Problem with World of Warcraft and VGN-N38E notebook (Intel 945GM Graphics))

[ChrisTsamados]

Hi,

I have a bit of a problem with my VGN-N38 notebook when I try and play World of Warcraft. When I am playing the game every now and then it freezes and then I get a black screen and after a few seconds the game resumes.

I tried searching the Intel Download Center and I found this in the known issues & solutions section about my graphics card (Intel 82945G express chipset):

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/cs-025607.htm


The only trouble is I can't find the driver that it tells you to get to cure the problem and when I just try and get the latest driver and install it I get this error: 'The driver being installed is not validated for this computer. Please obtain the appropriate driver from your computers manufacturer. Setup will exit'.

This is despite as far as I can work out that I am selecting the correct driver for my graphics card and operating system. Here is my notebook spec:

Processor: Intel Pentium dual-core processor T2130 1.86GHz
Memory: 1GB
HD Capacity: 120GB
Display: 15.4" WXGA X-black LCD
Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium

From what I have worked out the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 contains the Mobile Intel 945GM chipset family and the Intel 82945G express chipset.

I have raised this problem with Intel and also escalated it when I didn't get a satisfactory automated response. Though any help would be really appreciated.

[Blencogo]

Hi Chris and welcome to Club Vaio.

You have the Sony OEM Version of the Intel GMA 950 Graphics Adapter. Sony will have 'tweaked' the adapter so it will no longer accept the generic Intel updates - all updates need to come from Sony.

You need to contact Sony Vaio-Link Support and explain that there is a known issue which has been corrected by Intel - so Sony need to issue an updated driver.

I do not have an Intel GMA 950 but some people have had success installing the updated driver from Device Manager. I cannot say if this will work or not - up to you if you want to try it. You need the .ZIP version NOT the .EXE version.

Intel GMA 950 Driver Version 15.6

1. Download and unzip latest intel video drivers (don't get the EXE/Auto Installer Version)
2. Open Device manager
3. Expand Display Adapters
4. Right click on the first entry and left click on Update Driver
5. Select "No, not this time" if prompted.
6. IMPORTANT: Select "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced"
Note: If you pick the other "recommended" option, it wont install.
7. Select "Dont Search I will choose a driver to install"
Note: If you pick the usual "search for best ..." option, it wont install.
8. Click Have Disk and point it to the folder where you extracted the file from step 1
9. Continue on and it should update the drivers, then ask you to reboot.

Worth a try!!!



EDIT: I must mention that the Intel GMA 950 is very much the "Bottom of the Heap" when it comes to graphics chips - cheap and basic. It is incompatible with many modern games. The fact is that the N38E is NOT a gaming laptop. Also 1GB of RAM may be causing your problem - it is not enough for Vista using a shared graphics setup with no dedicated memory like the GMA 950.

[ChrisTsamados]

I managed to install the driver slightly different to your method as I have Vista, but it worked 100%. Thanks a lot for your help!!!

[Blencogo]

Thanks Chris,

I think this may be a very popular question on the forum over the coming weeks. I didn't know if this 'work around' would actually work!

If you get a moment, it would be very helpful if you could post how you did it for the benfit of others.

Thanks.

:smileygrin: