Problems updating drivers

[planze21]

Hi
I'm trying to play a war game on my computer and it just keeps freezing. I am told I need to update all my drivers so I am in the process of doing this.
The problem i'm having is when I click to download them it's a hit or a miss whether they install properly.
Sometimes there isn't a "setup" file to click on and other times it simply fails to install.

It looks like I should download about 9 or so separate programs on the acer site.

Is there a tutorial that can help me with this?  I'm not even sure if i need to actually buy a video card or graphics card and install it on my pc. I would have thought such a thing would have come with it when I bought it.

I'm operating on windows xp professional 32.
the computer is acer powerboy fh
thanks anyone

[quaxo]

Simply downloading it will not install it. Unless you're using

What do you mean it "simply fails to install"? How do you know? Is it giving you an error message of some sort?

What game are you referring to?

Have you checked your temperatures? Freezing during gameplay can also occur from the computer getting too hot.

[planze21]

Thanks for replying.

I initially went to acer.com (computer's an acer) and went to the drivers download section.
I gave them the computer make and model (Desktop-AcerPower-FH-) with microsoft windows xp professional x32 os

A list of drivers appeared that I could download via a zip file

I downloaded and extracted them one at a time.
I double clicked on the "set up" file (where I could find one) and here's what happened.

chipset driver=downloaded and installed.
audio driver=downloaded and installed.
lan marver driver =downloaded  but didn't install as I couldn't find a "setup file"
lan pronets driver= downloaded and installed.
modem liteon driver =downloaded but not sure if it installed (can't remember)
tv tuner hauppauge driver =not installed. tried to but wouldn't. Sorry can't remember what it said.
tv tuner leadtek driver = downloaded but no "setup file" so not sure how to install.
vga ati driver =downloaded but would not install  (the error said "couldn't find video driver")
vga intel driver=could not install (error said "your computer doesn't have the minimum requirments).
vga nvidia driver=downloaded but could not install. (error said "couldn't locate relevant drivers")
wireless lan driver =downloaded but don't know how to install as no set up file showing.


I am trying to play napoleon total war through my steam account.

The game freezes soon into playing.

I bought the pc a few years ago and I haven't installed any hardware on it.

I don't have alot of money to throw around so I'm looking for the cheapest/free-est route to play the game.

Meanwhile,
When I right clicked the desktop and then clicked on properties and then setting, this shows under the display heading..  "RadeonX1550 Series"
So I downloaded this updated driver from
http://www.pcpitstop.com/drivers/download/Radeon~X1550~Series.html
and installed it.

Thanks for any help

[quaxo]

You need these:
chipset driver=downloaded and installed.
audio driver=downloaded and installed.
modem liteon driver =downloaded but not sure if it installed (can't remember)

For the remaining ones, you need to determine which them is in your computer:

It will have either of these, not both. If the pronets one installed and your LAN port is working correctly, that was probably the one.
lan marver driver =downloaded  but didn't install as I couldn't find a "setup file"
lan pronets driver= downloaded and installed.


Only ONE of these should have been installed, whichever one matches what's actually in the computer:
tv tuner hauppauge driver =not installed. tried to but wouldn't. Sorry can't remember what it said.
tv tuner leadtek driver = downloaded but no "setup file" so not sure how to install.

Only ONE of these should have been installed, whichever one matches what's actually in the computer:
vga ati driver =downloaded but would not install  (the error said "couldn't find video driver")
vga intel driver=could not install (error said "your computer doesn't have the minimum requirments).
vga nvidia driver=downloaded but could not install. (error said "couldn't locate relevant drivers")

wireless lan driver =downloaded but don't know how to install as no set up file showing.


You need to determine the exact configuration of that computer so we can determine which drivers you DO need and why they aren't installing.

[planze21]

Hi,
It's probably best to take it a step at a time.
below in capital letters is what I did. I tried to install the modem liteon driver again and the problem occurs as described below. firstly I open the "setup.exe" file, double click on "run" and it prompts me  whether or not I want to install the modem drivers. I then clicked on "yes". It then looks as though it is installing (through showing a section of boxes slowly being filled horizontally, but as it gets towards the end it just disappears and nothing tells me it has installed.


You need these
chipset driver=downloaded and installed.
audio driver=downloaded and installed.
modem liteon driver =downloaded but not sure if it installed (can't remember)

STARTING INSTALLATIOIN.
DOUBLE CLICK ON "setup.exe" file
CLICK ON "run"
ALERT!
"DO YOU WANT TO INSTALL MODEM DRIVERS"?
I CLICKED "YES"
A BOX APPEARED TO SHOW INSTALLATION IN PROGRESS. THEN BOX DISSAPPEARED.
NO MESSAGE TO SAY PROGRAMME HAD INSTALLED!!!

[quaxo]

Well, if you're going to use the modem, then test it and see if it works. If not, it's not important.

What about the rest of it?

[planze21]

In order to check i'm downloading the right drivers I took the following steps.

I went to control panel - performance and maint.  - admin tools - computer management -  device manager and worked down them all and clicked on "update drivers" under the "driver" heading.

most of them didn't need downloading. below is the result.

SO ALL OF THESE IN THE FIRST GROUP  DID NOT REQUIRE AN UPDATED DRIVER AS NOTED BELOW.

acpi multiprocessor pc
generic usb cf reader usb device
generic usb ms reader usb device
generic usb sd reader usb device
generic usb sm reader usb device
hitachi hdt725025vla380
hl dt-st-dvd-rw-gsa-h-41n
hid compliant consumer control device
hid compliant device
usb human interface device
usb human interface device
usb human interface device
intel R 82801g ich7 family ultra ata storage controllers 27df
intel R 82801g ich7 family ata storage controllers 27co
primary id  channel
primary id  channel
secondary id  channel
hp photosmart 6100 series
hid keyboard device
hid compiant mouse
plug and play monitor
communications port (com1)
communications port (com2)
printer port lpt1
intel r core tm 2 cpu
intel r core tm 2 cpu
Realtec high definition audio
generic volume
generic volume
generic volume
generic volume
generic volume
acpi fan
ACPI FIXED FEATURE BUTTON
ACPI THERMAL ZONE
DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS CONTROLLER
INTEL R 82801 PCE BRIDGE 244E
INTEL R 82801ICH7 FAMILY

ALL OF ABOVE=update not required.
"Cannot continue the hardware update wizard. the wizard could not find a beter match for your hardware than the software you currently have installed".






THE DRIVERS BELOW WERE UPDATED SUCCESSFULLY

display adaptors
Radion x1150 Series
Radion x1150 Series secondary
generic marvell jukon chipset based ethernet controller.
="please wait while wizard installs the software"
"the wizard has finished installing the softare...



I still have the same problem. it takes an age for the game to start up (if at all) then freezes.
Do I need to buy a peice of hardware and stick it into the back of the computer. I'd rather not due to money issues. Is there something else I can do to get the game working?

Thanks

[Computer_Commando]

You updated the graphics drivers which was likely the only ones you were told to update.
Have you checked for overheating of the CPU and/or GPU?
You can monitor temps with any of the following:
HWInfo32
CPUID HWMonitor
Speccy

Post a screen shot.

[planze21]

Ok I downloaded HWInfo32 and ran it.
A box has appeared  but not sure what to look for.
the "thermmon" for the cpu are saying they are "OK"

During all the downloading that I did, an icon has appeared in my tray. when i open it, it says "ati catalyst control centre " and has headings such as "display manager" , display options, 3d color etc etc.
I'm not sure if I need to do  something with it in order to get it working properly. I've not seen anything like it on my system before.

[Computer_Commando]

Ok I downloaded HWInfo32 and ran it.
A box has appeared  but not sure what to look for.
the "thermmon" for the cpu are saying they are "OK"

What box?  You want to monitor the sensors.

[planze21]

HI
Not sure how to monitor the sensors.

[Computer_Commando]

[regaining space - attachment deleted by admin]