=> [Tutorial] AMD ATI Catalyst Under Windows Server

[Portal2Two]

Hello win2008workstation community,

I would like to share my simple tutorial on how to install and upgrade Catalyst software with all its features available on Windows Server 2008 R2.

For many years the official AMD statement has been “Catalyst software is windows server ready but officially we do not support server operating systems“. And I have never understood why AMD have been so reluctant to support server given that all it takes is to add the missing WIN_2008_R2 line to the ATI_OS_Include table inside the catalyst x64-bit .msi files:

Index 1, 2, 3, 4, …
OS WIN_2008_R2
Version 6.1
Is64-bit Yes
IsMCE Blank
IsWindowsServer Yes

Server should get official AMD support because noone’s gonna convince me AMD video cards are not for windows server. Neither will I believe that Windows Server DirectX, DWM and other 3D API’s are so much different from desktop OS – not at all, they are the same. Is this really a good idea to have powerful server hardware without a decent video card for various 3D needs? Why should AMD loose this market share?

With the .msi packages edited, Catalyst perfectly fits Server R2 – I’ve tested all, the driver, the catalyst, the video converter and the hydra. AMD stream also works fine with Adobe flash and such.

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We’ll need Microsoft Orca .msi editor:

=> Download Orca MSI Editor => http://www.technipages.com/download-…si-editor.html

=> Read about Orca MSI Editor http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255905

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Download latest or any Catalyst version you need from the official AMD support site:

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

Run each Catalyst software, such as driver/control center/avivo/hydravision, let it extract to a folder BUT do not install yet. First we’ll edit those .msi packages that have “WIN_WIN7_64” listed, adding to them “WIN_2008_R2” line. Check them all, you’ll need these ones:

Driver:

…_vista64_win7_64_ddPackagesDriversDisplayW7 6A_INFC7122939.msi

…_vista64_win7_64_ddPackagesAppsOpenCL64OpenCL.msi

…_vista64_win7_64_ddPackagesAppsDnDTranscoding64.msi

Catalyst Control Center:

…_vista_win7_32-64_cccPackagesAppsCCC2Core-Staticccc-core-static.msi

…_vista_win7_32-64_cccPackagesAppsCCC2Fuel64ccc-fuel.msi

AMD (AVIVO) Video Converter:

…__vista_win7_32-64_xcodePackagesAppsAVIVO64AVIVO64.msi

Hydravision:

…__vista_win7_32-64_hydravisionPackagesAppsHydraVisionHydraVision.msi

Editting complete, you can install each catalyst software one by one doing reboot after each. I always do in this order: DRIVER > CATALYST > AVIVO > HYDRA.

In case you are upgrading, be sure to go this way:

1. Uninstall ALL ATI video card related drivers and software, including ATI Catalyst Install Manager.
2. Reboot.
=>3. From windows device manager, completely DELETE the standard VGA driver. It’s important to delete standard VGA to avoid the error message: “The Catalyst Control Center is not supported by the driver version of your enabled graphics adapter“. So if you delete the standard VGA device from your system BEFORE installing the new driver and catalyst, that error will never pop-up. I’m writing this as I myself have many times had this error, and deleting standard vga fixes it.

4. Reboot.
5. Edit your catalyst software as shown in the post above.
6. Install DRIVER then CATALYST then AVIVO and HYDRA, with reboot aftter each.

7. Enjoy.

Even a very powerful server hardware misses functionality without a decent video card for various 3D needs, such as 3D modeling and occasional gaming. So let’s hope AMD will do finally add support for server operating systems, which is much desired by system administrators and home users.

(http://www.amdsurveys.com/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D27E29B0E3)

[Portal2Two]

AMD Catalyst 12.8 WHQL 7z sfx

Includes:

– Driver
– Catalyst
– OpenCL
– AMD Media Pack
– Converter
– Hydra
– APP

For 7×64 and Server 2008 R2.

[Portal2Two]

AMD Catalyst 12.8 WHQL 7z sfx

Includes:

– Driver
– Catalyst
– OpenCL
– AMD Media Pack
– Converter
– Hydra
– APP

For 7×64 and Server 2008 R2.

[Author]

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