Driver Questions Problems

I have no clue how to update drivers. I have googled and am just at a total loss and don't want to mess up my computer so figured I would ask here.. Oh I did go to Microsoft Update and there are no new updates for my computer at all at this time.

Problem.. I seem to have lost the ability to play some games... Even one game that I previously played on my computer (it was already installed just hadn't played it for a couple months) well now it won't play says that my graphics card is a via/s3g km400 and to update the driver.
I have tried downloading the newer games from Reflexive arcade and I get various messages. Some say my D3 (or 3D or something like that) is out of date. Some say I need to have DirectX9.0c or later installed (9.0c is installed on my computer).

I did email one game maker and they told me my video card doesn't support the game. I don't understand any of this because I have never had any of these problems in the past. Is my computer THAT out of date?? It was purchased in Jan of 2004

Bottom line is I have no clue what is going on and why I can't play any of the newer games.. Games I have downloaded and tried to play from Reflexive are: Holly A Christmas Tale, Svetlograd, Christmasville, Elf Bowling.

I downloaded Everest from MG downloads and am attaching it to this post so you can see what all my system has so someone can assist me and point me in the right direction.
Thank you,
sw

 

Updated information (more information)...

I am at a total loss as to what is going on.. I have games on my computer that I have played in the past and they worked just fine now all of a sudden they won't work on my computer.. What gives??

I just tried 3 different games that I have had installed on my computer and this is what happened..

Super Granny 3 - pop up that says at top of box Gapi Draw then in side the box it said Could Not Initialize Main Window I clicked okay and then Granny 3 did finish opening up but I couldn't play the game had the music but nothing else except a black box with a blue border and Granny3 at the top.

Turtle Odyssey 1&2 both gave me a pop up with Error at the top and in the box it said Video Card compatible with DirectX 8.0 or higher not found.

Again, I have played all 3 of these games in the past (haven't played for 2 to 3 months) but they played before but won't now. I am at a total loss as to what is happening..

Just wanted to give an update of what I am finding so someone can assist me.

thank you for your time..
sw

 

I found the driver for your chipset.
http://display-and-video.free-driver-download.com/VIA/11908/VIA-VT8378-(KM400)-Display-Driver-16.94.27-Windows-2000-XP.html

But, I am not sure that is your problem. There were a couple of things in your Everest report that MAY be the problem.
First one:
Suggestion: Install more system memory to improve applications performance.
I don't think this is causing your troubles now, but you might want to add more someday.

Next:
Problem: Current AGP speed is lower than maximum supported. This may cause performance penalty.
I am not sure how to set this. It would be a good idea to post a question in hardware . Ask how you would change it (in XP) and it wouldn't hurt to attach your Everest report or link back to this thread.

Next:
Suggestion: Are you looking for a BIOS Upgrade? Contact eSupport Today!
Suggestion: System BIOS is more than 2 years old. Update it if necessary.
Suggestion: Video BIOS is more than 2 years old. Update it if necessary.
This link takes you to a scanner at that site. It will give you detailed report but I don't know if they supply what you need or not. (If they want you to pay for a BIOS upgrade, just post their report back here and I'll see if I can find it free.)
http://scan.esupport.com/?CFID=817532&CFTOKEN=24511528

Next:
Problem: Some applications may run better in 32-bit color mode.
Problem: At least 85 Hz vertical refresh rate is recommended for classic (CRT) displays.
This is pretty easy, right click on an empty space on your desktop, click Properties, click Settings, and choose Highest (32-bit color) and then apply. Then click Advanced, click the Monitor tab, and set your refresh rate, and click apply. Click OK.

I would set your refresh rate and your color mode, then get your AGP speed re-set. See if that solves your problem. If not install the first driver and test it. Last I would go to eSupport and see what their scan tells you. Again, I doubt that the memory has anything to do with your prob.

 

I did the scan at esupport and submitted the BIOS Update Download form to them. They are only open Monday thru Friday so won't hear back from them until Monday or Tuesday.
That site also gave me an option to scan for Driver Updates which I did and the following link shows the results of that scan.. (hopefully it will work)...
http://driveragent.com/driveragent_...3a05729e&PHPSESSID=9gpo5j1jmpuhqu6f8uek4q8854

I am going to wait until I hear back from hardware regarding the AGP before I proceed further and will let you know whats going on..
I did the refresh rate and color mode.. waiting for help from hardware.. and esupport.. here is the results of the esupport scan..
http://scan.esupport.com/results.php?ref=50jrqcg

Thank you for everything..
sw

 

I kinda thought that was a pay for your download site. (I can't understand how that site would have been recommended in your Everest Report) The drivers they will want you to pay for is probably the same that is at the top of my last post. It is the newest update I can find and that is 3 years old. I found the same driver in several places and they all were the same version. It is actually more than one driver, I believe becase it is the chipset driver, so it should cover most of what the eSupport report said you need. Go ahead and install it. (The one I posted)
If the driver, setting your AGP speed, and the display changes doesn't fix your problem, we will look for a BIOS update. But that probably is not needed.

 

How long does it take to download this stuff?? I clicked on the link you provided and clicked where it says download it and that was 45 minutes ago and it is still "working/downloading"... Also, I tried where it said click here if download does not start and that just keeps loading and I am not sure if site is busy or what...

I do have a question for you since it has been 45 minutes I decided to search another site to see if I could download it from there (still doesn't download it acts like it is working on doing the download but nothing happens) but I did find something and now I am wondering which download I need??? The one you provided which has a release date of sept 2003 or this one that I found that has a release date of December 2003? http://www.opendrivers.com/categorycompany/12/11707/display-and-video-via-free-driver-download.html line # 9 (the one you provided me to download is on line #10)

thanks..

 

Yes, good work.... I found that exact update at your motherboard site but it seemed corrupted when i DL'd it. I hadn't had time to find it elsewhere. Definitely download it and install.

 

The newest one, I mean.

 

Sigh... I don't know what I am doing I guess.. I downloaded the newest one and installed it.. Said I needed to reboot my computer so I did.. how do I know it was installed properly??
I figured out how to get into BIOS and go to the AGP even though Everest says that 8x is supported I only have 1x 2x & 4x to choose from. Maybe I didn't go to the right place so will wait for hardware help to make sure..
Tried playing on of the games that I have had on my computer and still unable to play.

 

Goto your Control Panel, choose System, click the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
Look in Sound, Video, and Game Controllers. If you have no yellow question or exclamation marks, all is well. I don't know much about BIOS, so I don't know if an update will give you the capability to goto 8X.

 

I never had any exclamation marks or question marks in the device manager to begin with and I don't now..

How I came about all this is the fact that games are telling me that my graphics driver and directX is not correct or needs updating..

Now what do I do??

 

Go to Start>Run and type in: DXDIAG. Click OK. In the next window click the Display tab. It should tell you what version the driver is. Also, in relation to the DirectX, here is a link to MS that should be the newest.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&DisplayLang=en

 

I just noticed something in your Everest report. I am not sure if it's important and you would have to add this into your hardware thread. It's the Fast-Write, disabled.

AGP Controller:
AGP Version 3.05
AGP Status Enabled
AGP Device VIA/S3 UniChrome Integrated
AGP Aperture Size 128 MB
Supported AGP Speeds 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x
Current AGP Speed 4x
Fast-Write Supported, Disabled
Side Band Addressing Supported, Enabled

We have checked everything that I can think of, except possible malware affecting your system. If, after following all my suggestions and those from hardware doesn't get you playing games again, try running ALL the steps in the READ ME at this link, then post the logs they ask for. Those guys are very good and if you have a bug, they will find it.
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

Oh, one other thing. I noticed your CPU temp was 49C, which is in safe territory but at the upper end of it. I'm assuming that was at a period of mild use. How hot does it get when you're playing games?

 

Pretty much I am always virus and malware free.. Will run the read me first steps though as I don't think I have done that yet this year..

I did dxdiag and here is the following information..
DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
my driver version is still 6.14.00.10.0092 it isn't changing to what I download and install..
No reply yet from hardware..
Thank you..

 

Thought I would just attach my dxdiag so you can see exactly what it shows..
Thanks again for all of your time and help

 

Did you remember to un-install the old driver before installing the new one? Then do a complete shut down and then boot back up just to make sure it catches the new install. Also, have you downloaded the DirectX update from MS yet?
And it would be best to set a restore point before un-installing the driver.
One other question, did you install anything new at about the time you started having problems?

 

Ok, here is where I am at.. still unable to play games that I previously had installed on my computer and played before (Genius Move ~ Says VIA/S3G KM400 Graphics Driver game not compatible with to update driver. Turtle Odyssey 1&2 ~ Says Video Card Compatible with DirectX 8.0 or higher not found). These 3 games I have had on my computer since Feb 2007 and have played them several times in the past just haven't played them for a couple months.

I uninstalled the old driver and reinstalled the new one doesn't look like any change to the driver to me. What do you want me to attach now so you can see what the driver information is now saying??

As for DirectX I went to microsoft site downloaded current version and when I went to install it I got the message that newer or comparible version already installed on my computer so no changes were made.

I honestly don't know when this problem started happening because I haven't played any games or downloaded anygames for a couple of months. The 2 things that I have installed 1. is an Epson Printer and 2. I installed from a CD the game Super Collapse 3 (which I can play). To my knowledge those are the only things I have really installed in the past couple months.

I always get updates from Microsoft and download those and currently I have none for hardware etc or any critical or optional updates.

hardware forum directed me to go to my mobo manual.

Esupport stated that my bios does have an upgrade available and that it would cost me $50 for it (which I don't have) and they said that it is possible that by upgrading my bios it would take care of the problems I am experiencing. But I don't buy that explanation because I could play these games before but now all of a sudden I can't.. So that doesn't make any sense to me..

Thank you for all your time and help..
Let me know what else to do.. Oh and I did run through the read me first steps and I don't have any malware or virus on my system.

Thanks again,

 

I'm sorry, shewolf. I am am certain I got the right updates and it sounds like you did your part right, too. The updates are not installing. As you say, you could play the games before, so the problem probably doesn't need the updates to be resolved. I was going on the assumption that one of those drivers were corrupted and the updates would fix that.
One last thing, did you install the driver in my first post?

If you did or if you do and that doesn't help, all I can do is recommend you to go to eMachine and enter a ticket for support there. This whole thing has me baffled.
http://www.fic.com.tw/contact/technical_support.aspx

 

Sorry I wasn't clear yes I installed driver after I did the uninstall of the old one and still have the problem..

It has me totally baffled myself and I will go to emachines and see what they have to say.. Once I get an answer from them I will post back to let you know what I had to do and what was going on.

Thank you again for your time and help I greatly appreciate it..

Happy Holidays..

Darla

 

Thanks, Darla and good luck getting that fixed. I would appreciate knowing the solution. I never saw drivers not installing like that before. The VIA systems have given me a little trouble but so far I have been able to to get the systems back to good shape.

 

I contacted emachines and they were of no help what so ever..
Here is the reply I got from them..
"Thank you for your e-mail. If you are unable to play a game with your
eMachines system, please note that Games usually have video requirements
that needed to meet in order to play it. For best results on software,
it is usually better to compare your system specifications with the
recommended system specifications rather than the minimum system
specifications. This way you will be sure to get the best performance
out of the new software package.

Your system has an VIA S3G KM400 (Shared Memory) onboard video device
and the memory preinstalled is 512MB DDR. As your system has sharing
memory architecture using the main memory for video memory, the usable
main memory size is less than real size when the computer is running.

You may want to make sure that your system meets the system requirements
of the game for you to play it smoothly. Please be guided that
eMachines cannot recommend any 3rd party upgrades as this could cause a
great deal of conflicts between devices and software on the system. In
addition, any changes or upgrades to the original configuration of the
system are done so at the sole risk of you the end user. Any support
for added 3rd party software will need to come from the manufacturer of
that product. You may need to contact the manufacturer of the software
for assistance installing or configuring it to operate properly. We do
not provide support for 3rd party software on the system and cannot help
with diagnosing, configuration or troubleshooting any issues or errors
that it may encounter. "

They totally missed the fact that I told them I could play these games before they were installed earlier this year and played just fine.. Now they won't play.. I have no idea how to figure out who manufactures each driver/device..

Maybe I should just save all my important info to a CD and do a reformat and restore my computer to factory state.. I am just at a loss as to why this is happening and how to resolve the issue..

Any ideas??
Thanks & happy holidays..
Darla

 

I would hate to see you reformat your OS. That's not the MG way. I would like you to try one more thing. I found it here of all places. (The owners are really starting to get a good library of drivers)
Try this VIA chipset driver pack. I'm not sure if it's the same as the one I already had you install but it's worth one last shot.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/VIA_Hyperion_4in1_Driver_d1131.html

If you do decide to re-install your OS, make sure to back up your important stuff, you might even want to DL the .exe files for your drivers (Save them but don't open them) and then save them to that disc, too. That way they are there if you need them later. Good luck.

Also, if you do reformat and still have problems, think about that memory upgrade...they're not expensive.

 

Ok I have installed the driver that you linked to in your last post and still the problem happens. I ran another dxdiag and it says for the display driver

I will attach that dxdiag so you can read it if needed..
Where do I go to get and install the final version??
This all is totally out of my league and I feel like throwing the dang thing out the window lol.. but I promise I won't just so frustrating as I have played these games before but now all of a sudden I can't.. It is just soooo strange to me..

thank you again for everything..
happy holidays

 

I am as confused as you are, now. Here is your display driver from VIA:
http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=1&CatID=1160&SubCatID=102

Click on the MN-KM-400 chipset image to download.

 

Merry Christmas to us... Merry Christmas to us....
That last post of yours for the download it worked.. I am now able to play the games and even newer ones..

Thank you thank you thank you..

 

All Right !!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas.
http://bestsmileys.com/cheering/1.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/cheering/1.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/cheering/1.gif