Vista - System doesn't recognize graphics card

Try the 8800 and see if that helps.

I removed the 9800 and used a can of air on the contacts and the port before reseating it in. It didn't work. I still get that error when trying to update drivers. I guess I'll try the 8800 next.

does the card use a seperate power supply? or just the power from the slot?

if it uses a seperate power supply maybe switch it with another plug.

I swapped in the 8800 and got the same problem. Windows has found drivers for your hardware but encountered problems while trying to install. It then lists the correct card (did so for the 9800 as well) and says beneath it "Cannot find files specified". My wife has an 8800 GT so I went into her C:\Windows\inf folder and just copied her "nv_disp_XXXXXXX" folder over to mine and reattempted to update the drivers. It worked, but I can't update to the most current drivers, I'm stuck at the 178.13 versions. At this point I'm pretty sure it isn't the card, the PSU, or any of the hardware. I think there is something in the registry that won't allow me to install video drivers.

Here is a method that has worked for a lot of people, you will need two bit's of software, both are free, link's below.

1.Ccleaner.
2 Driver Cleaner.

Follow the instruction's and i think it will work.
I cant take the credit for this, it's from the Nvidia forum by a guy called Luttiano.

CCleaner - Download

Guru3D - Driver Sweeper (Setup) download from Guru3D.com



Normal Mode :

Turned off automatic driver updates (set to "never" was confirmed) [after done, reset to "ask before installing"]
Uninstalled Nvidia motherboard drivers
Uninstalled Nvidia display drivers
Ran DC.net cleaner [Driver Cleaner.NET]
--Cleaned nvidia
--Cleaned nvidia control panel
Rebooted

Safe Mode :
Ran DC.net cleaner
--Cleaned Nvidia
--Cleaned Nvidia Control Panel
Rebooted

Safe Mode :
Ran DC.net cleaner
--Cleaned Nvidia
--Cleaned Nvidia Control Panel
--Do not reboot at this time.

[for the following reg changes, use search to find all occurences]

Opened Regedit and removed the nvidia CPL registry keys
Deleted the NVCP*.* files from windows\system32
Deleted any NVC file that housed a description of Nvidia Control Panel from windows\system32 [pass mouse over file and read "description"]
Used CleanMyPc Registry cleaner [or CCleaner] and fixed all registry issues
Rebooted

Safe Mode :
Installed Nvidia Motherboard Drivers [latest]
Installed Nvidia Display Drivers [latest]
[installed nVidia System Tools]
Rebooted

Normal Mode :

Display works 100%
Control Panel works 100%
Multiple Monitor Support works 100%

Thanks, I'll give that a shot when I get home from work.

stoneys-nutz - beat me to it. LOL

LOL, sorry dude.

I got it working solid and was even able to update to the newest drivers without problem. There is a new issue that I've narrowed down to World of Warcraft now so I'll post that under the Games forum.

Thanks for all the help!

Glad you got it working ok. Good work.