NVIDIA GeForce G210

[lmw2184]

Every few minutes my computer flashes or blinks and I get this error message (below). Not playing games or anything, just browsing. Updating through windows/device manager it shows no updates, but it looks like on NIVIDIA website there is a driver update. I assume HP has had these graphics cards for awhile because this model computer (released March 2011) was shipped after NVIDIA updated it (January 2011) but HP still had old driver software installed. I don't know why they wouldn't have the latest shipped on a PC built and tested in March when there was a update for it released by NIVIDIA in January.

So I called HP, technical support and of course they are clueless. They also have no updates for this on their website. My question is, could I update that driver from NIVIDIA to see if that fixes the problem? Would I need to update the BIOS too? I thought you should download this stuff from HP so you don't have conflicts with the recovery software

 

[Lebon14]

Hi.
The first thing that comes to my mind is trying to uninstall then re-install the graphic driver. Try that out if you haven't.

 

[TVeblen]

That is a TDR error. It means the graphics chip is not responding as expected.

While there are many causes of TDRs, the most common are bad drivers and hardware defects.

If you cannot update your driver from the HP website you may have trouble updating directly from nVidia due to the "dual graphics" nature of laptops today.

Bottom line is that this is a new laptop still under warranty. It has a defect. Return it.

More info here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/152483-video-card-stopped-responding-but-recovered.html

 

[lmw2184]

That is a TDR error. It means the graphics chip is not responding as expected.

While there are many causes of TDRs, the most common are bad drivers and hardware defects.

If you cannot update your driver from the HP website you may have trouble updating directly from nVidia due to the "dual graphics" nature of laptops today.

Bottom line is that this is a new laptop still under warranty. It has a defect. Return it.

More info here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/152483-video-card-stopped-responding-but-recovered.html

I hope you're wrong. I have spent days setting this thing up and months to receive it.

 

[severedsolo]

Are you by chance using Firefox 4?

The reason I ask, is because I have a 210, and I get that message. It is caused by Firefox 4's HW acceleration occasionally crashing the graphics driver. In my case, Im fairly certain this is because I am using old drivers, (258.96) as the newer one's don't scale the desktop properly at lower resolutions, (such as playing games).

Can't say for certain, but it seems likely to me that IE9, and other applications that use similar technology would cause the same error.

Just something to consider.

 

[lmw2184]

Are you by chance using Firefox 4?

The reason I ask, is because I have a 210, and I get that message. It is caused by Firefox 4's HW acceleration occasionally crashing the graphics driver. In my case, Im fairly certain this is because I am using old drivers, (258.96) as the newer one's don't scale the desktop properly at lower resolutions, (such as playing games).

Just something to consider.

I am. and I hope you are right and TVeblen is wrong. How do you know this for sure? And do you know if Firefox is aware of this and working on a fix?

 

[severedsolo]

I am 100% positive. I never ever saw that before I started testing FF4 beta, it never happens when I'm not using FF and in fact with later releases it became less and less common. I have seen other posts on bugzilla outlining the same problem, so hopefully Mozilla are working on it.

I have to say though, on my machine, the crashes are only roughly once or twice a week, if that, if you are seeing more then it may be that Tveblen has a point.

Of course you could always turn off Hardware acceleration, but to me, the benefits are worth the occasional graphics crash.

 

[ddix1026]

TVeblen - I am wondering why you assumed that it was a laptop? I didnt see where he said laptop in the OP (did I missing something?)

I am actually having this same issue with my built from scratch desktop. I have not installed the latest drivers for the video card yet, but from it seems, that might not even solve the issue? i am wondering if a different video card would solve this issue... its not really a big thing, just more of a nuisance..

 

[severedsolo]

TVeblen - I am wondering why you assumed that it was a laptop? I didnt see where he said laptop in the OP (did I missing something?)I am actually having this same issue with my built from scratch desktop. I have not installed the latest drivers for the video card yet, but from it seems, that might not even solve the issue? i am wondering if a different video card would solve this issue... its not really a big thing, just more of a nuisance..

No your not missing something, the 210 is a Desktop card, I think Tveblem assumed it was a laptop because the OP said it was HP.

On the drivers, as I said, I am deliberately running outdated drivers, so cannot comment, Im thinking it's probably a Firefox issue though, as with each phase of the Beta's and RC's the crashes got less and less frequent. Mozilla of course, are blaming nvidia, and Nvidia are blaming Mozilla, so I wouldn't put too much faith in a fix coming any time soon.

As I said though, for me now the crashes are down to once or twice a week at most, and it's instantly recovering, so it's not really a game breaker.

 

[ddix1026]

i agree that its not anything more than a small nuisance to me, but it shouldnt happen.. that's the only issue I have with my machine.. and as with you, it doesnt h appen all the time, just a few/couple times per week.. i will try updating my drivers and see if that helps (I dont require gaming resolution or anything like that)..

 

[lmw2184]

Well mine definitely happens more than a few times per week. More like 5-6 times an hour for me. I have only had this Touchsmart for a few days though, so I have not noticed if it has only been doing it while on Firefox. I'll start paying attention from now on.

 

[severedsolo]

I notice from your original post that you are running 260 series drivers. That's almost as old as the one's I'm running! Unless you have problems with the resolution like I do, I would seriously suggest upgrading

 

[TVeblen]

TVeblen - I am wondering why you assumed that it was a laptop? I didnt see where he said laptop in the OP (did I missing something?)

I assumed wrong. That is why filling out your My System Specs helps.

 

[TVeblen]

I am. and I hope you are right and TVeblen is wrong. How do you know this for sure? And do you know if Firefox is aware of this and working on a fix?

I hope I'm wrong too!
Seeing as this is a desktop (sorry, got yours and another post mixed up) you have more options to repair and will not have to "send it back".

Work on clean installing new drivers first, that is a very common cure for these errors.

But if that does not provide relief then you will need to work your way down that checklist of diagnostic procedures that are listed in the post that I gave you a link to in my original post.

Cutting to the chase, the 200 series nVidia cards were notoriously buggy with W7. You might well end up replacing the card, but please try the less costly and easier diagnostics first.

 

[TVeblen]

I notice from your original post that you are running 260 series drivers. That's almost as old as the one's I'm running! Unless you have problems with the resolution like I do, I would seriously suggest upgrading

Sad fact is that our cards are old!
This is the latest driver package that is compatible with the 210:

 

[severedsolo]

That's a shame, It really is not a bad little card, ok it's not a gaming card, but I knew that when I bought it, for HD video though it does the job wonderfully.

 

[ddix1026]

i updated my drivers to the 266.58 driver (had a 256.xx version previously).. interestingly enough, my Windows Experience rating for graphics went from 5.1 (with the old drivers) to a 4.9 (with the newer driver).. WTH?

 

[TVeblen]

Yeah, that can happen. Some algorithm doesn't like the new settings.

I wouldn't read too much into WEI. It can just be "funny" sometimes.

How does the card perform in real world use?

 

[ddix1026]

oh, card is fine for my needs. im not a gamer, so unless something really goes wrong with it, i wont replace it in the near future..

 

[lmw2184]

Does anyone know if it's a good idea to try and update the newer version from NVIDIA website? I've talked to two tech support guys in the last couple days, and as I experience with all tech support, they are really about as computer knowledgeable as a 3rd grader. So I seek answers elsewhere.