, right click on your video card and choose disable.

Reboot.

This loads the UGA (Universal Graphics Array) driver in XP that allows high clolor and resolution. Adjust to your preferences.

Test your system out.

If the problem goes away, or doesn't come back, then you know its a video related issue.

Let me know what happens and we will see where to go from there

Hope this helps.

Honestly, I don't forsee a format being needed.

P.S.- Soyo boards aren't bad IMO, either.

 

I'm not sure what the point is of hijacking a thread with Soyo yays and nays, but I think we can work through this without a format, unless DZComposer wants to format right off the bat.

 

I come for help, not to be a victim of Anti-Soyo Bigotry. I have had no problems with Soyo boards.

I think I may have to format. Over the past couble of days I have lost sound and the ability to use some programs without crashing. I think my HDD is suffereing from the bad power source. It looks like I must format anyways... If I can salvage the drive.

Thanks to those who tried to help.

 

Best of luck to you, sorry we couldn't be more help.

 

I didn't think I'd revive this thread, but I am going to.

I have managed to save the sound and application problems without a format or repair install. Only thing is the original problem still exists.

I have ran several different scans on my hard drive and it turns out that it is 100% undamaged!

I have done some further troubleshooting on the issue and I belive I have narrowed it down to a graphics driver problem.

I took Adrynalyne's suggestion and disabled the ATi drivers. With the UGA drivers I have yet to see the problem. That doesn't mean it isn't there. WIth the ATi drivers, it could be a day or 2 sometimes before happening. (I disabled the ATi last night).

Assuming this is an ATi driver problem:
It strikes me as odd that every version of the catalyst driver i've tried does it. I have tried 3 different versions and countless reinstalls. Also I tried 2 versions of DirectX.

Also, the [ATi] driver works fine in games, it is just in Windows where I have had problems (although I haven't tried running a game while the text is messed up...)

So you guys can get an idea of what is happening to me, here is a screen shot of my IRC client while having the problem: http://www.classicalhorn.com/screwed.jpg . Note: I pixelated the names of the people in the chat and the channel name for the privacy of the channel and it's members.

Any ideas on how I can get the driver to quit messing my text up? I'd prefer not re-installing Windows if possible. As you can tell by my name, I write music on my computer and I don't want to go through the hours of sound driver setup that I would have to go through if I re-installed Windows.

 

Ok, hardware is totally out of my league and other than keeping up onw hats out there, Im a noob on how a lot of it works.

With that said, XP does not use any hardware acceleration or hardware features on the video card when UGA drivers are enabled. The GUI isnt acclerated either.

Now, correct me if I am wrong, 2D and 3D are mutually exclusive on a video card. They are handled by different part of of the card and even have different filters.


So a problem in 3D may not show up in 2D and visa versa.


By completely disabling the Cat drivers (and therefore any hardware feature on the card), and by your own word, no version works, then I would be lead to believe that your video card is likely to be sleeping with the fishies soon.

Of course, this is all assuming that the UGA drivers keep working.

Another possible troubleshooting step, have you considered installing Windows to a new directory to test a *clean* install?

 

Anyone else have an idea? Please? BTW, I have found someone who has the same problem witha 9800 card.

 

Hey DZ... really, even if you do find the solution to this problem, I honestly think you will be happier with the overall result if you start with a clean install and be sure that you've removed the problem completely.

Just one quick tip... if you do this be sure to install all your latest mobo drivers FIRST thing after your OS is running.

Personally, your problem would have scared me (melting images... .aieee!) and I probably would have shut down, torn the box apart, removed all the hardware, cleaned and re-seated it, formatted the drive, installed... yadda yadday...

But then again, I'm crazy and like doing that stuff.

Don't mean to make light of your problem... I hope you get it worked out soon.

spaz

 

back on the subject of dx 9, it always cause a load of problems right at first, but then it starts working fine after a very short while.