Dernit!

Graphics Experience Score is 1.9...

from WinCustomize Forums

So I install Vista on a second hard drive and want to check out some of the Vista eye candy for WindowBlinds.  I install vStylers Vienna 3 Rapture for Vista and...dammit!  No per pixel borders, no transparency...so I reapply it and...dammit!!

Then I go into WB and check the System Info...

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 1
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 1.9

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.2 (build 102 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM)

Wblind.dll      2008/07/22 10:08:20
Wbsrv.dll      2008/07/22 10:11:10
Wbconfig.exe      2008/07/22 10:10:32
Wbload.exe      2008/04/28 11:35:14
Wbhelp.dll      2008/04/28 11:35:07
Tray.dll           2008/04/28 11:35:21
Wbload.dll           2008/04/28 11:34:28
Screen.exe      2008/07/22 10:10:09

PLEASE report all this information when submitting a problem report.  We don't know what's in that notebook from last summer.  Per-pixel skinning requires your hardware has WDDM drivers and a graphics experience score of at least 2.

Guess I need a new video card huh?  Any suggestions?  I have a Dell Dimension 3100 Intell Pentium 4 CPU 3.20GHz

windowblinds
14,095 views 27 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That is definetely the problem for sure. YOu need a video card. But you dont have to go with the top of the line. You could go with something like Nvidia 6600 series which is not too expensive and most games will work on it as well, if you play games. I believe with that you should get a base score of around 4.0 or something like that... :HOT: 
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I actually have an Nvidia card that I've had for a bit that I got second hand. I don't know what the model number is though...any ideas where on the card it might be found? I also don't have the installation software/drivers for it. I probably could get that if I had the model number.
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Post a picture of the card if you can mate. And im sure some of the people here might be able to identify it for ya.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Actually, there is a sticker on the back that shows PNY then a barcode. Under the PNY there is VCQ4400NVS then what looks like a part number. Googled and found NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400: high-end PCI Express graphics card.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well the Nvidia 4400 should work. The first thing to do is to see if you have the proper slot. If you dont know how to do this I can tell you its very simple. And if you do what I would do is the following: Install your card which is very simple, its the one that your monitor connects to, you can put it in the empty slot that you have, connect your monitor to it then start your computer. In Windows Vista Microsoft should be able to give you the update to your card by checking updates. If not the best place is type in Google Nvidia and go to their website...
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
From what I just read, that card will not support Windows Aero no matter what driver's you install.

WWW Link
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, that card still has to be better than the onboard card right? I'm going to set a restore point and then install it and see what I get. Keep you posted.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
wow! that's an expensive card! 400+ bucks for a workstation card? woah. NT's correct. If i read that page he linked to correctly, your card won't run aero. get yourself an inexpensive new ati or nvidia (get an ati  ;) ) card. you'll be glad you did. since amd/ati released the radeon 4850, it seems the price of good cards is getting lower and lower by the day. heck, Best Buy has a Visiontek Radeon 2400 for 70 bucks. you can probably get them for even less cash on ebay.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
get yourself an inexpensive new ati or nvidia (get an ati  ;) ) card.
End of quote

Yeh man, ask your missus for an early xmas present :D
Im so happy i bought the hd4870, its been a beast with my games :D

Hope everything works out with your card though!

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Butch that didn't work. Plugged it in, hooked everything back up and all I get is the white self test feature check box. Like the monitor isn't hooked up. That's on the DVI-D setting. The first setting, the VGA setting, the monitor just goes into powersave mode. Oh, just in case yer wondering (not anymore) this would be the first time I've ever intstalled a graphics card in a pc. Any help is appreciated.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
messiah, are you saying you installed the pci-e video card and all you get is a black screen? do you see teh rig go thru the boot up process at all? if you see the boot up process, press the 'del' key when you hear the first beep after turning the rig on. somewhere in the bios, you should find an entry allowing you to choose which video is primary. it'll either be onboard or pci-e. i'm guessing it is set for onboard now. come to think of it, a dell may need you to press the "F1" key instead of the "del" key to enter the bios. my other question is what is causing your rig to have a windows experience score of 1? something is lower than your vid card.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Would the ram give it a graphics score of lower than two? This thing is maxed out with 2 gig. Thats all it will take.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i wouldn't think so. open up control panel - system and see what your various scores are.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In the bios, it has auto and onboard. Auto is for add-in video controller and that is set by factory as default. When I turn on the pc, I get nothing on screen when the pci card is in. Normally, I'll get the screen that asks me which os to select but I don't even get that. This is turning into more hassle than it's worth...for per pixel frames and transparency in Vista anyway.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Processor: 4.1
Memory: 4.9
Graphics: 1.9
Gaming Graphics: 1.0
Primary Hard Disk: 5.3
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That '1' has to be a hamster..... ;p

When I turn on the pc, I get nothing on screen when the pci card is in. Normally, I'll get the screen that asks me which os to select
End of quote


The bios is stopping on an error. The likely cause of a bad card.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Processor: 4.1
Memory: 4.9
Graphics: 1.9
Gaming Graphics: 1.0
Primary Hard Disk: 5.3
End of quote


Is this an XP Media machine?
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The 1 is the onboard card. No, not an XP Media machine.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hummm....that score shouldn't be that low. Did you try and update the Vista Display drivers via Device Manager?

BTW:
The 1 is the onboard card
End of quote

I really didn't think it was a hamster.... ;) 
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I really didn't think it was a hamster
End of quote


Yeah, I know. Both cards say up to date with drivers.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hell with it, I took the nVidia card out for now. I'll see if I can get a pro to put it in.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i think yrag is correct again. i'd bet the nvidia card is bad.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yay! I got a new card. nVidia GeForce 6200. I just happened to see it at WalMart. And since my PC only has PCI slots, I grabbed it up. Installed it and updated the WEI and bickety BAM! I'm Aero. Thanks for the help peoples...that's why I love this place.  :D