How to check if my video drivers are working properly? - Hardware & Software

Already got banned for asking in the wrong section about games. When I play games such as TF2 and DOW my computer freezes, completely freezes, I have to press the emergency shutdown on the back of the labtop. I heard some problems that sound like mine blaming it on people's video drivers fucking up. I honestly don't want to bring it in to some guy who will charge me 100 euros if it is something minor, and I don't want him shifting through my files. So how would I go about checking my drivers/updating my drivers or if there is something else wrong. I have a ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series built into the labtop if that helps anything.

Are you confident with modifying things that could have the potential to mess up your computer? Assuming running Windows Vista/7, but the process is similar for XP. Windows Logo>Search "device manager" Under the category "Display adapters" choose your display adapter, right-click and click "Properties..." Under the tab "Drivers" click "Update drivers." For XP, I think device manager is under Control Panel>System>Advanced.

[QUOTE={ABK}AbbySciuto;26524833]Are you confident with modifying things that could have the potential to mess up your computer? Assuming running Windows Vista/7, but the process is similar for XP. Windows Logo>Search "device manager" Under the category "Display adapters" choose your display adapter, right-click and click "Properties..." Under the tab "Drivers" click "Update drivers." For XP, I think device manager is under Control Panel>System>Advanced.[/QUOTE] How would updating drivers mess up the computer?

Go to steam, and Press Steam in the left top corner. Update AMD video drivers. AMD = ATI now.

[QUOTE=tratzzz;26525262]Go to steam, and Press Steam in the left top corner. Update AMD video drivers. AMD = ATI now.[/QUOTE] Doing that, confused about the Select your System type. I put in everything else though and put it in as Desktop Graphics, still waiting if I am doing it right. Dunno if I should put Notebook or something else. I am using a labtop. [editline]6th December 2010[/editline] Ok I am almost SURE it is my drivers. Now when I watch youtube videos my entire screen stutters, goes to a blank screen with verticle bars going down it, or just goes black. It doesn't completely freeze my comp like playing games, but "Display Drivers Stopped Responding" or something like that appeared on the bottom of my screen. [editline]6th December 2010[/editline] Just got a blue screen and had to emergency shutdown. I am almost sure I chose the right ones.

Removed my old drivers and installed the new ones, I think. [editline]6th December 2010[/editline] Youtube isn't freezing me over now, going to play some games and see how that works out.

[url]http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx[/url] Use that page to upgrade your drivers Option 1: Netbook graphics Option 2: Mobility Radeon Series Option 3: Mobility Radeon HD 5xxx Series Option 4: Your OS Then get the Catalyst suite. and install it. Once installed restart your PC and your drivers will be up to date. If it still freezes you may have a hardware problem and should get it checked out.

Downloaded drivers, thought it worked for a bit, played TF2, completely frozen. I really don't want to take it in but it seems like I have to. [editline]7th December 2010[/editline] If my video card is fucked, how much would a new one cost?

You don't need to "remove" any old drivers. Go to your GPU manufacturer's website, and look for drivers, and downloads. If you don't already know what you're GPU's name is, you could go into Device Manager, and look for it there. Or download Speccy, by Piriform, to find out, and you can find a lot of other things you may not know about your system. Just an overall nice program to have. ALSO. Make sure you laptop is getting cooled adequately! This could be the source of you unexpected shutdowns. It can also create more problems down the road it it keeps getting to hot.

Ireland quite chilly, but I am also thinking that could be the cause of the problem, the labtop is supposed to get BURNING hot if on long enough. Would broken fans be the problem?