Hi:Two or three days ago I downloaded rad_w2kxp_omega_2496 (ATI) from Driver Heaven Web site, thinking that after I got my nerve up, I would install it. Today (Oct. 15th) I went back to Driver Heaven Web site and saw;rad_w2kxp_omega_2496a (ATI) (Leaked) *NEW* (14.7MB)Which one is the correct one?Also, if you could help me with this ATI Control Panel business. What is it, exactly and how do I uninstall it?I'm asking because someone wrote; "I uninstalled both the ATI drivers and the ATI control panel and rebooted before installing the Omegas, but after they're all done I can't seem to launch their control panel."To which Gregg replied; "Omega recommends that you uninstall the ATI Control Panel, DO NOT REBOOT, install the Omega's, reboot."So:1. Which is the correct driver for my ATI Radeon 128 Pro?2. Where is and what is and how do I uninstall the ATI control panel?Thanks guys, I trying to keep up but I sure need help.Regards,DonaldS

Go to Windows add/remove programs in the Windows control panel. YOu'll see the ATI Control panel there. Uninstall it. Use the latest omega. The 2.4.96a. Same thing as the 2.4.96; but with some bug fixes. Run the exe. IT'll tell you that windows doesn't recognize it as an officially supported driver. That's cause it's a beta. Proceed following the directions. When done, restart. Set things up again in the new driver control panel. Everything should work fine. Read the Omega Readme file before proceeding.

The new 2496a (leaked) *NEW* (14.7mb) are the ones you want. These have fixed a few issues with the monitor refresh rates and some other gliches.You need to remove just the Original ATI control panel which you do by going to ADD/REMOVE files in the windows control panel.Do not delete anything else. Load the new Omega drivers, these will overwrite your original drivers. After that you need to reboot your computer. Some say to delete the original drivers first but it clearly states not to do this as the omega drivers will overwrite. This is my second set of drivers that I have loaded from Omega and have had no problems what so ever.You'll find the Ati control panel by right clicking your mouse, go to properties, then settings, then Advanced panel, you will then see a series of panels where you can tweak your 3D settings etc.Good luck and hope this helps. Adam:-beerchug

big difference for me was that the "a" version unlocked my refresh rate...before I was locked at 60hz....B

Anyone know what exactly is fixed?I have no problems with the first version, and might be better off not risk updating.

Updated post from - DriverHeavenThis is NOT an update of my Omega Drivers based on the Catalyst 3.8, this is a NEW driver set, is newer than the Catalyst 3.8, but these are NOT the Catalyst 3.9.What's New? (2.4.96a)* Fixed the TV out problems. (2k/XP)* Fixed the refresh rates at high resolutions. (2k/XP)* Removed the 9700->9800 soft mod, is no longer needed, ATI seems to haveadded the R350 optmizations to the R300 chipset in this set. (2k/XP)(2.4.96)* Based on the leaked Dell drivers (I'm sure almost nobody heard about these, it was a small leak and it was controlled in time by ATI). (2k/XP)* New Control Panel option, the WMV hardware support. (2k/XP)* More Smartshaders effects for OpenGL. (2k/XP)* Fixed the TV out problems, now the monitor is no longer locked at 60Hz with TV enabled. (2k/XP)* Fixed the mutiple monitor problems in the device manager and ATI CP. (2k/XP)* Fixed the "Soft-Mods", some games should no longer crash. (2k/XP)* Enabled Overclocking support in the normal and soft-moded drivers for ALL CARDS based on the following chipsets, even if they are locked:RV250/RV280/R300/RV350. (2k/XP)* Removed rTool from the driver package as it is no longer needed. (2k/XP)* Added the ATI Software uninstaller. (2k/XP)

Interestingly enough, I tried both and actually liked the results on 2496 drivers a little better. I found that the 2496a seemed to produce some texture and image blurring. The aquamark benchmarks were not significantly different, but I just thought that the textures look better in the first version. I am using the soft-mod 9800 driver on my 9700Pro 128, but so far so good. Both versions seem stable so it may be one of those user preference things.The control panel that you are referring to is a feature of the ATI Catalyst Drivers; it used to be a seperate download and install althought the latest version is intergrated. Omega's control panel is always intergrated into the driver installation. The key point here is that if you have the ATI control panel on your system, you need to uninstall it before you install the Omega Drivers; if you are going from Omega version to Omega version, it's OK to overwrite most of the time.Hope that is of some use to you.Best Regards,

Once again, the technically strong members of AVSIM have helped the technically handicapped. In this case you fellows steered me in the right direction with good, solid, easy to follow directions. I appreciate that you took the time to help me.I hope someday something will happen that will allow me to help others in the same manner.Regards,DonaldS

I went to the site but could not locate the 'a' version. Have they been pulled from the site?Shez

No, it's still there. www.omegacorner.com . Click the radeon tab on the left and then the xp drivers (if that's your os) and you'll see them. I installed the 2.4.96 version before the 2.4.96a version was available. I didn't have the refresh rate trouble so I stayed with the 96 version. OpenGL does default back to 2xAA & 16xAF; but I don't run anything in OpenGL anyway. Besides, there's a work around for that anyway. They're working great.

I only see the 2.4.87 there.Shez

2.4.96b there now...

"2.4.96b there now..."This from Driverheaven:* Fixed the settings in the CP not "sticking". (2k/XP)* Removed the WMV acceleration option (never worked well anyway). (2k/XP)I've tested them in the sim and can see no performance/IQ difference between them and the "a" version.