Windows XP video driver update/monitor issue...

-Windows XP Home Premium, 32-bt
-Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
-Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
-Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI

System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
stable, so haven't had cause to update.

(1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into its
first BSOD/restart ever.

(2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.

(3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and on
restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP loaded.

(4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but uninstall not
available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP said).

(5) System restore took machine back to good state from last night.

For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to update
the video drivers someday.

Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas for
how to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!

Thanks

<ropeyarn@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:M--dnYc2UbQU-TjVnZ2dnUVZ_hidnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
> -Windows XP Home Premium, 32-bt
> -Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
> -Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
> -Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI
>
> System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
> vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
> stable, so haven't had cause to update.
>
> (1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into its
> first BSOD/restart ever.
>
> (2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
> Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.
>
> (3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and on
> restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP loaded.
>
> (4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but uninstall not
> available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP said).
>
> (5) System restore took machine back to good state from last night.
>
> For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to update the
> video drivers someday.
>
> Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas for how
> to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!
>
> Thanks
>
Many times when I was using Radeon products I had to start again by
searching for and removing reference to "ATI" and "Radeon" in my XP
registry. However in case you do not want to do this you should be able to
find an ATI cleanup utility somewhere, maybe even on the Nvidea site 8,
which will strip everything to allow you to reinstall your ATI product.

When you reboot anytime and find that the dual displays are swopped or
resolutions are messed up just look for the wizard and you can reset all to
your requirements.

Of course we all should have a simple low cost vga card around to use as a
backup as this is what Windows safe mode prefers.

Hope you get it fixed.

Beemer

In article <M--dnYc2UbQU-TjVnZ2dnUVZ_hidnZ2d@comcast.com>, "ropeyarn@gmail.com" <ropeyarn@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>-Windows XP Home Premium, 32-bt
>-Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
>-Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
>-Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI
>
>System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
>vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
>stable, so haven't had cause to update.
>
>(1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into its
>first BSOD/restart ever.
>
>(2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
>Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.
>
>(3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and on
>restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP loaded.
>
>(4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but uninstall not
>available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP said).
>
>(5) System restore took machine back to good state from last night.
>
>For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to update
>the video drivers someday.
>
>Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas for
>how to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!
>
>Thanks

Never use automatic update. Do it manually and never allow windows update to
update hardware drivers. Get the drivers from the OEM's sites.

thanks to both.

and of course, my configuration was apparently based on wishful thinking...

It's a *Vista* machine, not XP:-)

-Windows Vista Home Premium, 32-bt
-Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
-Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
-Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI

System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
stable, so haven't had cause to update.

(1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into its
first BSOD/restart ever.

(2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.

(3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and on
restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP loaded.

(4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but uninstall not
available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP said).

(5) System restore took machine back to good state from last night.

For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to update
the video drivers someday.

Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas for
how to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!

Thanks

ropeyarn@gmail.com wrote:
>
> -Windows XP Home Premium, 32-bt
> -Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
> -Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
> -Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI
>
> System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
> vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
> stable, so haven't had cause to update.
>
> (1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into its
> first BSOD/restart ever.
>
> (2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
> Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.
>
> (3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and on
> restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP loaded.
>
> (4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but uninstall not
> available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP said).
>
> (5) System restore took machine back to good state from last night.
>
> For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to update
> the video drivers someday.
>
> Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas for
> how to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!
>
> Thanks

ropeyarn@gmail.com wrote:
> -Windows XP Home Premium, 32-bt
> -Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
> -Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
> -Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI
>
> System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
> vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
> stable, so haven't had cause to update.
>
> (1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into
> its first BSOD/restart ever.
>
> (2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
> Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.
>
> (3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and on
> restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP loaded.
>
> (4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but uninstall
> not available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP said).
>
> (5) System restore took machine back to good state from last night.
>
> For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to update
> the video drivers someday.
>
> Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas for
> how to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!
>
> Thanks

Look in Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.

With ATI drivers, there should be a selection titled: ATI - Software
Uninstall Utility.

Run that and it should remove all ATI drivers and the computer, when
rebooted at the prompt, should come up in standard 640x480 VGA mode.

At that point, just install the new, latest software driver package from
ATI for your video card (which you downloaded from ATI and have on your
hard drive).

NEVER, EVER allow MS to update ANY driver from Windows Update, nor
should you update any driver manually from Windows Update.

Always get driver updates from the manufacturer and follow their
instructions for install.

A very good reason why automatic updates are a VERY bad idea.

RobV wrote:
> ropeyarn@gmail.com wrote:
>> -Windows XP Home Premium, 32-bt
>> -Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
>> -Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
>> -Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI
>>
>> System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
>> vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
>> stable, so haven't had cause to update.
>>
>> (1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into
>> its first BSOD/restart ever.
>>
>> (2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
>> Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.
>>
>> (3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and on
>> restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP loaded.
>>
>> (4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but uninstall
>> not available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP said).
>>
>> (5) System restore took machine back to good state from last night.
>>
>> For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to update
>> the video drivers someday.
>>
>> Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas for
>> how to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!
>>
>> Thanks
>
> Look in Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
>
> With ATI drivers, there should be a selection titled: ATI - Software
> Uninstall Utility.
>
> Run that and it should remove all ATI drivers and the computer, when
> rebooted at the prompt, should come up in standard 640x480 VGA mode.
>
> At that point, just install the new, latest software driver package from
> ATI for your video card (which you downloaded from ATI and have on your
> hard drive).
>
> NEVER, EVER allow MS to update ANY driver from Windows Update, nor
> should you update any driver manually from Windows Update.
>
> Always get driver updates from the manufacturer and follow their
> instructions for install.
>
> A very good reason why automatic updates are a VERY bad idea.
>
>
The automated update was for the OX (Vista)...not the the driver.
System restore did just that....

I'm saving the current video driver update for when I feeling like
having some pucker time again:-)

ropeyarn@gmail.com wrote:
> RobV wrote:
>> ropeyarn@gmail.com wrote:
>>> -Windows XP Home Premium, 32-bt
>>> -Intel E6850, 3GHZ dual core
>>> -Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
>>> -Two LG 19" displays (LG 196WTQ), DVI
>>>
>>> System was new in February; Graphics drivers are a late January 2008
>>> vintage. There is a July 2008 update. I don't game and the system is
>>> stable, so haven't had cause to update.
>>>
>>> (1) Some automatic XP update took place, and the machine dumped into
>>> its first BSOD/restart ever.
>>>
>>> (2) Monitor configuration was wrong (primary display) after restart.
>>> Figured this would be a good time to update video drivers.
>>>
>>> (3) Control Panel remove driver stopped...monitors went blank, and
>>> on restart displayed a "digital out of range" message when XP
>>> loaded. (4) Monitors presented a cloned display in safe mode (but
>>> uninstall
>>> not available to complete driver ininstall in safe mode...so XP
>>> said). (5) System restore took machine back to good state from last
>>> night.
>>>
>>> For the moment everything is stable again...but I might like to
>>> update the video drivers someday.
>>>
>>> Clearly there are multiple issues...but I'd be interested in ideas
>>> for how to complete the driver uninstall update if I ever want to!
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>
>> Look in Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
>>
>> With ATI drivers, there should be a selection titled: ATI - Software
>> Uninstall Utility.
>>
>> Run that and it should remove all ATI drivers and the computer, when
>> rebooted at the prompt, should come up in standard 640x480 VGA mode.
>>
>> At that point, just install the new, latest software driver package
>> from ATI for your video card (which you downloaded from ATI and have
>> on your hard drive).
>>
>> NEVER, EVER allow MS to update ANY driver from Windows Update, nor
>> should you update any driver manually from Windows Update.
>>
>> Always get driver updates from the manufacturer and follow their
>> instructions for install.
>>
>> A very good reason why automatic updates are a VERY bad idea.
>>
>>
> The automated update was for the OX (Vista)...not the the driver.
> System restore did just that....
>
> I'm saving the current video driver update for when I feeling like
> having some pucker time again:-)

That's good, but don't forget to use the ATI uninstall utility; it's
very important the old drivers are removed before the new ones are
installed. Good luck.

Glad to hear system restore got everything working again. It has saved
me a number of times.