nVidia GeForce driver update problem

I have been on the 335.23 WHQL driver for a while without issue. Recently, I have attempted to update to the installation of 337.88 and 340.52 drivers. The installation goes without incident, but the next time I start my machine, it hangs on the Windows boot logo. This occurs when it cycles power to the mouse and keyboard: I see the light on the mouse go out and come back on, and I see the keyboard numlock light go out, but it doesn't comeback on, and the screen is frozen on the boot splash screen.

After this happens, I am able to boot into Safe Mode and from there revert to the previous 335.23 version of the driver. Once I do that, I can boot into Windows again. I have tried to install the new drivers many times, and also with a clean install, but I always have the same issue.

I have also tried returning all settings to stock in BIOS and Afterburner, but the result is the same. My BIOS, Windows installation, and all other drivers are fully up to date.

Because I am apparently in a small minority with this issue, I believe that my Windows 7 installation is somehow corrupted. In order to test that theory, I have run chkdsk and sfc /scannow. However, the results of those tests always show no errors / no integrity violations.

I went so far as to attempt an in-place upgrade of my Windows 7 installation. That fails at the last step where it is transferring programs and settings! Each time I have tried, my screen suddenly goes black with just a cursor blinking in the upper left hand corner. The hard drive light remains on for a while after that, but eventually goes out. And when I reset the machine after that, it boots into a rollback that says my upgrade failed.

I am trying to avoid doing a clean install of Windows. I have a lot of software installed and configured as I like, etc. But I'm worried that there is no real alternative at this point. I could apparently continue using my machine as-is without the ability to update my nVidia drivers, but I don't see that as a good long-term solution either.

At this point, I'd appreciate any thoughts / suggestions. Thanks!

My system specs are as follows:

ASUS Rampage IV Extreme
Intel 3930K clocked to 4.4 GHz, Vcore 1.3V
16 GB Corsair Dominator Platinum, at stock 1866 MHz
Corsair AX1200 Power Supply
Planar PX 2320MW monitor 1920 x 1200
LSI 9260-4i RAID card
Creative X-Fi Titanium HD
2 x GTX 680 in SLI
3 x Intel 520 SSDs
600 GB Western Digital Velociraptor
LG Blu-ray burner
Liteon DVD burner
Windows 7 x64

Yes, I have no issues with the 335.23 driver. And it seems like I could continue using it indefinitely.

But I'd like to be able to update because the video card drivers do add significant performance improvements in some games. That's why I tend to update my nVidia drivers regularly.

And the facts that 1) I cannot update the driver, and 2) when I try to do an in-place upgrade of Windows, it fails ... indicate to me that my Windows installation is corrupt, even though there are no other issues. Seems like that will only lead to more problems sooner or later.

I do respect that others are fine with not updating drivers if they are not experiencing any problems.

Thanks for the reply!

I followed the method in the tutorial for updating the nvidia drivers, but I had the same problem. I was again able to revert to the 335.23 driver from Safe Mode.

The 337.88 and 340.52 drivers are both WHQL certified, and I have not really seen other accounts of my issue online. So I feel fairly certain there is an issue with my Windows installation. The fact that the in-place upgrade also fails, would seem to confirm this.

Yes, I can certainly work with the 335.23 driver for now. But I'd prefer to get this problem resolved than permanently be on the 335.23 driver. And since a problem apparently exists, it seems like I'll likely encounter more issues in the future if I don't resolve it.

I'm just wondering if there are any other options beside a clean install of Windows? Is there any other known method to repair a bizarre issue like this?

My last thought was to try an in-place upgrade to Windows 8.1. But of course that would require purchasing 8.1, and using 8.1 if successful...

Thanks again!

I went so far as to do a clean install of Windows 7 on a spare hard drive for testing purposes.

The 337.88 and 340.52 drivers also froze on boot up with the clean install of Windows. So now I'm thinking my Windows install is probably OK. That's the good news.

The bad news is there is nothing I can do to make the newer drivers work on my system, and I don't know why. At this point, I might be inclined to think its a hardware problem. But seems like that ought to manifest itself in some other ways with the 335.23 driver, but I don't see any problems with it.

Any suggestions about how I can get beyond this freeze on the boot logo with the newer nvidia drivers?

Thanks!

I don't know what your problem might be but I have updated to 337 and 340 without problem. I usually let GeForce Experience handle the updates. Looking at your specs I can't see anything that might cause trouble. Your motherboard maybe?
Jim

I have the same problem as Gumby. System runs well on 335.23, but no newer version and i really tested all of them.
Just want to ask, if there was found a solution yet.

same problem here and Ive just posted yesterday and today over on the tutorial mode. Same exact symptoms. But you can at least get to safe mode. My keyboard completely locks up as well. I have to actually reboot 5 times before startup repair is offered and then it does its magic and all is well as far as being able to get back to where I began---which yes is quite blazingly fast and nice...

...but yes a latert Nvidia driver IS needed if one wants to play with a 4K monitor....rigtht now I cant get passed 3.11

Have you had any luck.....?