1st off, yes, I'm running 2k3 like a desktop. I followed the whole Windows Server 2003 to Workstation Guide @ http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/ and everything went perfectly. I am so GLAD that a lot of the background services have been cut out. Also, no themes, windows messenger, sounds and whatever bloated extras there was in XP. In fact, services wise, I had to turn on & fully accelerate less in W2k3 then I had to turn off in WXP. But, I do have a problem with my RADEON 8500 (128MB). The OS sees it as having only 96MB and there are no CATALYST drivers for the OS nor am I led to believe there will ever be one. I'm wondering if someone will make some kind of tweaked out driver for it or is there something that exists out there already for it.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a piece of FAQ from the ATI website:

ATI driver information for Microsoft Windows Server 2003

All drivers for Windows Server 2003 are maintained and deployed by Microsoft. This operating system currently provides drivers for RAGE XL products only.

While Windows Server 2003 display drivers are not available from ATI directly, you may obtain updates through Windows Update, or other deployment option from Microsoft.

Windows Server 2003 is positioned as a business and corporate enterprise server Operating System. It is not intended for home or personal use.

Please refer to Microsoft's website for detailed information.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/default.mspx


INFO-BASE# 4227

KEYWORDS: Windows Server 2003 Driver

Have you checked the reg settings for the radeon?


Hkey_local_machine\ATI Technologies\CDS\Memory



Thats where it is on mine with the Drivers installed. BUt it does have a memory setting

Mine says 128

Try setting it manually

Using a Radeon 9600 here with zero problems on my nice win2k3 server machine I've converted to a workstation. All 128 megs of ram are seen and games run perfectly for me.

Cat's 4 thru 7 work fine. After the initial driver install you need to boot into VGA mode and then turn your hardware acceleration on again for them to work.

Hope that helps ya out

no problem with 9500np @ 9700np.

"Have you checked the reg settings for the radeon?


Hkey_local_machine\ATI Technologies\CDS\Memory



Thats where it is on mine with the Drivers installed. BUt it does have a memory setting

Mine says 128

Try setting it manually"

Couldn't find Hkey_local_machine\ATI Technologies\CDS\Memory

"Using a Radeon 9600 here with zero problems on my nice win2k3 server machine I've converted to a workstation. All 128 megs of ram are seen and games run perfectly for me.

Cat's 4 thru 7 work fine. After the initial driver install you need to boot into VGA mode and then turn your hardware acceleration on again for them to work.

Hope that helps ya out "

I booted in to VGA mode, all hardware acceleration (sound & display) are already at FULL. DXdiag still states all choices are still enabled.

Still having the same problems.

I'm using the CATALYST 3.7 display drivers for XP. Should I be using something else?

The "96MB" bugs the heck outta me tho. Hope my v-card ain't actually screwed. It was fine b4 I put in W2k3.

Check all the subkeys under ATI Technologies, It's in there somewhere

"Check all the subkeys under ATI Technologies, It's in there somewhere"

Going to check now.

I'm testing the 8500 in Windows XP and it only sees 96MB as well now.

"Check all the subkeys under ATI Technologies, It's in there somewhere"

Only "key names" I could basically find that had ATI Technologies in it were:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ATI Technologies\CBT
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\InstalledOptions\Microsoft Corporation\Video\ATI Technologies Inc.\ATI Radeon

I couldn't find anything in relations to ATI stating a key with "CDS/Memory".

Okay...

I reformatted and went back to XP and it still read 96MB instead of the full 128MB.

I reformatted and went back to 2K3 and it still read 96MB. I used the "xbeta" uxtheme.dll auto patch and upon reboot, I got a uxtheme.dll error and couldn't load explorer.exe.

I reformatted once again and installed 2K3 and now it shows the full 128MB.

I have no idea but, heck, it works. I've already installed the Catalyst 3.7 driver and Direct 9.0b.

Just one of those weekends, I guess.

I'd like to thank ALL of you who posted to help and even to those who posted to say, "Hey, runs fine on my system". Seriously, I really needed that or I would've thought it was impossible to get things going right.

Message to sapiens74: Now I can *really* get some work done here @ home and reprogram my RCA on-screen TV guide. Man, Oceanic totally screwed up my analog cable listing line up. I need to know where my Food Network and Sci-Fi channels. Hahaha.

Glad you got it working

I got the DVR box and it gives me fits man.

Wont let me order pizza or use the pay my bill channel cause it needs a firmware update. It actually Freezes and reboots lol

i used the CAT's for XP for my 9700 PRO running under server 2003 enterprise - also installed the control panel and also the 8.5 multimedia center and everything works great! no problems all 128mb show


As for the Hardware excel. - u do not need to boot into VGA to enable hardware ecel. ujst turn it on normally under windows

Hi to every one. I have a portable with a Mobility Radeon 9600 64MB DDR, and i'm having problems in installing it im my Windows 2003 Server.Every time i install the drivers, when i reboot my pc it hangs and give a error in a drv file.Whould any one help me? Please mail me to ricardo.cirilo@netcabo.pt

Radeon 9700 Pro in Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Radeon 8500 Series also works with same Package/tweaks
----------------------------------------------------------------

OS: Server 2003 Enterprise Edition

HARDWARE: ATI Radeon 9700 Professional

FILE: wxpw2kcatalyst41.exe

DRIVER: wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c

ADD-ON: Rage3D - Tweak

1. Installation:

Completely remove all other drivers that have been attempted.

Go into SAFE MODE by pressing F8 on reboot and remove the prior driver installation as Server 2003 will not boot after all other Catalyst installations

Use ADD/REMOVE Programs option in the Control Panel and reboot

When the standard VGA driver loads, double-click on "wxpw2kcatalyst41.exe" and it will unpack to this directory: C:\ATI\SUPPORT\wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c

When the prompt arises to INSTALL the drivers, cancel the process immediately so that the drivers can be altered in the Server 2003 environment

Go to this directory: C:\ATI\SUPPORT\wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c\CPanel

Add these files to the registry: 13118_XP.REG and CP_XP.REG

Do this by double-clicking them with the left mouse button and saying YES to add them to the registry; this prepares the OS for the installation of the driver and Control Panel for the 9700 Pro.

Go to this directory: C:\ATI\SUPPORT\wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c

Start here and for every .exe file in every folder therein, right-click on the .exe and choose PROPERTIES at the bottom of the list.

When the window opens that is tabbed at the top, choose COMPATIBILITY and check the box at the top.

Choose Windows XP from the OS drop-down menu and then click the APPLY button at the bottom, and OK.

When you have done this to all .exe files in the "C:\ATI\SUPPORT\wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c" directory: Setup.exe, issetup.exe, AtiCimUn.exe, CheckVer.exe

Move on to "C:\ATI\SUPPORT\wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c\Driver" and "setup.exe" for XP compatibility mode

Then "C:\ATI\SUPPORT\wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c\CPanel" and "setup.exe" for XP compatibility mode

Finally "C:\ATI\SUPPORT\wxp-w2k-catalyst-7-97-031212a-013118c\WDM" and "setup.exe"

Now that all execution files are set for XP Compat Mode, go back to the main directory and run the setup, it will be best as express install.

The XP driver will install and you should reboot and the ATI Control Panel will fail to load because the driver is not yet configured

2. Configuration:

Right-click on the desktop and choose properties or go to the control panel and choose "Display"

Click the "settings" tab and set both monitors to the same resolution if using a dual display

The second monitor will not load unless you choose "extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" and then Apply

The second monitor will flicker and come on

Remember, both the same color qualith and resolution and then click the "advanced" button in the bottom right for each monitor.

Select the 'troubleshoot" tab in the new window and slide the acceleration to "full" on both moitors, hit "apply" and OK.

Now the driver will be ready but the Direct X overlay will need to be configured.

Go to the Start button/RUN command and type: dxdiag (hit enter)

Say Yes to allow Direct X to check all of the drivers and click the Display tab and ENABLE the Direct Draw Acceleration, Direct 3d Acceleration, and AGP Texture Acceleration. (Repeat for Monitor 2)

Test all of them, exit the Direct X config and reboot the machine. The driver will load

3. Advanced Configuration:

Go to Start/Run and type "services.msc" (Services of Mocrosoft Corporation)

The Imapi CD-Burning can be enabled, Microsoft Image Acquisition (Scanner Input), Windows Audio (Sound) to name three

Right-click on the My Computer icon and choose PROPERTIES from the drop-down menu.

Click the ADVANCED tab at the far right and then the SETTINGS button under the PERFORMANCE heading.

In the new window, click the ADVANCED tab and select PROGRAMS for both as this will divert more system resources to games rather than network management.(This will require a reboot)

If you have more than one HD and Windows XP or another OS is not on it, then the paging file can be moved to smooth gaming.

Do this by returning to the Performance Options Tab as you have just done above and beneath the Processor Scheduling and Memory Options, you will see Virtual Memory.

Click the CHANGE button beneath the Virtual Memory header and when the new window opens, highlight the drive that you want to move the paging file to and copy the values. Adding a paging file does not require a reboot but deleting an old one does, so add one to your extra drive first then return to the C.

When it is highlighted, choose "No Paging File" and click the SET button and OK.

This allows the C drive to read info while the D is being written(paged) to which averages a system increase in performance of around 33%.

*Now reboot and install Rage 3D Tweak and open the ATI Control Panel by choosing Display in the Control Panel, the Settings Tab, and Advanced button. A fully functional and tweakable panel will open.

**I have found that the newer drivers tend to lock up the machine but this one has worked well for me. If you have success with any other ATI Drivers, please post below mine.