Vista - Latest NVIDIA ForceWare Video Drivers

That's what I was about to suggest for you to look at if you had the Ntune CPL installed, it may be locked in there. I had that happen to me awhile back with 1680 x 1050 and a beta in the 154.xx range or so, and I fiddled with that until I noticed the CPL resolution setting was off.

Thanks Chappy I'll check it, next time I install the WHQL's.

I'm not sure if this is the right forum (with all the tech-talk and keen gamers!), but it's about NVIDIA drivers, so here goes!
My PC was delivered last summer with NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS graphics and 162.13 driver. Over the past few months I have tried on several occasions to update the driver (because of a problem with stuttering live TV when scrolling in other windows), including those recommended by the PC maker and the very latest 175.16 WHQL, but on EVERY occasion it has failed (producing just a black screen with a flashing cursor top-left) and I've had to roll back to 162.13 via safe mode.
As instructed, I disable virus protection and don't use a download accelerator during the update. I usually try it as an Administrator (and have even tried as the hidden 'built-in administrator'). However, the present installation instructions don't seem to say that there is a need to uninstall previous drivers first (just nTune, which, as far as I know, I don't have) - should I be doing so? [NVIDIA do not respond to my submissions and the PC supplier pleads ignorance!]
I want to get the driver up to date BEFORE attempting the Vista SP1 upgrade, as I have read of problems otherwise.
Can anyone suggest what the problem might be? PLEASE!!!!!!!

I have always uninstalled and then look for traces (files and in registry) then reboot and install the new driver. I know there is a program that will also remove all traces but right now I cannot recall the name.

I have 2 worries over that (given my experience), which you might be able to reassure me about:
a) with NO driver installed, how will I be able to interact with the PC (will it use a very low resolution screen interface, like safe mode)?
b) having eliminated all trace of the old driver, how would I roll back if the new one fails yet again?

I think that the existing driver is ALSO held in the RECOVERY [D] disk sector; can it be left there without prejudice to the new installation, while preserving the source for a roll-back if needed?

Thanks for your help.

Hi John Edwards,

When you uninstall the video driver Vista will automatically install a default generic driver for it. It will be the same one used when Vista was first installed before the recommended Nvidia driver was installed. You will be able to everything just fine. With a generic driver you just will not have all of the options and performance available like you would with the one from Nvidia.

You will not have anything to Rollback to when you uninstall the driver in Device Manager, but if the new Nvidia driver does not work out, then you can simply uninstall it again and try another Nvidia driver version.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for your reassurance. As a precaution, I have bought Driver Cleaner to do the job fully and the process went as expected UNTIL I tried to install the new 175.16 driver.
On the first reboot, I was presented with a low-res VGA screen, but the second reboot (and subsequent attempts) produced a black screen (with no cursor and no sign of further disk activity) following the Microsoft progress bar.........
Rebooting into 'Last good configuration' I get a VGA screen, and Device Manager shows the display adapter as Standard VGA Graphics Adapter (with a MS driver). Scanning for new hardware produces nothing and 'add legacy hardware' shows nothing under 'display adapters' (although under 'all', nVidia Corp offers a series of Serial ATA Controllers (MCP61 and various flavours of nForce) plus an nForce RAID Class Device).
[I tried updating the VGA adapter driver and although it found the new nVidia driver, it wouldn't install it due to 'wrong handle'.]
Rebooting again into Safe Mode, the nVidia card is properly shown as the adapter and the driver is correctly 175.16! It also shows up correctly in services and startup.
I have no idea therefore why I'm getting a black screen. Could it be anything to do with the footnote to the nVidia installation instructions?
HELP!!!!!!!

John Edwards,

You might try the 174.74 or 174.53 versions as well to see if they work better until a newer one that 175.16 comes out to try.

Shawn

Hi All. I'm running a BFG GTS 512mb card with 169.25 drivers and I have no issues other than it runs hot.
It's like in the mid to high seventies after only half an hour of gaming in Bioshock or Half Life 2 but I don't whether this is normal.
I now see that Nvidia are recommending 175.16 with their little calculator thing and I've been following this thread and John Edward's problems with this driver.
Does anyone think I should employ the 175.16, would there be any benefit? Or should I leave things as they are?
I'm running Vista HP 64x and Ubuntu 8.04 in a dual boot and I don't have any driver issues in either system so there would have to be some advantage for me to upgrade to 175.16.

Best wishes, John

Asus P5N-E SLI, Q6600 2.4ghz, BFG 8800GTS 512mb, 4gb OCZ RAM, Thermaltake 650watt PSU, Thermaltake Golden Orb CPU cooler, 2x500gb Samsung Spinpoint HDDs, Thermaltake Tsunami case, Samsung 226bw (1650x1080)

Hi Johnwillyums.

You can always give it a try to see if it improves anything for you. If it causes problems, then you can go into Device Manager and use the Roll Back Driver option under the Driver tab to go back to the previously installed driver.

Hope this helps,
Shawn