Problems with DirectX

from Stardock Forums
I have just started using WindowFX and have noticed that none of the games I use that require Directx will run any more. DxDiag indicates that they are several problems with the video graphics functions. If I unload WindowFX before running, say, Tomb Raider Anniversary, everything is fine. Reload WindowFX and it stops again.

Anyone else have this problem? :SNIFF!: :SNIFF!:
windowfx
10,273 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It sounds like you have a video driver bug.

What graphics card are you using?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Using a laptop fitted with an ATI mobility Radeon 9700 - the drivers are the originals, but I don't think that updates have ever been released.

Drivers have never given a problem before - even on the most demanding of visual apps.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
OK. Spec as follows ..

OS: WIndows XP Professional SP2 fully patched
Machine: AJP Laptop with 3.4GHz Pentium 4 Processor and 1GB RAM. ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics card with 256 MB on-board RAM. Soundblaster-compatible soundcard.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I have always been under the impression that video drivers, at least as far as laptop machines are concerned, are very specific to the particular machine and are, therefore, normally produced by the computer manufacturer rather than the video card producer. Is this understanding incorrect?

I have tried so-called mobility driver updates before with no success, but I will give it another try - I can always roll back to the current versions I guess. Thanks for the link.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I have tried the new drivers, with mixed results. The new drivers do allow me to run games with WindowsFX also loaded, but the WFX transitions are too jerky to be usable.

More importantly are problems restoring screen resolution after exiting a game. The laptop has a 17 inch widescreen panel built-in that I run at maximum resolution of 1680x1050 32bit. When exiting a game resolution is reset to only 1400x1050. Looking at display properties the 1400x1050 is the maxiumu available under these drivers. I can reset to the higher level using the Catalyst Centre, but I have to do this manually every time as the settings are not remembered.

I suspect that the new drivers have not been optimised for my system. In their present form they are not really usable so I have reverted to the previous set again.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Stephen,

Yes typically Laptop video drivers with respect to ATI are indeed not optomized by the ATI driver base, sorry to hear that the updated drivers did not help you as much as I had hoped. I have been discussing this fact with ATI tech folks at the numerous Face to Face ATI/AMD tech events I attend as I feel this is one area in which NVIDIA still figuratively kicks ATI's collective hind parts. I love ATI hardware, always have, but driver support has always seemed to be a 1/2 step behind the brilliance of the hardware side.

Much luck in getting your system running the way you want.

Rex
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Rex Guess I'll just have to live without WindowFX for the time being. I suspect that suitable drivers for my laptop are unlikely to emerge as the company that produced the machine has been taken over and probably won't be actively developing for older machines. Thanks for your help. Steve