No one can solve my problem...but I need help!

[Fertania]

First my small problem, where can I get new Voodoo 3 2000 AGP drivers for win 98? or are the win 2k ones at 3dfx.com ok to use?

Here is the real problem, I can't change anything that has anything too do with my control panel/display, I can't change ANY settings. If I run games, most of them won't work, unless there in 640 x 480, the screen size my computor is stuck on. I have uninstalled my video card countless times. The problem started the day I tryed to run IBM update connecter and it frooze close to the end. I shut the computor down using Ctrl +alt + Delete. The next day my dad defrag the computor, and when I got on, none of my games would work, and I found out I couldn't change any settings. I've tryed deleting my Windows user name (we only use one) and making a new one, all that did was put the screen res from 1024x768 in 32 bit colour too 640x480 with 16 bit colour. The error message I get when I try to change the settings is
"The Display control panel is unable to change the display settings. Please check your display hardware in device manager"

I went to device manager and it said everything was fine, the only wierd thing I found was that there was no Disable Device box where it was in other programs. I am running out of idea's, and I really don't want to reformat! if anyone has seen something like this, please let me know!

If you have any idea, post here or E-mail me at alco2000@hotmail.com

[johny dmonic]

Check this site for Voodoo 3 2000 AGP/PCI Win98 driver. : 3dfx download page (http://www.3dfx.com/downloads.htm)

Win2k drivers are not compatible with Win98.
Choose the 1.07.00 file. It's an auto extracting file (I think). Try to extract the file to a certain folder (create a new one). Then follow some steps:

1. On the screen, right click the mouse.
2. Choose properties
3. Click on Settings tab
4. Click Advance
5. Click Adapter tab
6. Click Change
7. Then follow the instructions displayed. Locate your driver on the folder you have extracted the drivers.

After restarting, check on the Properties>Settings then check if you can change some display settings. If it doesn't, uninstall your drivers first, then install it again. What might happen to you is that a program might have accidentally altered your video card drivers. Post again if this doesn't work. Hope this helps. ;)

[johny dmonic]

Check this site for Voodoo 3 2000 AGP/PCI Win98 driver. : 3dfx download page (http://www.3dfx.com/downloads.htm)

Driver download here. (ftp://ftp1.3dfx.com/drivers/voodoo3/v3-w9x-1.07.00.exe)

Win2k drivers are not compatible with Win98.
Choose the 1.07.00 file. It's an auto extracting file (I think). Try to extract the file to a certain folder (create a new one). Then follow some steps:

1. On the screen, right click the mouse.
2. Choose properties
3. Click on Settings tab
4. Click Advance
5. Click Adapter tab
6. Click Change
7. Then follow the instructions displayed. Locate your driver on the folder you have extracted the drivers.

After restarting, check on the Properties>Settings then check if you can change some display settings. If it doesn't, uninstall your drivers first, then install it again. What might happen to you is that a program might have accidentally altered your video card drivers. And it's normal that the disable this in hardware profile to not exist. Post again if this doesn't work. Hope this helps. ;)

[Fertania]

I tryed that, didn't work. I think the problem has something to do with IBM update connecter, before it happend I updated and it got the Numbernine video driver update 9555, for my old video card, I think I uninstalled it, but it might have altered something! I tryed uninstalling my voodoo, taking it out, putting in my old card, installing, then uninstalling it, THEN putting my voodoo back, and it still didn't work!!! The good news is, its trapped it 800 x 600, so it dosn't hurt my eyes anymore...Reformating seems to be the last choice :(

[johny dmonic]

Sorry about the double posting. I accidentally forgot to add something, and clicked the add reply button twice.

Back to your problem, as I see it, you already installed and uninstalled the drivers a lot of times (let me guess... about 5-10 times?), and change from voodoo to the old card to voodoo again. From my experience, this is bad, real bad. Before, I tried an update for my video card (Nvidia TNT2 M64) that was given to me by a friend. I run it and all it did was to uninstall my present driver (since it is not the correct driver). I installed again and reinstalled (for I remember, it's about 3-6 times) and after that, Whoooosh. My computer is totally messed up. I end up reformatting my computer. Not that it's the last resort (I don't know if there is any). :(

The point is, installing and uninstalling can actually damage the registry. I forgot to ask, when did this happen? If it is within 4-5 days from now (about April 4-5) try using this. Restart your computer in DOS mode. in the command line, type SCANREG /RESTORE (there's a space between scanreg and /) and choose the farthest date from the present (the past ones - its April 4 or 5 i think). This will restore everything before the incident happen (if the date is before the date it happened). And also try this, SCANREG /FIX, it will try to fix the registry. If nothing worked, try this, CLick Start > Run, then type SFC (system file checker). If it reports that some things are altered post it back. Try to remember which files are altered.

So don't reformat your computer yet. There might be a slim chance yet.Post back again. :rolleyes:

[Fertania]

SFC said...(I hit ignore on all these, you tell me what too do)
User.exe in windows/system
setupx.dll in windows/system

thats all, just those 2


scanreg /restore didn't work and scanreg / fix did work, but didn't help the problem...

poot.... :( :( :(

[johny dmonic]

What do you mean by scanreg /restore did not work? Do you mean to say it didn't run at all?

:rolleyes:

[johny dmonic]

I forgot something, usually, scanreg /restore is the last resort. You should have picked the past dates, not the present date (actually pick the most 'past' date if you know what I mean). If this didn't work, it means that the incident happen before those dates listed when you run scanreg /restore.

Check this out for info on scanreg.
Q183887 - Description of the Windows Registry Checker Tool (Scanreg.exe) (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q183/8/87.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=system%20file%20checker&rnk=111&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=MSALL)

Here's a link about the setupx.dll error. You might want to check this out.

Q231793 - Corrupted Setupx.dll After Installing Windows 98 Second Edition (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q231/7/93.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=setupx.dll&rnk=37&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=MSALL)

It says there how to replace setupx.dll if you're not sure if it is corrupted.

Check this out also.

Q192832 - System File Checker Tool Extracts Incorrect File Versions (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q192/8/32.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=user.exe&rnk=117&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=MSALL)

I guess this is all of it. If it still not fixed, I will recommend you to reformat your hard disk. :( This time, make sure to install properly those drivers and don't uninstall if not necessary. Hope I have helped you in some way though. Good Luck.
:rolleyes:

[Fertania]

:( this is confusing... isn't there a fix problem button somewhere?

[johny dmonic]

I just remember on my trip going somewhere that you can try reinstalling Windows 98 on your computer. If done, Windows will create (I think) a new set of registry. (I remember asking my friend to do so because her registry is also damaged.)

Now check this site:
How to Troubleshoot Windows Protection Error Messages (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q149/9/62.asp)

Go to Resolution and check no.3 It tells you how to reinstall Windows if your computer is a plug and play computer.

Here is another site:
How to Install Windows 98 Into a New Folder (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q193/9/02.ASP)

Tells you how to reinstall windows 98 in a different folder.

Now hope this one helps! :rolleyes:

[<i fix bugs>]

If you are having registry problems too tough to bear, you can restore some of the basic configuration options to their original default settings, thus avoiding corruption and being able to start tweaking anew Get your Windows product ID ready and follow these steps
Boot to a real DOS mode and at the C:\ prompt issue the following command

CD\
ATTRIB -R -H -S SYSTEM.1ST
SMARTDRV
REGEDIT /L: C:\SYSTEM.1ST /E MY.REG
REGEDIT MY.REG

Reboot and you may be prompted to enter your product ID. Then the final Windows Setup stage will be repeated. You will not lose lose any info about previously installed appz, network config, etc, but all of the basic OS settings will be reset to their factory default. :cool:

[dstewart]

Lots of good advice here, I just wanted to add one suggestion. When installing the drivers for your video card, DON'T use the Windows Add New Hardware Wizard, or the Change button on the Display Properties/Settings/Advanced/Adapter page. Rather, use the Setup.exe program that came with your video drivers. You should Remove the existing video adapter, reboot, then CANCEL the New Hardware Found Wizard, then run the driver's Setup.exe program.

Hey Johnydmonic, love your screen name! Inspired!

[<Gus>]

With 3dfx drivers, using the setup.exe sometimes only re-installs a newer version of 3dfx tools.

Regards, Gus.

[Zerrlin]

Seems that the old driver is still "stuck". To uninstall all drivers for your display card, boot your computer into Safe Mode. F8 before Windows boots to get the menu. Then go to Device Manager, and look under Display. It should now display all drivers ever installed for your display. Remove them all and reboot. Windows should now pick up your card as if it was new, install the correct drivers, and hopefully your back again. :p

[Darren Wilson]

Change the Monitor driver to anything but the Default one. 3DFX cards tend to get stuck on one setting of the Default Monitor type is left.

[justchad]

Well someone alreay mentioned it but I think it's worth mentioning again....you mayhave to config your monitor!! it might be that easy....I've had this happen to me a couple of times. if you have a plug and play monitor....most neweer ones are...then go to display properties, click on the settings tab.
Then click on the advanced button down near the bottom and select the monitor tab. now check to see if if the monitor lists plug and play.... if it doesn't then click the Change button and let the wizard walk you through it. also make sure that auto detect plug and play is checked.
this is IF you have a plug and play monitor.
if not look on the back of your monitor, there will be a plate that lists all the info that you will need to get you headed in the right direction....(hint the lable at the front may not be who really made your monitor...always check the plate on the back for the real scoop!)