usual ATI drivers vs. drivers downloaded via systemupdate

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joshrob · #1 Post by **joshrob** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:52 am

Hello,

I've done a system update lately and downloaded the latest ATI drivers. Unfortunately, the system update software does not recognize I'm using Polish version of WinXP, and has downloaded English version of a driver. As a result a have no way to to type alt+c character. Turning ATI's hotkey manager also does not help.

As far as I know the only way to resolve this issue is to install Polish version.

My question is: Is there any difference between drivers provided via system update and these on ATI's download center website?

Regards,
Jakub

Melvyn · #2 Post by **Melvyn** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:28 am

ATI is not related with character variations.

You're looking for ThinkPad Keyboard Customizer Utility.

Also, it can be useful change your keyboard layout for your correct layout or english international (if that's your case). To do so, go to regional settings in control panel and surf there.

Good luck.

joshrob · #3 Post by **joshrob** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:51 am

Melvyn wrote:ATI is not related with character variations.

You're looking for ThinkPad Keyboard Customizer Utility.

It is. In the previous releases of ATI's CCC disabling hotkey manager usually solved the problem. I also neither upgraded anything else besides the Display Driver, nor did any changes in the keyboard utility.

This windows' installation is half year old, everything was OK with the keyboard layout till the upgrade.

I found some info on Polish forum concerning this particular alt+c issue. Installing localized version of CCC seems to solve the problem (after disabling hotkey manager).

Melvyn · #4 Post by **Melvyn** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:28 am

Sorry,

Everbody can write an application and that application can implement usage of key combinations.

If two applications are using the same key combination, there's a conflict.

If there's a conflict between several things can occur:
a) One app become "over" the another and key are used by that, which usually is the last one started.
b) None of both app work with that key combination
c) Some other unexpected behavior.

CCC (Which stands for Catalyst Control Center) isn't designed to be used with your machine, it's not supported by ATI, not IBM or Lenovo. When you install that piece of software you can select which components install or not (ATI Install Manager+Driver+CCC+Visual Studio 2005 redistribytable). It's something optional.

I've used versions 7.1, 7.2, 7.4 and 7.6 in Vista without any conflicts and using hotkey. XP don't allow me install that soft, maybe because I use IBM's one.

For your case, I think you had enabled ATI's Hot Keys (which works to bring up Catalyst Control Center) and that is in conflict with another things.

Anyways, the behavior of (right) ALT+C and several other key combinations with right ALT to input international characters is a standard, not only in Windows; so, you can guess where is the fail.

It's obvious that behavior have it's origin in localization (which I pointed when focused to regional settings).

My keyboard (US layout configured as US International) produces © when I press ALT+C (right ALT).

I was asuming you have some other european layout.

Luckly, you're working now.

#5 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:37 am

joshrob wrote:My question is: Is there any difference between drivers provided via system update and these on ATI's download center website?

Yes there is. The drivers on ATI's site are for desktop cards. For them to work properly in a notebook, you need to mod the drivers. You can use Mobility Modder to do this.

http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool/

joshrob · #6 Post by **joshrob** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:01 pm

Melvyn wrote: CCC (Which stands for Catalyst Control Center) isn't designed to be used with your machine, it's not supported by ATI, not IBM or Lenovo. When you install that piece of software you can select which components install or not (ATI Install Manager+Driver+CCC+Visual Studio 2005 redistribytable). It's something optional.

I did not ask for CCC, it just came along withe a video driver update done via ThingVantage System Update.

I also did turn the hotkey manager off (although i missed the word "off" in the previous post, sorry) and it did not help. But it used to, in all the previous versions of ati driver also updated via ThinkVantage software.

joshrob · #7 Post by **joshrob** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:04 pm

GomJabbar wrote:Yes there is. The drivers on ATI's site are for desktop cards.

So the fault lies in the system update which has not downloaded the localized version of an ATI driver bundle or, at least, which has not postponed the update till the time of release of a localized version.

I use my TP for work, and I need it running, so I think I'll pass the driver-modding stuff, but thanks for the link

joshrob · #8 Post by **joshrob** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:53 pm

GomJabbar wrote: Yes there is. The drivers on ATI's site are for desktop cards. For them to work properly in a notebook, you need to mod the drivers. You can use Mobility Modder to do this.

http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool/

I've just came across this thread and I wonder... If I want to mod my drivers and have ATIx1400 card and there are no winxp->radeon->x1400 drivers on ati download page, which driver should I download?

#9 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:20 pm

joshrob wrote:I've just came across this thread and I wonder... If I want to mod my drivers and have ATIx1400 card and there are no winxp->radeon->x1400 drivers on ati download page, which driver should I download?

Take a look at the following two pages. It appears that the Catalyst™ Mobility 7.8 Display Driver covers a range of cards (see first link below). Unfortunately, IBM/Lenovo is not listed as supported, so you will still need to mod the desktop driver (download from the second link below). The modding tool that I linked to above states that it works for the ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400.

Catalyst™ Mobility 7.8 Display Driver for Windows XP Professional/Home Edition

Catalyst™ 7.8 Display Driver for Windows XP Professional/Home Edition

jjesusfreak01 · #10 Post by **jjesusfreak01** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:25 pm

The reason there is no x1400 listed on the ATI site is that the x1400 only exists as a mobile chipset. It is essentially an overclocked x1300. I usually just click on the x1300 when I am downloading ATI drivers (which of course I use mobility modder to install).

Gomjabbar, are there any benefits to modding a laptop driver over a desktop one?

#11 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:55 pm

jjesusfreak01 wrote:Gomjabbar, are there any benefits to modding a laptop driver over a desktop one?

I have little experience in this area. I did do the modded drivers once when playing with Vista RC1. I was trying to get rid of some of the problems I was having with the Vista default driver. The modded driver did not really help with my issues.

With the modded drivers you are supposed to get the latest, fastest, most feature-ridden driver available. You also get the Catalyst Control Center.

With XP, I have not experimented with the modded drivers as the drivers I downloaded from Lenovo work fine for me.

usual ATI drivers vs. drivers downloaded via systemupdate

usual ATI drivers vs. drivers downloaded via systemupdate

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