Error Message Indicates That Video Drivers Were Not Installed Successfully (266056)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q266056

SYMPTOMS

When you are performing an upgrade from Windows NT Workstation 3.51 to Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on a Hewlett-Packard Vectra computer with an S3 video card installed, and you manually try to change the video settings, you may receive the following error messages:

The drivers were not installed successfully
You may not have required privileges to install drivers

When you check the VgaStart, the VgaSave, and the S3 keys in the registry, you find that the correct permissions are set.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur because of registry corruption.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, install a parallel copy of Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and boot to the parallel installation. Use the Registry Editor to edit the system hive of the original installation to boot to VGA. Boot to the original installation, and reinstall the video drivers.

MORE INFORMATION

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


To make the necessary changes, follow these steps:
  1. Install a parallel installation of Windows NT Workstation 4.0.
  2. Restart the computer to the parallel installation.
  3. Copy the Vga.dll file from the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder of the parallel installation to the same folder of the original installation.
  4. Edit the registry to configure the original installation to start in VGA mode:

    1. From the parallel installation, use Registry Editor (Regedt32) to load the system hive of the original installation:

      1. From the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive, click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Select the Registry menu, and then click Load Hive.
      2. Browse to the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\ folder of the original installation, click System, and then click Open.
      3. In the Key Name box, type Test, and then click OK.
    2. Edit the original system hive:

      1. Use Registry Editor to locate the following registry key:
        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST\ControlSetXXX\Services\VgaSave
        (where XXX represents the control set number that your computer should start from the next time you restart it).

        NOTE: The number of the control set you need to locate is determined by the registry value Current in the following registry location:
        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Select
      2. Make sure the value data for the ImagePath value reads:

        SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Vga.sys
      3. Locate the following registry key:
        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST\ControlSetXXX\Services\VgaSave\Device0
      4. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click the value InstalledDisplayDrivers. Change the value data to VGA, and then click OK.
    3. Unload the system hive of the original installation to save the changes:

      1. Collapse the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST key. Make sure it is highlighted.
      2. On the Registry menu, click Unload Hive, and then click Yes to confirm the command.
  5. Restart the computer in VGA mode to the original installation.
  6. Reinstall the driver for your video adapter.
  7. Perform the preceding steps also for the following registry keys:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSetXXX\Services\S3
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSetXXX\Services\VgaStart
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/11/2002
Keywords:kbprb KB266056
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.