The problem is a simple one. Microsoft has a WHQL testing procedure to ensure driver version are compatable. Until the drivers get this designation, you're dead in the water. In other words, you take a risk when using non-WHQL certified drivers....period end of discussion. The testing done to grant this certification is stringient for a reason.

If you're not using the latest WHQL certified drivers, then complaining about it won't speed up the process of converting from beta status to certified status. This is done at the manufacturer level (MS and Nvidia).

If you need the latest greatest drivers for other projects then there's a real good chance Freelancer will not work, sorry. You could always install the latest WHQL certified drivers and still play Freelancer. Sure it's an annoyance, but the tersting procedure is what it is...for a good reason. Remember, you have to accept a policy from Nvidia before you can even download the drivers. Read what it says (most dont) but in a nutshell it says support for beta drivers is not something you're going to receive from MS or NVidia.

Well, excuse me! Don't you think I know that? If you had bothered to look, the 43.51 and 44.03 detonator drivers ARE WHQL!! "So, the problem is a simple one." Microsoft doesn't know what it is doing. Ok, these drivers are WHQL certified but, myself and the other people with this problem still can't use them. All I'm asking, is for people to give some technical suggestions that might help.

Edited by - Quantum on 16-05-2003 01:28:41

Try limiting the amount of ram used on the pc...run msconfig, and on the first page there is an advanced button down on the bottom...on the advanced page there should be a box for limit memory to, change the amount to 128, and if that works you can put it up to 256, if you have more than 256 installed on your PC with windows 98 it causes some major problems...my game was locking up in the video for SP, i called tech support and they told me to do that...hopefully it works for ya...worked for me great!

When life gives you lemons, throw them at someone...

@Quantum...

This is right from the Nvidia site as of this posting:

Windows XP/2000
Version: 44.03
Release Date: May 14, 2003
Nothing listed about WHQL certification status at all

Windows XP/2000
Version: 43.45
Release Date: March 27, 2003
Nothing listed about WHQL certification status at all

Windows XP/2000
Version: 41.09
Release Date: December 3, 2002
WHQL Candidate (this means is it not certified yet, status is still pending)

Windows XP/2000
Version: 40.72
Release Date: November 8, 2002
WHQL Certified (this means this is the latest version of drivers to be certified and should be the ones everyone uses for Freelancer because of that designation.)

I'm not going to argue a moot point with you Qunatum. You asked for technical expertise and I gave you exactly that. If my response did not fit into your schedule or with your ideas of what technical expertise really is, then I suggest going somewhere else until you recieve the answers you want (but will be wrong).

This issue has been discussed at length for many many months now. Microsoft DOES know what it is doing or all the drivers on the Nvidia site would have the complete certification...not just be candidates or have nothing listed.

Rob "Stinger" Lordier
Moderator - Lancers Reactor
Creator Privateer FAQ
no good deed will ever go unpunished

@Quantum...

To be fair, you did say Win 98 and here's the breakdown of all them from the site...today:

Windows 95/98/Me
Version: 44.03
Release Date: May 14, 2003
nope, nothing about WHQL here

Windows 95/98/Me
Version: 43.45
Release Date: March 27, 2003
nope, nothing about WHQL here

Windows 95/98/Me
Version: 41.09
File Size: 13.4 MB
Release Date: December 3, 2002
WHQL Candidate (again this means still in beta status)

Windows 95/98/Me
Version: 40.72 Beta
File Size: 11.9 MB
Release Date: October 3, 2002
WHQL Certification Pending (close but not there yet!)

Windows 95/98/Me
Version: 40.71
File Size: 12.2 MB
Release Date: September 26, 2002
nope, nothing about WHQL here

Windows 95/98/Me
Version: 30.82
File Size: 8.3 MB
Release Date: August 7, 2002
WHQL Certified Bingo!

Windows 95/98/Me
Version: 29.42
File Size: 8.0 MB
Release Date: June 11, 2002
WHQL Certified Bingo!

Windows 95/98
Version: 28.32
File Size: 8.1 MB
Release Date: April 26, 2002
nope, nothing about WHQL here

Stinger, whats your problem? All I asked for was some help. Please go look at www.3dchipset.com and on the first page, look for the Detonator FX release for win 98. It will say at the bottom of the list of features that it is WHQL certified. www.guru3d.com will also list which drivers are WHQL. Same with www.drivernews.ro. I can't believe that they are all wrong. It would seem strange that there are no WHQL certified drivers that support nvidia's five latest video cards. August 7, 2002 was a long time ago.

Well, I'm sorry if I'm so stupid. Mea culpa. All I wanted was some help.

Thanks titus for your help, but it didn't work for me.

Have a nice day!

Quantum, Let me ask you a couple questions....

The two web sites you mentioned, aren't those both considered by many to be high end, technically advance, power end user sites? Now these site offer exactly squat in regards to "suppport" for these drivers they list as WHQL certified I noticed. In fact they suggest people go to the Nvidia site for allthe support issues. Are you familiar with who is the CEO of the Nvidia company? I do not think he would let his web site post wrong information. Do you think it is VERY odd that the maker of these detonator dirvers do not list them as WHQL certified??? Don't fall for the trap. Any idiot can say the drivers are WHQL certified. My money is always going to rest with the manufacturer site, not mirror sites that proclaim they have some sort of inside track to certification that the makers of the software don't have. That makes absolutely no sense to me or anyone else with a sound mind.

Go right ahead, download those so-called WHQL certified drivers from any website in the world that will proclaim they have what the maker AND developer of the very software yoiu're going to use won't list them as ready for prime time. But remember this, when these same drivers do not work for you for games on the retail shelf ,don't come back here saying you got the wrong bit of advice from me (or anyone else for that matter posting on this web site). What do I know anyway, right?

All I know is during beta testing Freelancer, we heard over and over again...use the latest WHQL certified drivers only and these can be downloaded directly from the Nvidia site. No where did they say download them from mirror sites or high end graphics site, but only the Nvidia site when it came to video cards using the Nvidia chipset. Judge for yourself, feel free.

FYI, the reason why I'm so animated about this topic revolves around credibility. We have rarely if ever steered someone wrong on this site about technical issues and we're not about to start now. When we do make a mistake, we correct it immediately. But we can only provide sound advice, we can't make people listen to it.

Rob "Stinger" Lordier
Moderator - Lancers Reactor
Creator Privateer FAQ
no good deed will ever go unpunished

Stinger, chill dude. I think the guy gets the point. Some people just don't get their news from your ever-reliable sources, and when you do prove them wrong, I think you'll be more appreciated if you offer more solution than constantly reminding them what they have done wrong. If they do continue to ignore you, then there's no point of you wasting more keystrokes, is there?

Quantum, as an old-timer here since SL era, I can vouch for Stinger's tech support. Let's say he's been helpful 9 out of 10 times, concerning games and everything. Why don't you try to roll back your drivers and see? if Stinger's right, then he's right.

Edited by - Fear Factor on 16-05-2003 13:12:22

point taken FF...I'll behave now.

Everyone has the right to defend themselves when their heads (or reputation) are on a chopping block, even me.

What ever man. If I remember correctly, a driver that is WHQL certified has a digital signature. So I doubt that every single site that I have looked at is lying about the signature. But hey, I'm flogging a dead horse. I don't recall ever questioning your abilities or reputation or anything to that effect but if I did, I'm sorry. All I wanted to know was why one set of BETA drivers works and why another set doesn't. I hope some WINDOWS HARDWARE QUALITY LABS tested and approved drivers come out soon!

Well WHQL or not i have the latest official Asus drivers for my GF 2 and it does not work too.

Since all other games easily survived the driverchange it seems like Freelancer has a serious bug somwhere.

Well, I think I might have some further information on the whole WHQL thing. As someone pointed out earlier, they said the 44.03 drivers were WHQL certified. They are, but only for the Windows XP/2000 version. The 95/98/ME version is not.

I don't know why this is, but I remember reading here and elsewhere that manufacturers are more and more viewing 98 as a Legacy operating system and therefore are not optimizing their drivers for them like they used to. VIA says as much on their own website for their 4 in 1 (now called Hyperion) drivers.

All the more reson for upgrading to XP I suppose.