Windows ME video bug alert!
Question
Windows ME video driver bug alert!
Answer
This question was answered on March 9, 2001. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.
Some users that have upgraded to Windows ME have experienced video problems stemming from the upgrade. If you are recieving any DirectX related error messages or are experiencing hard lock-ups that require a physical reboot, you may have an incompatible video driver loaded.
Typically, the upgrade goes smoothly and the computer boots successfully, but problems may arise later, especially when using a web browser.
Some of the video cards with known problems include the Graphics Blaster, Riva TNT and some older Trident video cards. In addition, Microsoft lists the Diamond Speed Star PCI Video Adapter with BIOS version 1.01, Diamond Viper PCI VGA Video Adapter, and Diamond Stealth Video Adapter, BIOS v1.03 as potential candidates on their website.
The problem is that Windows ME did not ship with the most recent drivers for some video cards. If you suspect video problems after an upgrade or fresh installation, check the version of your video driver. (Start / Settings / Control Panel then click the System icon. Go to the Device Manager tab, and click to expand the Display Adapter entry. Right click your adapter, select Properties, and then go to the Drivers tab. Click the Driver Detail button to see the driver version.)
Once you have the version and brand of your video card, check the Technical Support section of the manufacturer's website for your video card. Look for "Driver Updates" or "Driver Downloads". Check the latest version of the driver that is posted on their website against your current driver. In some cases, you will see an announcement for a "Windows ME compatible version" of your video driver. If you don't have the latest version, download it and follow the instructions for updating the driver on the manufacturer's website.
Author
Posted by Ken of Data Doctors on March 9, 2001
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