GTX 400 series drivers & Windows 7 x64 welcome screen lock up

[Balthasar]

Tonight I tried upgrading from my GTS 250 to a GTX 470. It'll boot into the initial login screen, but after putting in the password, it goes into the "Welcome" screen with the little loading circle spinning. It'll either freeze at this point (cursor frozen too) or it will go into a black screen and freeze up moments later.

I've tried all the available driver revisions for the 400 series, all of which present the same problem. Between each driver installation, I uninstalled and removed them with Driver Sweeper in safe mode. For the time being, i've reverted back to the GTS 250 which works perfectly.

After some research, I didn't find any definite answer for this specific problem. There was someone else with the same exact problem, but no solution as of yet. There was a solution for a similar problem where the boot time was really high and performance was severely degraded. That involved remapping memory values or something. But seeing as I couldn't even make it past the welcome screen, i'm thinking it's a different problem.

[]Edit: A lot of research I found on the topic is by a guy posting on a lot of forums by the name "unaligned". Here are some of his threads:
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=168566
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/28...ot-performance
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...d-a84de95f831d
The thread explaining the memory remapping I was talking about: http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=15472

I'm beginning to re-suspect the memory issue. They explain it well in that thread. In the link from tomshardware forum, there's an idea suggesting it's a sound driver issue since fermis have built in sound, so there may be a conflict there.
[/end edit]


I doubt there's any fix for this short of nvidia fixing the issue in their next driver revision. I'm thinking this might be some obscure issue/conflict with another piece of hardware, which I would replace if I knew what it was.
If you're having similar issues, you should also definitely consider filling out NVIDIA's driver quality assurance form here. This doesn't seem to be a common problem, so the more feedback they get, the more likely it is to get fixed.

Specs are :

Mobo: MSI X58 Pro LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
RAM: WINTEC AMPX 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
PSU: Thermaltake 850W Power Supply

[Jonny]

are you running a Overclock program or fan program kinda like msi after burner or evga eleet/precision if so uninstall them and install them when you put in the new graphics card with the new drivers.

if all els fails try full format

[Balthasar]

No OCing or fan control applications. And i'm confused about reformat/reinstalls. Are you able to just use the same reg key when you reinstall on the same box? Also the people i've found having the same issue have said they tried a reformat and the problem continued, which is why I was thinking it's some hardware issue.

[Jonny]

yeah you can use the same key it will let you.

hmm what brand of graphics card is it?

[Icari]

have you tried safe mode?

[Olo401]

have you tried safe mode?

Yar give this a try.. if you can't get in try an older video card (if you have one).

[Balthasar]

Yes, safe mode works. And so does regular booting when I use the standard VGA drivers. The GTS 250 that works was manufactured by XFX. The GTX 470 that doesn't was manufactured by EVGA. (both nvidia if that wasn't obvious)

[Jonny]

have you tried the 470 in another pc?
i would try that IF at all possible since all i buy is EVGA,
but it may be the new drivers i was getting display driver crashes with it(sli gtx295) did a full format and it seems to be working better

[Balthasar]

Yea, SLI is another story. I hear they're having tons of SLI issues with the current drivers, compared to only a few people having my problem. Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a gaming PC I could test with. I have a feeling it would work since the problem is apparently uncommon. Hopefully they'll roll out a new revision in the next 30 days that fixes this (and the SLI issues) before the return policy expires.

[Ermac]

Been having the same issue....SAME exact issue, worked fine when I got the card in May, and now all this garbage. I took it to a shop because I'm sick of dealing with this...I know I'm just wasting my money but hey w/e....maybe they might find something else that's could be causing this, however I'm sure its the card or driver related.

CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model HX3X12G1600C9 G

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601920

ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

Rosewill BRONZE series RBR1000-M 1000W Continuous@40°C, 80Plus Bronze Certified,Modular Cable Design,ATX12V v2.3/ EPS12V,SLI Ready,CrossFire Ready,Active PFC"Compatible with Core i7, i5" Power Supply

EVGA 015-P3-1482-AR GeForce GTX 480 (Fermi) SuperClocked 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

**Edit

I don't think they will fix this issue as I waited for them to fix this issue with the GTX 295 red edition, odds are look for another video card and get your money back while u can.

[Boyiee]

I haven't had any issues with my 480 and any drivers.

[Ermac]

I haven't had any issues with my 480 and any drivers.

Can u please post your specs and drivers etc please?

and are you OC'ing at all?

[Boyiee]

using 257.21 running @ 726/1451/1900 almost 95% of the time with the occasional bump to 850/1700/2100. On air.

[Ermac]

using 257.21 running @ 726/1451/1900 almost 95% of the time with the occasional bump to 850/1700/2100. On air.

Hmmm gonna try 257.21 again, maybe I didn't get ride of my drivers correctly.

Thanks

[Ermac]

Double post weeeeeeeee

Um, setting up another rig to test video card if it works in another computer, but drivers are a NO go.

Tested a few other low end video cards in the current computer and had no issue with freezing.

for sure it looks like Nvid drivers or the actual card.

Will post back once I give it a good test run.

[Balthasar]

Added this info to OP:

A lot of research I found on the topic is by a guy posting on a lot of forums by the name "unaligned". Here are some of his threads:
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=168566
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/28...ot-performance
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...d-a84de95f831d
The thread explaining the memory remapping I was talking about: http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=15472

I'm beginning to re-suspect the memory issue. They explain it well in that thread. In the link from tomshardware forum, there's an idea suggesting it's a sound driver issue since fermis have built in sound, so there may be a conflict there.

It's simple to test the memory theory. Just boot up with only 1 stick of RAM in. I'm going to try this on my day off tomorrow.

edit: Also adding link for driver feedback form to NVIDIA in the OP. http://www.nvidia.com/object/driverq...assurance.html

[Ermac]

Added this info to OP:

A lot of research I found on the topic is by a guy posting on a lot of forums by the name "unaligned". Here are some of his threads:
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=168566
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/28...ot-performance
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...d-a84de95f831d
The thread explaining the memory remapping I was talking about: http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=15472

I'm beginning to re-suspect the memory issue. They explain it well in that thread. In the link from tomshardware forum, there's an idea suggesting it's a sound driver issue since fermis have built in sound, so there may be a conflict there.

It's simple to test the memory theory. Just boot up with only 1 stick of RAM in. I'm going to try this on my day off tomorrow.

edit: Also adding link for driver feedback form to NVIDIA in the OP. http://www.nvidia.com/object/driverq...assurance.html

I had another convo with EVGA, I was told to consider looking at the motherboard and power supply / amps going into the MB.

-I have found nothing conflicting or any other hardware conflicting with the video card, which really leaves to this power hungry video card.

Really starting to think its the power supply, tomorrow I hope to know for sure, as this can be a hard thing to catch unless somebody knows of a good monitor software...I know asus has some but any others?

"Then look for something to the effect of "System status, hardware monitor, pc health, etc" Your looking for the +12V. It should be running between 11.9~12.3 (Keep in mind these are bare minimum and maximums).

Next double check your ram timings and voltage are manually are set in the BIOS run memtest (memtest.org) for 4-8 passes to ensure the memory is functioning properly.

Regards,
EVGA"

[Ermac]

Tested all rails all volts/amps fine, tested video card in 4 other computers with all different power-supply.

Hope an RMA fixes the issue, if not this card is going into a brick wall.

[Boyiee]

Unless there is an underlying issue with your mobo/psu/cpu already, I'm not sure what the problem could be.

I'm running a lower wattage psu, and a core2duo, and haven't had a single problem with mine.

[Balthasar]

Tested all rails all volts/amps fine, tested video card in 4 other computers with all different power-supply.

Hope an RMA fixes the issue, if not this card is going into a brick wall.

So to be clear, it didn't work on the other 4 computers?