NO Vista driver for Intel 915 graphics card

Since Intel is being ignorant and refusing to create WDDM drivers for the
millions of us who have the standard Intel 915 shared 128mb video card, does
anyone know a good alternative to getting the aero transparency effects on
the border? I'll even take a third party app. Because Lord knows I didn't
pay for Home Premium to get stuck with Home Basic. This is really crap, you
would think they'd make the driver and we would have the choice of whether we
want to run Aero or not. If we're not happy with the performance we'll just
disable it. But this way, noone gets to run Aero. I've got a score of 4.0
on everything else except for my card because its not WDDM/ LDDM. Anyone
also know a way to override the settings and allow Aero to run? I've tried
all the regedit cracks for the betas but they don't work. THERE MUST BE A
WAY. I swear man, makes me wish I had a mac with all this upgrading bs. No
computer can even last 6 months in the world of microsoft.

"Julie" <> wrote in message
news:AB3B0A06-26DC-4175-A738-...
> Since Intel is being ignorant and refusing to create WDDM drivers for the
> millions of us who have the standard Intel 915 shared 128mb video card,
> does
> anyone know a good alternative to getting the aero transparency effects on
> the border? I'll even take a third party app. Because Lord knows I
> didn't
> pay for Home Premium to get stuck with Home Basic. This is really crap,
> you
> would think they'd make the driver and we would have the choice of whether
> we
> want to run Aero or not. If we're not happy with the performance we'll
> just
> disable it. But this way, noone gets to run Aero. I've got a score of
> 4.0
> on everything else except for my card because its not WDDM/ LDDM. Anyone
> also know a way to override the settings and allow Aero to run? I've
> tried
> all the regedit cracks for the betas but they don't work. THERE MUST BE A
> WAY. I swear man, makes me wish I had a mac with all this upgrading bs.
> No
> computer can even last 6 months in the world of microsoft.


EVERYONE is scrambling to get Vista drivers. People never think ahead.
In your case it might be better to replace your MB video with a new
supported card.

Go out and purchase a good 256MB video card that is WDDM compliant
and install it. Onboard video is just basic and consumes system resources
that could be better utilized running applications.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Julie" wrote:

Since Intel is being ignorant and refusing to create WDDM drivers for the
millions of us who have the standard Intel 915 shared 128mb video card, does
anyone know a good alternative to getting the aero transparency effects on
the border? I'll even take a third party app. Because Lord knows I didn't
pay for Home Premium to get stuck with Home Basic. This is really crap, you
would think they'd make the driver and we would have the choice of whether we
want to run Aero or not. If we're not happy with the performance we'll just
disable it. But this way, noone gets to run Aero. I've got a score of 4.0
on everything else except for my card because its not WDDM/ LDDM. Anyone
also know a way to override the settings and allow Aero to run? I've tried
all the regedit cracks for the betas but they don't work. THERE MUST BE A
WAY. I swear man, makes me wish I had a mac with all this upgrading bs. No
computer can even last 6 months in the world of microsoft.

The problem is not that simple. The 915 was used in tens of millions
(perhaps hundreds of millions) of laptops, where there is no option to
get a new video card. Dell was still selling NEW laptops with 915 video
in DECEMBER 2006 (less than 60 days ago). Toshiba was manufacturing and
selling laptops with the 915 in the first half of 2006. The chip was
ubiquitous; it was probably used in most of the laptops made from
mid-2005 to early 2006. It's a HUGE quantity of very late model
machines, Centrino, Pentium-M and even some "Core" and "Core Duo" models.

The 915 is hardware capable of running Aero Glass. It meets all of the
hardware specs (Pixel Shader 2, 128MB of RAM, etc.). It was explicitly
identified by the Windows Vista Advisor that it WOULD run Aero Glass
(until they changed the Advisor in summer 2006). It DID run Aero Glass
in some of the very early beta versions of Vista. The only reason it
won't run Aero in the later versions (and RTM) is apparently because
Intel hasn't released a driver. But given the number of systems made
with the 915GM and how recently they were made, this is really inexcusable.

Also, I think your view of chipset video is dated. Intel GMA900 (which
is what we are talking about when we talk about the 915 chipset), GMA950
(the 945 chipset) and GMA3000 (the versions of the Core 2 Duo 965
chipset with onboard video) are ***NOT*** by any means "basic" video
systems. In fact they are quite powerful, although I'm not suggesting
that gamers would be happier with them than with a $300 to $500 discreet
video card.

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
> Go out and purchase a good 256MB video card that is WDDM compliant
> and install it. Onboard video is just basic and consumes system resources
> that could be better utilized running applications.
>

If Intel is not releasing a driver, no one will. Sorry.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Julie" <> wrote in message
news:AB3B0A06-26DC-4175-A738-...
> Since Intel is being ignorant and refusing to create WDDM drivers for the
> millions of us who have the standard Intel 915 shared 128mb video card,
> does
> anyone know a good alternative to getting the aero transparency effects on
> the border? I'll even take a third party app. Because Lord knows I
> didn't
> pay for Home Premium to get stuck with Home Basic. This is really crap,
> you
> would think they'd make the driver and we would have the choice of whether
> we
> want to run Aero or not. If we're not happy with the performance we'll
> just
> disable it. But this way, noone gets to run Aero. I've got a score of
> 4.0
> on everything else except for my card because its not WDDM/ LDDM. Anyone
> also know a way to override the settings and allow Aero to run? I've
> tried
> all the regedit cracks for the betas but they don't work. THERE MUST BE A
> WAY. I swear man, makes me wish I had a mac with all this upgrading bs.
> No
> computer can even last 6 months in the world of microsoft.

I feel your pain, Julie. It really sucks. I have EXACTLY the same problem!

I hooked my USB to Serial adapter onto my new PC (the darn thing doesn't
even have a simple 25 pin RS-232 port on it!) and then attached a serial to
20-milliamp-loop adapter so I could hook up my DEC VT50 terminal. And the
dang thing wouldn't even display AERO! Can you believe that?

It's ok, though. I've put in a support ticket to Microsoft. I'm sure the
appropriate drivers will be coming out soon.

Dale

"Julie" <> wrote in message
news:AB3B0A06-26DC-4175-A738-...
> Since Intel is being ignorant and refusing to create WDDM drivers for the
> millions of us who have the standard Intel 915 shared 128mb video card,
> does
> anyone know a good alternative to getting the aero transparency effects on
> the border? I'll even take a third party app. Because Lord knows I
> didn't
> pay for Home Premium to get stuck with Home Basic. This is really crap,
> you
> would think they'd make the driver and we would have the choice of whether
> we
> want to run Aero or not. If we're not happy with the performance we'll
> just
> disable it. But this way, noone gets to run Aero. I've got a score of
> 4.0
> on everything else except for my card because its not WDDM/ LDDM. Anyone
> also know a way to override the settings and allow Aero to run? I've
> tried
> all the regedit cracks for the betas but they don't work. THERE MUST BE A
> WAY. I swear man, makes me wish I had a mac with all this upgrading bs.
> No
> computer can even last 6 months in the world of microsoft.

Ok. I take it all back. I didn't realize the 915 was such a current model.
I confused it with the 815 motherboards I was building 5 or 6 years ago.
Mea Culpa and I am sorry.


Dale

"Julie" <> wrote in message
news:AB3B0A06-26DC-4175-A738-...
> Since Intel is being ignorant and refusing to create WDDM drivers for the
> millions of us who have the standard Intel 915 shared 128mb video card,
> does
> anyone know a good alternative to getting the aero transparency effects on
> the border? I'll even take a third party app. Because Lord knows I
> didn't
> pay for Home Premium to get stuck with Home Basic. This is really crap,
> you
> would think they'd make the driver and we would have the choice of whether
> we
> want to run Aero or not. If we're not happy with the performance we'll
> just
> disable it. But this way, noone gets to run Aero. I've got a score of
> 4.0
> on everything else except for my card because its not WDDM/ LDDM. Anyone
> also know a way to override the settings and allow Aero to run? I've
> tried
> all the regedit cracks for the betas but they don't work. THERE MUST BE A
> WAY. I swear man, makes me wish I had a mac with all this upgrading bs.
> No
> computer can even last 6 months in the world of microsoft.

It's not just laptops that have the Intel 915 video chipsets. IBM
ThinkCentre (desktop towers) have them on the motherboard also - we purchsed
those last year.

The XP driver supports multiple monitors, but the in-box one in Vista does
not - can not Extend the desktop to a second monitor on a second adapter
with the same chiplset.

I've worked around this problem by installing the XP driver in Vista - works
OK so far.

The reading I did suggested that the Intel 82915G/GL video chipset does not
meet XDDM specs, but perhaps I missed something.

Not being able to extend the Desktop to a second monitor (on a PCI plug in
adapter) is more of an issue for me than lack of Areo.

--
Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.



"Barry Watzman" <> wrote in message
news:...
> The problem is not that simple. The 915 was used in tens of millions
> (perhaps hundreds of millions) of laptops, where there is no option to get
> a new video card. Dell was still selling NEW laptops with 915 video in
> DECEMBER 2006 (less than 60 days ago). Toshiba was manufacturing and
> selling laptops with the 915 in the first half of 2006. The chip was
> ubiquitous; it was probably used in most of the laptops made from mid-2005
> to early 2006. It's a HUGE quantity of very late model machines,
> Centrino, Pentium-M and even some "Core" and "Core Duo" models.
>
> The 915 is hardware capable of running Aero Glass. It meets all of the
> hardware specs (Pixel Shader 2, 128MB of RAM, etc.). It was explicitly
> identified by the Windows Vista Advisor that it WOULD run Aero Glass
> (until they changed the Advisor in summer 2006). It DID run Aero Glass in
> some of the very early beta versions of Vista. The only reason it won't
> run Aero in the later versions (and RTM) is apparently because Intel
> hasn't released a driver. But given the number of systems made with the
> 915GM and how recently they were made, this is really inexcusable.
>
> Also, I think your view of chipset video is dated. Intel GMA900 (which is
> what we are talking about when we talk about the 915 chipset), GMA950 (the
> 945 chipset) and GMA3000 (the versions of the Core 2 Duo 965 chipset with
> onboard video) are ***NOT*** by any means "basic" video systems. In fact
> they are quite powerful, although I'm not suggesting that gamers would be
> happier with them than with a $300 to $500 discreet video card.
>
> Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
>> Go out and purchase a good 256MB video card that is WDDM compliant
>> and install it. Onboard video is just basic and consumes system
>> resources
>> that could be better utilized running applications.
>>

So, I wonder if that is a "defective motherboard" in regards the OEM license
activation?

Dale

"Bruce Sanderson" <> wrote in message
news:%23xZSRD%...
> It's not just laptops that have the Intel 915 video chipsets. IBM
> ThinkCentre (desktop towers) have them on the motherboard also - we
> purchsed those last year.
>
> The XP driver supports multiple monitors, but the in-box one in Vista does
> not - can not Extend the desktop to a second monitor on a second adapter
> with the same chiplset.
>
> I've worked around this problem by installing the XP driver in Vista -
> works OK so far.
>
> The reading I did suggested that the Intel 82915G/GL video chipset does
> not meet XDDM specs, but perhaps I missed something.
>
> Not being able to extend the Desktop to a second monitor (on a PCI plug in
> adapter) is more of an issue for me than lack of Areo.
>
> --
> Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders
>
> It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.
>
>
>
> "Barry Watzman" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> The problem is not that simple. The 915 was used in tens of millions
>> (perhaps hundreds of millions) of laptops, where there is no option to
>> get a new video card. Dell was still selling NEW laptops with 915 video
>> in DECEMBER 2006 (less than 60 days ago). Toshiba was manufacturing and
>> selling laptops with the 915 in the first half of 2006. The chip was
>> ubiquitous; it was probably used in most of the laptops made from
>> mid-2005 to early 2006. It's a HUGE quantity of very late model
>> machines, Centrino, Pentium-M and even some "Core" and "Core Duo" models.
>>
>> The 915 is hardware capable of running Aero Glass. It meets all of the
>> hardware specs (Pixel Shader 2, 128MB of RAM, etc.). It was explicitly
>> identified by the Windows Vista Advisor that it WOULD run Aero Glass
>> (until they changed the Advisor in summer 2006). It DID run Aero Glass
>> in some of the very early beta versions of Vista. The only reason it
>> won't run Aero in the later versions (and RTM) is apparently because
>> Intel hasn't released a driver. But given the number of systems made
>> with the 915GM and how recently they were made, this is really
>> inexcusable.
>>
>> Also, I think your view of chipset video is dated. Intel GMA900 (which
>> is what we are talking about when we talk about the 915 chipset), GMA950
>> (the 945 chipset) and GMA3000 (the versions of the Core 2 Duo 965 chipset
>> with onboard video) are ***NOT*** by any means "basic" video systems. In
>> fact they are quite powerful, although I'm not suggesting that gamers
>> would be happier with them than with a $300 to $500 discreet video card.
>>
>> Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
>>> Go out and purchase a good 256MB video card that is WDDM compliant
>>> and install it. Onboard video is just basic and consumes system
>>> resources
>>> that could be better utilized running applications.
>>>
>

> It's ok, though. I've put in a support ticket to Microsoft. I'm sure the
> appropriate drivers will be coming out soon.
>
What, you trust things to Microsoft chauffeurs?


--
Barry Schnur
Novell Support Connection Volunteer Sysop