Driver error / incompatibility on fresh install

[TresV]

Hello,

I've had a lot of issues lately with drivers for my card while being on windows 10, I decided to downgrade to Windows 7 and install all drivers manually to check if everything is working properly.

I had a disc that came with my laptop, contained a driver for my Nvidia card, version of which is quite old - 296.96. It seems for this is the only working one.
GeForce experience 1st downloaded 381 and installed, I booted, saw windows logo and then had a black screen with no back-light. Downgraded back to 296 then got 382.05 and ended up with the same black screen with no back-light.

Edit, here is more info on the topic, as I have been suggested to take a look at my laptop manufacturer's website;

I've got only 2 options in BIOS: UMA & Switchable Graphics. First one completely turns off the Nvidia card to the system, so that's off the list;
The 296.96 version driver came with the disc that came with my laptop, which was 4 to 5 years ago. There are no other GPU drivers on the manufacturer's website - Lenovo.
So far the only driver working is 296.96. This is the first time I am dealing with this kind of issue. I did try removing driver with DDU, didn't help.
I've been updating my GPU driver regularly for the past 5 years and never had issues.

 

[johnhoh]

It sounds like you are saying the 296.96 driver is working, but no other drivers will work - is that right? If so, why not just use that one?

here's some random ideas, maybe one will help

First off, do you have any "problem devices"? Check by going to start > run > msinfo32 > components > problem devices. If that right hand area is not blank, you have a driver problem, video or otherwise. In which case,

go to NVIDIA to let nvidia auto scan your machine

go to Lenovo System Update : Update Drivers, BIOS, and Applications - Think, Lenovo laptops and desktops to let lenovo auto scan your machine

Try running windows update until you are totally up to date

Here are all the nvidia drivers if you want to try several of the older ones between 296 and now..

http://www.guru3d.com/files-categories/videocards-nvidia-geforce-vista-|-7.html

If none of the above helps, you may have a hardware problem that is disguised as a driver problem. One way to test for that is to get windows out of the way completely, by booting into standalone linux. To do so easily, use unetbootin to create a bootable linux on a USB flash drive, here

UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads

You run it within windows to create the bootable linux usb drive. Unetbootin will ask you which linux version you want, so choose linux mint, which looks kind of like windows 7. Then once your usb is created you just boot from it by bringing up your laptop's boot menu early in the boot process and telling it to boot from the usb. Not sure what key on your machine brings up your boot menu but on mine its F12. Once you've booted into mint, click on the firefox icon and go to any browser based gaming site to test out your video:

13 classic games you can play in your web browser - Business Insider

If your machine has any issues having booted from linux, you can conclude that you have a bad video card.

 

[Hazuki]

You have to know that newer driver would never work on newer windows, so its better to stick with older driver since that is the only choice.