Trouble loading SL

I got it downloaded, But when it tries to start up a box pops up and says SL could not start up because your video cards did not install properly or do not have updated. I do not know how to check to see if I have the right ones, And would REALLY like for this to work. my computer information is: Intell pentium III processor, 996 MHz, 512 MB RAM, Microsoft XP Home edition, version 2002 Service pack 2, It's a GATEWAY also, If you need more info I will be glad to get it, Just don't know how. Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thank You
If you know of any websites or place I could go to to do whatever this needs please let me know also

The first thing we need to know is what kind of video card you have. Given your CPU is a Pentium III, I'm guessing all your hardware is quite old. It's more likely than not that you'll need to upgrade, but let's make sure. Here's how to identify your video card:

1. Right-click on My Computer, and select Properties.

2. In the window that pops up, click on the Hardware tab, and then click the button for Device Manager.

3. In the Device Manager window, click the little plus sign next to where it says Display Adapters, to show what's underneath. You should now see the name of your video card displayed.


Report back here with the make and model of the video card. If it's usable, the next thing we should talk about is updating its drivers. If it's too old and outdated (which I suspect will be the case), then we can talk about what to replace it with.

it says NVIDIA Geforce MX 420, and NVIDIA Vanta/Vanta LT

I went ahead and updated both drivers, the first one said it didn't need it and the second one is updating right now.

Ok I updated the second one and tried installing SL again, It didn't work so i'mma guess the drivers are out of date. Any suggestions on where I could get those and what kind I should get?

The GeForce 4 MX420 is a discrete graphics card, and the Vanta is integrated. Hopefully, you've got your monitor plugged into the right one. You should never ever ever use integrated graphics units. They're positively awful. The worst discrete card you can buy will run circles around the best integrated graphics.

Chances are there's a setting in your machine's BIOS to disable the integrated graphics. I would highly recommend you do so. It's just wasting resources right now.


In any case, how are you performing the driver update? You're not trying to do it through Device Manager, are you? If so, stop. Windows won't be able to do a proper update in that manner. Device manager routinely tries to bite off more than it can chew, in that regard. Don't let it fool you.

For best results with any device, especially graphics cards, always download drivers directly from the device manufacturer's website. In this case, you want to download the driver installer program directly from nVidia. Here's the latest version I could find that supports your card: http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_94.24_2.html

Here's the correct procedure to install it:

1. Download the driver from the above link. Don't run it yet. Just download it.

2. Go to drivercleaner.net, and download Driver Cleaner. Again, don't run it yet. Just download it.

Driver Cleaner will cost you $10. It's easily worth 10 times that, or more, so don't be afraid to spend the small handful of money on it. You must use Driver Cleaner every time you change driver versions, or you will have problems. Windows is NEVER EVER able to uninstall previous drivers fully on its own. Driver Cleaner is absolutely necessary.

3. Uninstall your current nVidia driver via Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs.

4. Reboot to Safe Mode. To do that, tap F8 as the computer is first starting up, to get to the boot manager screen, and then pick Safe Mode from the list.

5. Run Driver Cleaner now.

6. Reboot normally. If Windows offers to automatically install software for your video card at this point, don't let it. Cancel out of the wizard.

7. Now install the new driver. To do that, simply double-click on it to launch, and then follow the on-screen prompts.

8. Reboot normally, one last time.



All that said, it's pretty unlikely that SL will run on that card. If it does, it will be at a snail's pace, minimal draw distance, and you'll have to disable a ton of features. That card is just too old and underpowered.

So you know, It's been 7 years since the GeForce 4 series was current, and the MX420 was the lowest of the low end versions, even when it was new. Frankly, you're lucky it works with any modern program at all.

I would highly recommend you replace it with something better. The interface your current card connects to your motherboard with is called AGP. There aren't a whole lot of AGP cards still on the market these days (it was replaced ages ago with PCIE), but you can find a few stragglers if you know where to look. Newegg currently has a few on hand. From what they have available, I'd recommend the GeForce 7600.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130099

The better answer, though, is to get a whole new computer. That machine you're running now is a dinosaur. It's a little silly to keep throwing money at it, when you could get something modern for just a few hundred dollars.

Ok I will do the suggested, and post back to ya when I am done. THANK YOU

The first link you gave me stopped and said it couldn't find compatible something for the driver, Husband and I were planning on getting us both brand new Laptops in a couple of weeks, So I'm just going to wait till then, so I won't have any problems. I guess if he wants to play on it that bad he can use my computer. I am able to use sl on that one. But it boots me A LOT! Thank you so very much for all of your help, It is greatly appreciated.
Shasta

Sorry to hear that that driver didn't work. It was just the newest one I saw when I did a search for "Geforce 4 MX420 driver" on nVidia's website. There were a lot of other hits as well, and I didn't look through them very hard. If you feel like continuing, you could give some of the others a try.

If you're getting new machines, great. Same advice, though. Avoid integrated graphics like the plague. Whatever you get, make sure it's got a real graphics card in it. I don't know what your budget is, but laptops with decent graphics tend to start around $800.

And remember, with most nVidia cards, the second digit is more important than the first. The first denotes the production series, while the second tells the performance level within the series. If two cards have the same second digit, then it's usually better to get the newer one (higher first digit). For example, an 8800 beats a 7800. But if the two second digits are different, then the higher second digit usually trumps the first. For example an 7800 will outperform a 8400, even though the 8400 is newer. Make sense?

Happy shopping.

I'm running a ATI Radeon HD 4650 vid card and I'm having the same problems loading SL, any one know what I should to resolve this issue (w/ out having to buy another Vid card)?? Any help is appreciated

I'm not as well versed on ATI products these days as I am on nVidia, but from what I'm reading, that card is only a year old. It should be able to run SL just fine. When was the last time you updated its drivers?