Unable to Install nVidia Video Driver!?

Had to reformat my HDD due to some issues.

I have a dual boot setup with Windows 10 64 bit and Windows 7 64 bit.

Reinstalled Windows 7 64 bit SP1 with no issues. But I can't get nVidia video driver to install!? Tried installing driver version 474.44 first, then tried installing version 474.11 next, but both failed to install drivers!

On previous occasions (many months ago) I don't recall having major issues installing the nVidia video driver.

On clicking the nVidia installation (self extracting) executable, a progress bar appears which shows that the self extracting stub is extracting the setup files to C:\NVIDIA . . . etc. After the file extraction has finished nothing further happens!

I checked for the presence of the directory C:\NVIDIA\ . . , but it wasn't there!?

I manually created the directory C:\nVidia and using 7-zip, I extracted the contents of the self extracting executable to my manually created directory. All files were successfully extracted.

Then I clicked on the Setup executable within the C:\nVidia directory to actually install the driver, but nothing happens!?

I recall previously that certain KB . . . files had to be installed within Windows 7 in order to get the nVidia video driver to actually install. Problem is that I don't remember which specific KB files had to be installed first. I didn't make a note of which KB should be installed, unfortunately.

On searching for solutions to get the video driver to install, it was suggested to disable system security (temporarily). I don't recall having to do so on previous occasions in order to install the video driver. I disabled system security anyway, but the video driver continues to fail to be installed! Also suggested was that some KB files should be installed, namely -

KB3138612, KB4474419, KB4490628, plus possibly KB4555449, and KB4575903.

All these files were installed, but the video driver will still not install!

I strongly suspect that I'm missing installation of other KB files.

Anyone know what other KB files need to be installed to get the video driver to install, please?

These pictorial instructions may resolve your NVIDIA driver issue.

Thanks for the response!

I did study this image after I managed to install a slightly older version of the video driver (version 446.14).

I tried installing the earlier driver version almost as an act of desperation and it installed without issue!

It is suspected the driver installer looks for up to date (security) installation(s) in Windows 7 to determine whether to enable actual installation of the video driver. If the (security) installation(s) are not up to date (with respect to about the date of the video driver), then the installation of the video driver will not proceed.

So, in order to successfully install later versions of the video driver, my Windows 7 (security) software should be updated as far as possible to the latest update.

At least that's how I'm interpreting this situation.

Currently I am looking for later updates for Windows 7. If all is well and Windows 7 is updated, then I should be able to install the latest video driver (hopefully).

I had this same crap happen to me in a computer build. What I did was as you with 7Z, except I pointed the "add new hardware" wizard via Device Manger to the extracted folder and away I went.

I don't believe in updates unless I absolutely need them. So this dictatorial nonsense is just that: NONSENSE! I just want the video driver! Screw your security requirement BS.

I'm getting real tired of NVIDIA's BS. Here, add the following to your hosts file if you want to help disable tracking. I also use NextDNS (Like Pi-Hole for the cloud) so these domains are there too.

Code:

# nVidia Telemetry
127.0.0.1 gfwsl.geforce.com
127.0.0.1 gfe.geforce.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.nvidia.com
127.0.0.1 gfe.nvidia.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.gfe.nvidia.com
127.0.0.1 events.gfe.nvidia.com
127.0.0.1 activation-dc1.gfe.nvidia.com
127.0.0.1 activation.gfe.nvidia.com
127.0.0.1 services.gfe.nvidia.com
::1 activation.gfe.nvidia.com
::1 activation-dc1.gfe.nvidia.com
::1 gfwsl.geforce.com
::1 gfe.geforce.com
::1 telemetry.nvidia.com
::1 gfe.nvidia.com
::1 telemetry.gfe.nvidia.com
::1 events.gfe.nvidia.com
::1 services.gfe.nvidia.com

Remember, the hosts file is only for domain to IP resolution. Not full on IP address blocks. In the above case, all of my known NVIDIA addresses resolve to null and not go out onto the Internet. You could use 127.0.2.1 or 127.0.45.50. Over 16 some million addresses in that local CIDR alone! I kid you not. What a waste... And they say we are out of IPv4 addresses.

127.0.0.1/8

CIDR to IPv4 Address Range Utility Tool | IPAddressGuide

Managed to get nVidia driver version 472.12 to install fine using the usual method of installation (by clicking on the nVidia self extracting executable), but driver versions 474.11 and 474.44 will not install.

F22 Simpilot said:

I had this same crap happen to me in a computer build. What I did was as you with 7Z, except I pointed the "add new hardware" wizard via Device Manger to the extracted folder and away I went.
I don't believe in updates unless I absolutely need them. So this dictatorial nonsense is just that: NONSENSE! I just want the video driver! Screw your security requirement BS.

. . .

Thanks for the detailed response!

Yes, I'm not too happy about the apparent requirement to have the latest security updates installed first before enabling nVidia driver installation. Too much time spent trying to locate appropriate security updates!!

Via 7 zip, I extracted the contents of driver version 474.11 from the nVidia self extracting executable to a temporary directory. However, after typing in and running hdwwiz.exe (hardware wizard) and then trying to locate the *.inf file when trying to install the driver for the display adapter manually, I can't seem to find the correct *.inf file?

What is the exact procedure to install the video driver (bypassing the nVidia installer) please?

It's been a while, but I'm guessing nv_dispi.inf

flavallee said:

472.12 was the last driver released before that January 16, 2023 cut off date.
That's probably why you had no problem installing it in the normal manner.

I'll be doing another test clean install soon of Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit.
I'll find out for myself then if 472.12 installs normally with no issue.

Thanks.

According to nVidia driver download website, the last driver version for Windows 7 64 bit running a GTX1650 card, is version 474.44.

- - - Updated - - -

F22 Simpilot said:

It's been a while, but I'm guessing nv_dispi.inf

Yes. That's what I thought, but on selecting this inf file, nothing further happens. It's as though this file is not recognized by the hardware wizard?

Did you try other inf files? One of them I know will work. What I did was go into Device Manager and right click the video display and update the driver with the uncompressed NVIDIA files. I chose one of those INF files and it worked.

I tried about 5 other *.inf files but that didn't seem to work either. I didn't try ALL of the thirty or so *.inf files yet.

I'm having slight issues with booting my computer, so most of my attention is directed to sorting out this booting issue at the moment.