Solved Just installed Windows 7, struck on Generic VGA Graphics Adaptor.

[HandofFate]

I'm using a Sony VAIO PCG-8V2L right now. And the laptop doesn't seem to recongize my video card is there.

It just has the Generic VGA Graphics Adaptor under Device Manager.

I know it has a Nvidia graphics card because I did the same thing under Vista, only it showed up under Device Manager for Vista, and I just had to update it from there.

I tried going to:
Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers

and try to run the install, but is just says It can't find Compatible Hardware. I lost the manual for the laptop, so I'm sure on the exact graphics card model, I just know its Nvidia.

I looked at the hardware ID for the "Generic VGA Graphics Adaptor"
and its:

PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D8&SUBSYS_81FD104D&REV_A1
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D8&SUBSYS_81FD104D
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D8&CC_030000
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D8&CC_0300

not sure if that information helps or not..

 

[Dwarf]

With reference to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73420-hardware-identification.html I have established that your graphics card is NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400.

Here is the latest driver from NVidia. It is quite old, and still in Beta so I think that they're not going to continue support for this card. Reading the notes at the bottom, it mentions Sony Vaio and recommends that you get the driver from them instead (if one exists).

NVIDIA DRIVERS 179.48 BETA

 

[mickey megabyte]

hi HandofFate, and welcome to sevenforums,

have you tried running windows update?

sometimes that detects hardware and offers drivers for you...

 

[Glhs958]

From the model number posted and Sony's support page it looks like your laptop has a nVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7600 GT Graphics Controller. Have you tried this driver from nvidia NVIDIA DRIVERS 179.48 BETA

 

[HandofFate]

I tried running the 179.48 BETA, but it just fails and says

"Setup has detected that the operating system is not Vista (32-bit). This setup program is designed only to work with Vista (32-bit). The installation will be terminated"

everytime I start it up, it just goes ahead adn does a Vista Drivers installation and not a Windows 7 installation.

 

[Glhs958]

HandofFate, have you tried as mickey megabyte has suggested?

hi HandofFate, and welcome to sevenforums,

have you tried running windows update?

sometimes that detects hardware and offers drivers for you...

If that dont detect your hardware and offer you a driver you can also try to update the driver from the device manager by right clicking on the Generic VGA Graphics Adapter and choosing "update driver software" then click "search automatically for updated driver software"

 

[pebbly]

I tried running the 179.48 BETA, but it just fails and says

"Setup has detected that the operating system is not Vista (32-bit). This setup program is designed only to work with Vista (32-bit). The installation will be terminated"

everytime I start it up, it just goes ahead adn does a Vista Drivers installation and not a Windows 7 installation.

Hi handofFate, you must install these drivers in compat mode http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

 

[HandofFate]

In compatiblity mode, it only has Windows XP as an option

I managed to get the driver install screen to go all the way, and restarted the computer using this method:

HOW TO: Modify and install Nvidia drivers for mobile graphics chipsets in Windows 7 when all else fails @ The Experience Blog

But it still doesn't show up. I go into Device manager, and try to Update Drivers->Browse Computer for Driver software.

and I can manually pick it, and go to the end and it just goes: "The driver selected for this device does not support this version of Windows.

I think the problem is that it keeps installing Vista drivers, but I need Window 7 drivers.

 

[HandofFate]

Okay...I finally did it.

After trying every method or workaround I could find online, I did it.

I was giving up and going to try to format and reinstall back to the previous OS and give up on Windows 7 entirely.

Anyway, I was browsing through the Windows.old folder that was made when I installed Windows 7 Ultimate and saw under Drivers a folder called "Geforce 7400" and got an idea.

I went into Device Manager, and set it to browse for drivers, and directed to the GeForce folder that was tucked all the way back in Windows.old

My heart jumped when it started installing and scanning...

then Successful Installation:

Nvidia GeForce 7400

Restarted Computer, and its working.
whew...

Hopefully Windows 7 was worth it, and I don't try to reinstall the old OS...

 

[Dwarf]

I'm pleased that you have resolved your issue.

You might like to save that GeForce folder and its contents on a USB drive for future use.

 

[waynerr]

HandofFate

i need the files but i havn't got the old operating system

would you be able to upload them to a site

or do you know where i can get them?

not holding up much hope of any reply as post is 18 months old