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Win2K and ATI drivers = Can't log in

I've come across a very strange thing. I'm trying to install Win2K server on one of my home computers so I can try things out before implimenting them in a production environment. I installed the OS just fine and loaded up SP4 and then loaded the ATI Catalyst 4.8 drivers for my Radeon 9600 XT that is in the machine. Also installed some Intel chipset drivers and rebooted. After rebooting, I tried to log in with my Administrator account and when I press enter it goes to the blue background, then drops me back to the login screen. Thinking that I did something wrong I tried it again and realized something was wrong. Fearing that I somehow got the BlazeFine problem or some other virus since I hadn't got the rest of the patches on, I formatted again.

Did a complete reinstall and got SP4, all patches, and Anti-Virus loaded before installing the video card drivers. As soon as I installed the ATI drivers, I was unable to log in again. Went into safe mode and uninstalled the drivers and then was able to log into regular mode. Loaded Catalyst 4.6 which I had been running on this machine when it had XP on it and rebooted, and again unable to log in.

Looking over the event logs and it appears that no basic services started. Workstation, Server, Com+ Event System, IIS Admin... I have several entries saying other services couldn't be started because these weren't running.

Event Type:      Error
Event Source:      Service Control Manager
Event Category:      None
Event ID:      7026
Date:            8/21/2004
Time:            10:36:03 PM
User:            N/A
Computer:      ****
Description:
The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:
Avg7Core
Avg7RsNT
Avg7RsW
MRxSmb
NetBIOS
NetBT
RasAcd
Rdbss
Tcpip

I've never seen a video card driver do this, especially after two complete tries at it. The machine was used for XP so I'm almost positive it isn't hardware related. Any ideas what could be causing this? I'll try to get different media on Monday to instal from and see if that does anything for me.

Rob Stone

I've got the 9600XT running in 2000 Server OK but the drivers I'm using are 3.7 or somewhere around there.

Are you specifiying the location of the drivers or letting 2000 just pick them? It may be selecting the XP ones and causing the problem.

Eagle6990

ASKER

I'm just running the .exe setup that is for 2000 and XP and it does everything automatically. The display starts working properly, giving me more than 16 colors when I install them. I'm starting to wonder if it has something to do with Terminal Services in Remote Administration mode. Going to attempt to turn off that option tonight and see if it starts then.

Rob Stone

I don't have TS running on mine. I presume the server is the TS Server and not just a TS client pointing to another server. I know TS has a limitation of 256 colours in 2000.

I'll dig out my driver details when I'm at home later.

Eagle6990

ASKER

I removed TS and it still did the same thing to me. Almost no services start when I have the ATI drivers installed. Getting new media with SP4 integrated tonight that I'll try out.

Rob Stone

Damn I forgot to get the driver version :-(

Are you completely removing the old drivers before upgrading the drivers?

Eagle6990

ASKER

Yep, driver cleaner blasts it all. I used an old server CD with no SP on it and I only installed SP4 and my video card drivers. Everything worked fine until I also installed my motherboard drivers (Intel D845PEBT2) and then it did the exact same thing, so maybe a conflict with the motherboard drivers and the video card drivers... I have the newest of all drivers for Win2K... Very strange.

Eagle6990

ASKER

Ended up installing Server 2003 eval instead and it works fine. Asking for this question to be closed.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

CetusMOD

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