NVIDIA graphics card issue

[DeeCazo]

After doing a clean install of Windows 7 64-bit because of a computer crash I had that involved the "display drivers have recovered" error or whatever I have re-installed all my drivers except video ones.

I have an m15x alienware laptop that originally had Vista 32-bit and I upgraded to 7 64-bit so I can't use my support disc to install the video drivers.

Then whenever I try downloading the drivers off nvidia or any other site I can't get windows to start up and have to restore because it either freezes at the Windows Starting Up screen or I get the BSOD.

My graphics card isn't showing up in device manager so I can't even search for updates.


Everything else is working perfectly except the graphic stuff and with a gaming laptop that I also use for design work it doesnt mean much to me unless I can fix what is wrong with it.


Help will be very appreciated.

 

[yowanvista]

Try to install the drivers in safe mode

 

[pebbly]

After doing a clean install of Windows 7 64-bit because of a computer crash I had that involved the "display drivers have recovered" error or whatever I have re-installed all my drivers except video ones.

I have an m15x alienware laptop that originally had Vista 32-bit and I upgraded to 7 64-bit so I can't use my support disc to install the video drivers.

Then whenever I try downloading the drivers off nvidia or any other site I can't get windows to start up and have to restore because it either freezes at the Windows Starting Up screen or I get the BSOD.

My graphics card isn't showing up in device manager so I can't even search for updates.


Everything else is working perfectly except the graphic stuff and with a gaming laptop that I also use for design work it doesnt mean much to me unless I can fix what is wrong with it.


Help will be very appreciated.

Have a look in the bios and make certain the "onboard video" is disabled

 

[DeeCazo]

Running it in safe mode didn't even let me install it which is probably why it crashed outside of safe mode.

It told me "The correct hardware isn't present" or something like that. I think that is my biggest problem is getting it identified.

 

[pebbly]

Running it in safe mode didn't even let me install it which is probably why it crashed outside of safe mode.

It told me "The correct hardware isn't present" or something like that. I think that is my biggest problem is getting it identified.

DeeCazo, you may have the ATI Radeon ,not the Nvidia Drivers & Downloads

have a look in device manager see if a graphic card is listed

 

[DeeCazo]

The only thing listed is the "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter" and my support CD has the install drivers for NVIDIA and I also have a sheet saying what graphics card I have from alienware.

Like I said though because I went from 32 to 64 I cant use the disc and I cant update drivers because the nvidia card doesnt even appear.

I am dumbfounded.

 

[pebbly]

The only thing listed is the "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter" and my support CD has the install drivers for NVIDIA and I also have a sheet saying what graphics card I have from alienware.

Like I said though because I went from 32 to 64 I cant use the disc and I cant update drivers because the nvidia card doesnt even appear.

I am dumbfounded.

click on the "blue" drivers and download link in my last post, that will take you to Dells' website to the driver page for your laptop ,download the Nvidia drivers from there they are Win7 64bit drivers

 

[DeeCazo]

I went on here to download the drivers yesterday and did everything except BIOS because I was told not to and then I am not sure what Nvidia driver to download because my graphics card is the 8800M-gtx while the options shown are:

GTX 460M

Geforce GT 240M

Geforce GTX 260M

What do you suggest I do. Should I update my BIOS then go into safe mode and start trying the nvidia drivers?

 

[pebbly]

I went on here to download the drivers yesterday and did everything except BIOS because I was told not to and then I am not sure what Nvidia driver to download because my graphics card is the 8800M-gtx while the options shown are:

GTX 460M

Geforce GT 240M

Geforce GTX 260M

What do you suggest I do. Should I update my BIOS then go into safe mode and start trying the nvidia drivers?

This is a tuff one Deecazo, are these the nvidia drivers you are trying to install NVIDIA DRIVERS 260.99 WHQL ? Your laptops bios should be up to date

 

[kword88]

try the auto-detect option on this page:

GeForce.com - Get the Most Out of Your GPU

if you have an nvidia card, this tool will recognize it.

 

[DeeCazo]

I did the detection thing and it says "Has been detected in your system." then on the right side it says "The manufacturer of this system requires that you download the driver for your GPU from their site"

That really doesnt help me lol.

 

[Dwarf]

Download and run Download TechPowerUp GPU-Z v0.4.8 | techPowerUp (click on Download now and select a suitable location).

When you have run the tool, please post back a snip showing the Graphics Card tab, just like the example below.

 

[DeeCazo]

 

[DeeCazo]

This is why I have a problem my graphics card won't show up on here hence why I cant update it or anything?

 

[kword88]

see if alienware has a x64 vista driver available for your system. it will probably work.

 

[DeeCazo]

I found the alienware m15x vista 64 bit driver for my graphics card installed it in safe mode and as it tried to reboot i was stuck on the Starting Up Windows screen with faded vertical red bars in the background.

I had a feeling it might work too but unfortunately has failed.

If I used my Alienware vista disc and then installed vista 32-bit and then "upgraded" to 64 bit windows 7 would it carry over if not I could always try getting a copy of windows 7 32-bit.

I just want to know if its worth that trouble.

 

[kword88]

if you have a retail version of win7, you should have gotten a x86 and an x64 disc.

if you go back to x86 vista, you could try running the win7 upgrade advisor to see if it finds a compatible video driver.

but you could try this first: Guru3D - Driver Sweeper (Setup) download from Guru3D.com

then try the vista x64 driver again. after running driver sweeper,restart, then look in device manager and make sure video adapter is using "standard vga" before trying to install the alienware driver.

 

[Dwarf]

That clearly shows as NVidia, the 10DE is the manufacturer (vendor) code. However, the device ID, 060C, doesn't appear for any manufacturer here:

PCI Vendor and Device Lists
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73420-hardware-identification.html

This would indicate that it is a custom design for the laptop manufacturer. Of course, it could also indicate that the hardware is failing and is reporting incorrect information (drivers use this information when installing) which would tie in with what you have been saying ("display drivers have recovered" and "faded vertical red bars in the background").

 

[DeeCazo]

if you have a retail version of win7, you should have gotten a x86 and an x64 disc.

if you go back to x86 vista, you could try running the win7 upgrade advisor to see if it finds a compatible video driver.

but you could try this first: Guru3D - Driver Sweeper (Setup) download from Guru3D.com

then try the vista x64 driver again. after running driver sweeper,restart, then look in device manager and make sure video adapter is using "standard vga" before trying to install the alienware driver.

I got a cheap upgrade disc from my college but it was the 64 bit I might get the 32 bit if all fails but first I am trying the clean sweep/alienware install.

Then if that fails ill go vista 32 to windows 7 64.

 

[kword88]

you cant upgrade from vista32 to win7 x64. you have to do a clean install.