Why does Word 2003 crash my new graphics card?

[Spacetracker]

After I upgraded my graphics card, Word 2003, and only Word 2003, blanks my
video (removes video signal, monitor goes into power save mode) requiring me
to reboot/reset the system (Windows 2000 Professional). I saw this identical
problem posted on the news groups in 2004 but no solution was posted. I
always keep both Word 2003 and my video drivers up to date. I've been using
Word 2003 on the old graphics card for many months. What is the fix?

 

[TF]

Use Driver Rollback to get to the previous driver and then report this
problem to the graphics manufacturer.

The reason it is Word that causes the crash is that Word is VERY hard on
both the 2D graphics and printer drivers and usually is the first
application to find a weakness in either.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Am I correct that you upgraded the video card, not just the drivers? If so,
note that by the time many video cards ship, the drivers that come with them
are obsolete with respect to some programs. Just because the card is new
doesn't necessarily mean that the drivers are fully up to date. Check the
card manufacturer's web site to see if there are later drivers available.

What kind of video card is it?

 

[TF]

Good catch Herb: I thought it was just new drivers rather than the card!

Terry

 

[Spacetracker]

Thanks Herb

It is an EVGA GeForce FX5500 (NVIDIA-based) card. The drivers are the
latest from NVIDIA and Word 2003 is up-to-date. Word 2003 is the only
application under Windows 2000 or Suse Linux 9 that has ever caused a video
crash. I had a previous NVIDIA card as well with no problem. I'll check the
manufacturer again. I use very intense 2D and 3D graphics apps that cause no
problem (not games).

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I have a similar, but earlier video card. I'm running Windows XP
Professional (and Vista Ultimate RC1), and don't see similar issues with
Word 2003 or Word 2007 beta.

I don't see any hardware acceleration settings for my graphics card (GeForce
FX5200), but I'm wondering if you have such settings. If so, you might try
turning down the acceleration a notch to see if that helps matters.
Otherwise, I'm running out of things to suggest.

 

[TF]

It certainly is a strange problem: there must be a massive incompatibility
with something for it to completely blank out your video into Power Save
mode. Have your tries starting Word in Safe Mode to see if it the same? From
Start, Run type in

WinWord /a

and press enter. Do you get the same graphics lockout?

Terry

 

[Spacetracker]

I downloaded the latest video driver, only days younger than the previous
one, and it has not crashed again, so far, or not as frequently. My BIOS and
Word are already at the lastest patch level. If it does not crash again, it
may have more to do with slightly different video settings of the driver,
such as frequency or something nebulous like that as I saw mentioned in an
old post, but doubted. I'll post again if the problem recurs or I can
pinpoint the original cause.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Spacetracker]

Well, I worked for several hours on big documents, and just when I thought it
was fixed, it crashed again, twice. There is nothing else I can do on my end
but replace the old graphics card. This is a Word 2003 bug if this is the
only program that I have ever used that causes this problem, consistently.
Back to WordPerfect. If anyone comes up with a real fix, I do want to try or
apply it.
Thanks so far