![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
I just got an HIS Hightech ATI Radeon x1950 Pro. It worked fine for the first week or so, but now I'm having a strange problem:
I Just bought Call of Duty 4 and it wouldn't start (splash screen appeared then disappeared 1/2 second later, then nothing), so I wanted to update the drivers. I uninstalled the old drivers and ran Driver Cleaner. When installing the new drivers, I got an error message that said "Zero display service error", but the install continued without any more problems. However, when I restarted my machine I got strange graphical problems. Desktop icons appeared, but the icon part didn't, only the text. The same thing happened on the start menu and when browsing files. In addition, the red X close button in the upper right corner of windows doesn't display, and neither do buttons in some applications; only their associated text. Weirdly enough, all the buttons and icons that don't appear work perfectly fine. I tried playing Portal, but just got a blank screen with sound, but I could tell I was able to click on things on the menu because I heard that little chirp.
I thought restarting would help, but that's when things got even stranger. When I got back into windows, my resolution was reset to 640x480 and the color depth was 4-bit. When I went into the display properties I could move the resolution slider and the higher color depth options show up in the dropdown menu, but when I click apply, nothing happens. I get the message asking me if I want to keep the settings, but nothing has changed.
I reinstalled the drivers, no change. Downloaded the drivers again and reinstalled, no change. Installed the drivers from the CD that came with the card, no change. 'Last known good config', no change. Uninstalled the drivers, physically removed the card, replaced it with a GeForce FX 5500, installed drivers for that and it worked fine. Uninstalled the GeForce, removed it, installed the ATI card, downloaded the drivers again, reinstalled... no change. I should mention; every time I uninstalled drivers I ran driver cleaner (following the instruction to the letter), and very time I installed the ATI drivers, I got the same "Zero display service error" message mentioned earlier.
I Googled that error message, and got all kinds of different possible solutions: Registry edits; install the drivers manually through device manager; install generic VGA drivers then the ATI drivers; repair install; some even said the only solution was a complete reformat!
The next thing I want to try is the manual install through the device manager. If that doesn't work, then a repair install of windows.
Things I haven't tried that I probably should have earlier: Change settings in the Catalyst Control Center; start in safe mode; install card in different computer; maybe some others (I tend to miss the small obvious solutions when in "adrenaline fueled problem solving" mode). But I'd still appreciate any insights or alternatives. Thanks in advance.
EDIT: Almost forgot, other system specs:
AMD Athlon64 3200+
Radeon X1950 Pro
2 GB RAM
450W Antec PSU
Windows XP 32-bit
EDIT DEUX: The most ironic part of this: Further research into the CoD4 issue reveals the most likely culprit is a bad CD. *sigh*
I Just bought Call of Duty 4 and it wouldn't start (splash screen appeared then disappeared 1/2 second later, then nothing), so I wanted to update the drivers. I uninstalled the old drivers and ran Driver Cleaner. When installing the new drivers, I got an error message that said "Zero display service error", but the install continued without any more problems. However, when I restarted my machine I got strange graphical problems. Desktop icons appeared, but the icon part didn't, only the text. The same thing happened on the start menu and when browsing files. In addition, the red X close button in the upper right corner of windows doesn't display, and neither do buttons in some applications; only their associated text. Weirdly enough, all the buttons and icons that don't appear work perfectly fine. I tried playing Portal, but just got a blank screen with sound, but I could tell I was able to click on things on the menu because I heard that little chirp.
I thought restarting would help, but that's when things got even stranger. When I got back into windows, my resolution was reset to 640x480 and the color depth was 4-bit. When I went into the display properties I could move the resolution slider and the higher color depth options show up in the dropdown menu, but when I click apply, nothing happens. I get the message asking me if I want to keep the settings, but nothing has changed.
I reinstalled the drivers, no change. Downloaded the drivers again and reinstalled, no change. Installed the drivers from the CD that came with the card, no change. 'Last known good config', no change. Uninstalled the drivers, physically removed the card, replaced it with a GeForce FX 5500, installed drivers for that and it worked fine. Uninstalled the GeForce, removed it, installed the ATI card, downloaded the drivers again, reinstalled... no change. I should mention; every time I uninstalled drivers I ran driver cleaner (following the instruction to the letter), and very time I installed the ATI drivers, I got the same "Zero display service error" message mentioned earlier.
I Googled that error message, and got all kinds of different possible solutions: Registry edits; install the drivers manually through device manager; install generic VGA drivers then the ATI drivers; repair install; some even said the only solution was a complete reformat!
The next thing I want to try is the manual install through the device manager. If that doesn't work, then a repair install of windows.
Things I haven't tried that I probably should have earlier: Change settings in the Catalyst Control Center; start in safe mode; install card in different computer; maybe some others (I tend to miss the small obvious solutions when in "adrenaline fueled problem solving" mode). But I'd still appreciate any insights or alternatives. Thanks in advance.
EDIT: Almost forgot, other system specs:
AMD Athlon64 3200+
Radeon X1950 Pro
2 GB RAM
450W Antec PSU
Windows XP 32-bit
EDIT DEUX: The most ironic part of this: Further research into the CoD4 issue reveals the most likely culprit is a bad CD. *sigh*