I rarely swear but what the hell is a video card?

[Shanty Oilish]

Ye techies...please end my suffering. What is the difference among: video card, graphics controller, and video driver? Which one can I download and which one do I have to haul puter to shop to install?

I bought a new computer and the daughter's games are pelting me with error messages about no hardware. WTF? $3k+ and it can't handle Barbie??

[trotsky]

1. Video card and graphics controller are the same thing: hardware

Video driver is what you download.

I recommend going to the Windows Update side (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com). Get any Critical Updates that it says you need, but also look for the "DirectX" download. That might satisfy the software.

Otherwise you will probably just need an updated driver from the video card's manufacturer.

[wysimdnwyg]

2. Video card = graphics controller

Drivers are software programs used to communicate with and control hardware, including video cards.

Note: Video cards/graphics controllers may be either separate cards plugged into "slots" (PCI, AGP, etc. are different kinds of slots) in the computer, or built into the motherboard.

[waylon]

3. mac or pc?

When in doubt, find a large heavy object and strike the salesman who sold you the machine......well maybe thats a bit extreme

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. That's what I should have done to the saleman who convinced me

to purchase an imac. :argh: which refuses too turn on at all (that's happened twice now) and it ain't getting fixed this time.It's now nothing more than a big green paperweight I like to call Kermit. Okay so I shouldn't blame the saleman, wasn't his fault I got a green lemon.

[DS1]

4. they usually come in stacks of 20, and if you flip them really fast

you see a movie

[Shanty Oilish]

6. IBM xp pro intel extreme 82845G whatever!

I feel so stupid, I don't understand any of this! I tried to update the stinking driver. I ran dxdiag and the directx 9 swears it's ok with itself. I moved the acceleration thing this way and that way. Cleared enable write whatchamacallit and checked it and tried every combination. For some reason this thing can build little cities in ancient China just fine, but it can't cope with a Barbie flick. Or any other game with a movie in it.
Been to windows update. Spent a great deal of time there. Downloaded the world. Googled that error message and ran down every google result. (Best answer on a web page: "Get a real video card.")

Went to intel support and ibm support and ati, which is in my old puter and has the compelling name "Rage" on its driver. New puter says Oh no, that's not compatible!

If I knew what I was doing I'd annihilate the intel graphics controller and download a different one. I just don't know if that's what you do. Is it a physical THING in there like a tumor, or can I zap it and pull something else down from the cybersphere?

Then there's the ialmnt5.sys message about updating. Ialmnt5 is in there, my search swears to it. I made copies of it and placed it in places where the smart pricey puter would surely FIND the little fucker. But no. We need the file ialmnt5.sys, dearie, and your update isn't final 'til you bring it. Until then, "a hardware only directdraw object creation was attempted and no hardware supports it."

So wtf do they want? WHAT hardware? Why don't they speak English and make a support page somewhere that says, this is your error message, this is your fix?

[Ready4Change]

8. Clues not enough. Need more info

To help, we need information that is as accurate as you can make it. That's hard when you're frustrated ( :) believe me I've been there.)

In particular, when the Barbie game fails, does it give any error message, and if so, exactly what is that message? The words may seem like gibberish to you, but they may tell us exactly what's going wrong.

We could use better info on what kind of computer you have. The terms may be frustrating, and you may not know what they mean. But tell them too us as accurately as you can, and we can try to explain them to you as we figure out what we're dealing with. These are probably terms used when you bought the computer, like its brand name, model number or name, the CPU type, amount of RAM, size of HD (hard disk).

In the machines documentation may have more information, like motherboard brand and model, or even the video or graphics card brand and model. Those bits of info could be VERY helpful.

[Shanty Oilish]

34. Ok, but I don't know which gibberish is important!

It says celeron, whatever that is. IBM, celeron, intel 82845G/GL/PE/GV graphics controller...Legacy audio and video capture devices...one of these days I must look up the definition of "motherboard."

[nini]

9. which Barbie game is it?

.

I work for the company that distributes these.. 'maybe' I can help. But hurry I'm leaving soon.

[Shanty Oilish]

11. All of them, grrrrr

That thing with the hotel vacation and secret agent and the carnival thing too. All the Nancy Drew mysteries too. And most of the other games. Sanitarium. Byzantine. Last Express.
At this rate the kid will soon be smart enough to fix it herself. I'd be forever shamed.

[nini]

13. are you able to install them or are you getting the error in the install?

I'm gonna check something on our tech support page - I'll be right back

[Shanty Oilish]

20. It installs ok (I guess!)

Then when you click play, the puter makes that "doob" sound and shows me the lemons. "A hardware only directdraw object creation was attempted but instead we'll just piss on your leg awhile."

[nini]

14. Here's some generic XP info from our tech support site

I think most of this is what others have suggested. Good Luck...



http://support.vugames.com/vug/answer.aspx?answer=661CC095-A0A0-4F8A-BE33-76B999D4A71E




Problem:
Windows XP General Troubleshooting


Solution:
First, make sure that the computer has the latest critical updates available for
the operating system:


A. Establish connection to the Internet.
Go to START and select WINDOWS UPDATE. Windows Update will automatically connect to the Microsoft Web site and provide a list of updates available for download. If any difficulties are encountered with the Windows Update function, go to the followinghere link abd select Product Updates for the latest critical update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/


Next, identify the hardware devices and obtain the latest driver/bios updates.


A. Using the RIGHT mouse button, click the MY COMPUTER icon.
B. Select PROPERTIES.
C. Select HARDWARE.
D. Select DEVICE MANAGER.
E. Click the "+" sign beside DISPLAY (DISPLAY ADAPTORS). The "+" sign will reappear as a "-" sign. The name and/or model of the video card (adapter) will be listed the first line below DISPLAY (DISPLAY ADAPTORS). You should contact the system manufacturer for support to determine the availability of product updates. Another option is to contact the hardware manufacturer for support and determine the availability of product updates and/or settings requirements.
F. Click the "+" sign beside SOUND, VIDEO, GAME CONTROLLERS. The "+" sign will reappear as a "-" sign. The name and/or model of the sound card will be listed the first line below SOUND, VIDEO, GAME CONTROLLERS. Contact the system manufacturer for support to determine the availability of product updates. Another option is to contact the hardware manufacturer for support and determine the availability of product updates and/or settings requirements.

RAM (System memory)


Windows XP uses at least 64 megabytes of RAM for the operating system (and 128 is recommended). For general gaming purposes, this means that if the game requires 32 megabytes of system memory (RAM), the best performance will be obtained on a system with 96(+) megabytes of system memory. Sierra will not require this amount for support, but we recommend additional memory for increased performance. In addition, if you have chosen to manually set Virtual Memory, we highly recommend that the Virtual Memory be set to aminimum/maximum of twice the amount of system memory (RAM).


Application Priority


Windows XP permits the user (Network Administrator) to adjust the computer to authorize the operating system to extend greater performance to either current APPLICATIONS or BACKGROUND SERVICES. For gaming purposes, Sierra suggests setting this option to APPLICATIONS. To do this:
A. Using the RIGHT mouse button, click the MY COMPUTER icon.
B. Select PROPERTIES.
C. Select ADVANCED.
D. Select PERFORMANCE OPTIONS.
E. Select "Give Applications More Performance."


Make sure you are running in 16-bit (high) color.
-Click on the Windows START button and choose SETTINGS.
-Choose CONTROL PANEL and double-click on the DISPLAY icon.
-From the Display Properties, click on the SETTINGS tab.
-Click on the Arrow next to Color Palette and select HIGH COLOR 16-bit.
-Click on the APPLY button in the bottom right.
-Click on OK and restart the computer if prompted to.
-Try the program.


Determine whether any programs running in the background are interfering with the program.
- Click START.
- Select RUN.
- Type in "MSCONFIG" in the command line.
- Click OKAY.
- Click the STARTUP tab.
- Note down which applications are checked.
- Click the GENERAL tab.
- Put the dot in Selective Startup.
- Uncheck Load Startup Items.
- Click Okay and restart your computer.
- Try the program.


***To restore your system:
Repeat the above steps, only put the dot back in normal startup. Then go to the startup tab and confirm that all the applications that were initially checked are enabled now as well.
Try running the program in either win9x or win2000 emulation.
To do this, locate the actual file executable. (For example, for counter-strike: c:\sierra\counter-strike\cstrike.exe is the executable.) Once located:
- Right-click on it and select Properties.
- Select the COMPATABILITY tab.
- Put the check in "Run this program in compatibility mode for."
- From the pull-down menu, select Windows 98.
- Click APPLY.
- Click OK.
- Try running the program now.


***If unsuccessful, consider trying it w/ Windows ME or Windows 2000 selected for the compatibility.

[Shanty Oilish]

24. Been there...many, many times

Thanks hon, I did all that---it doesn't help, though now I can do those things a lot faster than I used to :)

[Liberal Classic]

16. Ah more info

Here is Intel's page on your card:

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel845g/

I don't know whether this is a software or hardware problem. Hard to say whether it is a problem with DirectX or your video driver.

Your card is supposed to be compatible with DirectX and OpenGL. Here is another page I found:

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/gaming/index.htm

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/gaming/82845.htm

[Shanty Oilish]

28. Yep, been to those pages too

Still don't know what a motherboard is, or a chipset, or even a modem. Maybe never will. But I can follow basic instructions and download things. The computer has enough memory to go on like that for many years, but if I don't get these games to work soon, the kid will be dating prematurely for something to do :(

[Cooley Hurd]

17. Hi DC - here's a link to download an updated video driver...

Before I'd do anything else, I'd pull thed old driver and install an updated driver...

First, download the new video card driver here (for the Intel Extreme 82845G): http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/Product_filter.asp?ProductID=865

Follow installation instructions (installation means it extracts the files from an archive, creates a new folder and dumps the files in there), but remember the actual driver filename & write it down. You might have to search for it later...

To remove your old driver:
-Right click "my Computer" and choose "properties."

-Click the "Hardware" tab

-Click "device manager" button

-Expand "Display adapters" folder

-Right click your graphics adapter (Intel Extreme 82845G) and choose "uninstall"

reboot

Most likely, Windows will attempt to "plug-and-play" your card after the reboot (it senses your video card, but will try to look for the driver). Accept all the defaults (clicking okay), but when it asks you for the location of the driver, click the "have disk" button. Then, go to your "Start" button, choose "Search -> Files and folders." Search your "C:" drive for the filename of the driver (that you wrote down previously). Once you've found the location of the driver, return to the "have disk" function and find your file. Click ok. Reboot...

YOu might have to reset your display properties after rebooting. If so, set it for true color and 1024x768... PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!

P.S. What version of DirectX are you running? Download the latest one from MS but don't update it until you reload your video driver...

[Ready4Change]

25. good find, alg0912

That may be DC's solution. Good job. :)

[Shanty Oilish]

31. Will try. I got all night.

Won't start right away, removing old thing is a big step. Need courage.

The directx is the latest version, 9-something. The diagnostics say it's fine. I see the bouncing cube and all that.

Say "have disk" when I don't? I even did that. Sank real low but I lied and still nothing helped.

BTW I'm not worried about wrecking an expensive puter. It's got every warranty on earth, I can even screw it up maliciously and they'll take it back and give me another headache of the same type.

Downloading the updated intel thing never quite worked because they kept saying they need a file called ialmnt5.sys. Which is in there. Search thing says so. I made many copies of it and tucked it in every file that might help. None helped. Waaaaah!

[Cooley Hurd]

35. I don't think the ialmnt5.sys file is a windows file...

I searched for it on my XP Pro machine and couldn't find it. You got the message during downloading? Or did it pop up when you executed the file that you downloaded?

Hang on, I'll download the driver and see what it says to me... brb...

[Shanty Oilish]

40. It came up when I finished (what I thought was finished) the update

In a box that said tell us where this file is and we'll fetch it. So I told them and the puter gremlins just ignored me. It was in system32. and in many other places before I quit copying it. I did everything but pour syrup on it.

[Cooley Hurd]

36. Here's a better link that'll bring you right to the file you'll...

...need to download:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/Detail_Desc.asp?agr=N&ProductID=865&DwnldID=6889

[Shanty Oilish]

41. Thanks I'll try that tonight

I'm sure I've been there already, though. downloadfinder.intel is a familiar place now :(

[Ready4Change]

38. DirectX 9.something should be fine.

That's nearly the latest, if not THE latest.

The purpose of removing the driver first is to clean things up and help the new install work better. It's only software being removed, and you'll be replacing it with newer, better software later in the directions.

Be brave. You'll make it!

[Shanty Oilish]

42. It SAYS it's fine. It lies!

The dx diagnostics thing performs properly and says it's all working fine.
I AM brave. And determined. But when it comes to computers I'm also a ninny.

[Cooley Hurd]

44. It errored out on me, but that was to be expected...

...because I don't have an Intel card.:o

However, it appears to install the driver automatically, so you might not have to mess with the plug & play on reboot.:) So, the only thing you'll have to do is pull the old driver (highly recommended). The new driver is two weeks old, which means it's possible the bug in your existing driver was fixed...

Do it in this order...
1) Remove old driver
2) reboot, but, before working thru the plug and play windows which will pop up, install your new video driver. Reboot (cancel out of the "Add New Hardware" wizard).
3) After reboot, if the "Add New Hardware" pops up, follow thru and when it gets to the "drivers" part, scroll dowm to find your card in the list of manufacturers, and then find the model of your card. After that, you should be in the clear...

[Shanty Oilish]

47. No intel card---Lucky you!

It is no fun, believe me.

Ok, I'm going to uninstall and all that. I notice the Add New Hardware thing introduces itself as one that helps you install SOFTware, which makes you wonder why they named it Add Hardware Wizard.
Wish I knew what Plug & Play is!

[Cooley Hurd]

48. Whoops! I fell asleep...

...just like MS support does!

Plug & play is similar to the add hardware wizard (plug & play is win95/98 terminology.

Anyhow... any luck?

[Shanty Oilish]

49. No luck but still Plugging away

Curses! Still at it, trying new angles.

[Ready4Change]

7. My comments

- Video cards and graphic controllers are physical parts of the computer. They may be parts that can be easily removed and replaced with better models, or they may be built in permamently. The terms are usually used interchangably

- Video DRIVERS are software (a program) which is generally stored inside your computer and by other programs whenever your computer displays something on the screen.

The particular thing a game like your daughters may be looking for is a graphics controller or video card with "3D functions." These enable the computer to display more realistic looking images. Many low priced video cards don't have 3D functions, or don't have very advanced ones.

However, if you recently bought this computer and paid $3k for it, it SHOULD have a nice, up to date 3D video card in there. Frankly, it's hard to buy a computer now WITHOUT such a card in it. Had you bought it a couple years ago it would be iffy. But nowadays $3k should buy a very capable machine with a very capable video card installed and ready. (This assumes your computer didn't come with a $2,500 color laser printer or something like that. :) )

It's possible that the video driver has not been installed (or not installed correctly.) That could make the game program THINK you don't have a video card. Taking the machine to a computer shop, or having a computer guru friend look it over, should resolve that. It's the cheapest solution too.

Good luck.

[TXlib]

10. BTW, that's not swearing, but dealing with computers will teach you how!

[Liberal Classic]

12. card=hardware driver=software

Drivers are downloaded or on compact disk, and cards are physical circuit boards which may need to be replaced.

If a game is giving an error about 'no hardware' then it sounds like the game needs 3-D graphics but your video card doesn't do 3-D. It is possible that you do not have the correct driver loaded, and the game can't see that your card does 3-D graphics.

Good luck.

[Shanty Oilish]

18. For 3D I use a Viewmaster. Works every time!

Lord, if I have to hold the puter up to the light, we are in trouble...

I've ignored the 3D discussions in support pages. Figured I was having enough trouble in 2D. But I'll give it a try. There were some buttons to push in properties about 3D.
Why do they call it 3D? It's not!

[Liberal Classic]

23. I'm assuming the game uses 3-D

But I might be wrong.

Introduction movies in games are usually 2-D, so maybe that's not your problem.

[Shanty Oilish]

26. They look like 2D to me

Except for the Barbies, which look like 42D.

[Liberal Classic]

27. Look at #17 by alg0912

It looks to be the latest driver.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=556408#556753?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=556408

[Cooley Hurd]

30. Non-MS Drivers + XP Pro = Driver reloading

Win 2K was the best OS MS ever made in this respect. I never had any problems w/ drivers and that OS. XP, on the other hand... @#$%&!

[Liberal Classic]

32. Hard to say what is going wrong

But it sounds like DirectX is wiggy to me. Can't play game intro moveies, and some games work but others don't. Odd. I've had problems where if you install DirectX over itself it stops functioning properly. Or some games will ask you to install DirectX from the game CD but it is an older version that gets written over a newer version.

Then again, I'm no Windows expert.

[Shanty Oilish]

43. Exactly!

I even tried doing it the long way, uninstall directx and reinstall. This is the ugliest thing that's happened to me since Realplayerone!

[Shanty Oilish]

39. My old machine had 98 and never gave me any headaches

Why do they fiddle with stuff that works fine already?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. How the fuck should I know?

No help here. Just wanted to say :hi:

[Shanty Oilish]

19. Hey baby!

How've you been? :loveya:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. ok

missed ya! I'm up to my ears in files ..I'll drop you a note later :D

[Cooley Hurd]

21. Lotta help you are!

[TrogL]

29. It's a frame buffer.

:evilgrin:

I know, I'm no help whatsoever.

[WillyT]

33. Um... This Is So Dumb I'm Embarrassed, But...

Many games won't play unless you have your display settings at 256 colors. You tried that, right???

:shrug:

Sorry for chirping in so late in the game.

Also, sounds like your video 'card' might me onboard, as in not a seperate card, but part of the motherboard. Sometimes those can really suck, LOL!!!

Have you been able to play this game on anybody elses computer? Just to make sure there is nothing wrong with the game itself?

:shrug:

[Shanty Oilish]

46. 256 colors

My mom used to tell me, "If you were organized you'd be dangerous."

I am getting there. I made a list of every plausible combination of color settings and acceleration levels and mysterious little checkbox options. I'm pretty sure the settings are ok. And after all, some games do work. The city building games work. Riddle of the Sphinx works and that moves. Clue does not work. IIRC myst worked, or riven. Whatever. But Nancy Drews, Barbies and most other stuff won't. Also, the ones that do, don't fail when I fiddle with the settings (within reason). Sure beats me. So far.

[maxanne]

37. draftcaroline!!

I have nothing to add to your thread - just hi - how are you?? I've been missing you 'round these parts. :hi:

:hug:

[Shanty Oilish]

45. Maxanne!!!

Slo-mo across the meadow...crescendo...embrace...full orchestra.

I've been busy in life. We're moving to Washington and I get back here now and then to visit the older kid and my left behind stuff (gives me another excuse to come back occasionally).

I'm not happy about living in DC, for obvious reasons. Hubby is old enough to retire and then some but he won't. We have a traditional marriage---I do all the packing and sorting and decorating, he pays for it and gets to sleep with me :evilgrin:
So there isn't much time lately to sit at the puter and enjoy DUers, who btw aren't the happy bunch they used to be. I hope this primary season concludes swiftly, decisively and peacefully! We need to regain some of the old esprit.

[Shanty Oilish]

50. Thank you all

Nah, still can't get it to behave, but I sure appreciate all the advice. I'm getting the feeling there is something wrong in there somewhere, since you are all giving basically the same advice, standard sensible things, and it's not working as it should.
No matter. I persist. You guys are wonderful! :loveya: