Windows 7: Nvidia Graphics Card Not Being Detected

Hi,

I recently upgraded to Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. Everything was working fine and dandy until one day I turned off my computer. I have a dual monitor setup. One monitor was connected to the integrated graphics card on the motherboard, while the other monitor was connected to the Nvidia Geforce 8600GT.

When I turned the computer on the next day the monitor connected to the 8600GT stayed in a black screen. I discovered the Device Manager stopped detecting the graphics card altogether as well. However, when I hit the windows+ P button to extend and go into screen resolution it shows 2 monitors. However, the one connected to the 8600GT says "Another Display Not Detected" and the resolution is grayed out. When I move my mouse over, the mouse goes onto the other screen, even though it does not detect the graphics card and the monitor is black!

I have tried and searched EVERYTHING. I have found MANY other people with the same problem and no solution. I switched monitors to make sure they both worked. I have gone into the BIOS and switched it to load the PCI Express graphics card instead of the onboard g-card (there is no option to disable the onboard g-card in BIOS). I went into the Nvidia Management options to make sure it was set to allow dual displays. I have installed older drivers, tried compatibility with Vista, unplugged and replugged the graphics card.



Is there anyone out there who has actually solved this problem? Does anyone have any unique ideas?

Thanks!

By any chance did you install the NVIDIA beta drivers? If so they are broken for the 8600GT right now (been documented EVERYWHERE)

The only way to fix it is to system restore back before the driver was installed OR a reinstall of Windows

I did install the beta to try it. That didn't work. I am on the 186.18 version right now. I've tried almost every version.

Yep....that will do it

Reinstalling drivers DOES NOT FIX IT. Either restore to a point before it was installed OR reinstall Windows

This comes from personal experience (I have a 8600M GT)

Blame NVIDIA for missing this HUGE mistake

Would that prevent the graphics card from even being detected and not showing up in the Device Manager?

I warned people about problems with the 8600M GT and the beta drivers. Wonder if people will believe my warning now.

Latest NVIDIA ForceWare Video Drivers Windows 7

Beta anything is just a test. There are bound to be bugs; that what a beta is for - to find the bugs and eliminate them form the final product. I do try betas - after I have imaged my system and can easily fall back if necessary.

Looking at your thread, DarkNova. I tried the 260.63 AFTER the graphics card stopped working.

In that case either the GFX died or just had a random hiccup (which might have been fixed with a driver reinstall of the non-beta)

The fact that you installed the broken beta drivers kills the NVIDIA driver on the system for 8600 GT

May not have been the cause....but is going to prevent any solution

I failed to do that before installing this driver the first time and boy did I get a rude surprise....

Always make a backup beforehand