Vista - System doesn't recognize graphics card

First time post, so thanks in advance for any advice.

Here's the problem. My GeForce 9800 GTX is no longer recognized by my computer. As a result it doesn't recognize my monitor specifics either. When I look under Device Manager it doesn't have a listing for display adapters at all. There is a new entry under "Other devices" labeled "Video Controller (VGA Compatible)". When I reboot or "scan for new hardware" it trys to download drivers but fails. When I try to manually update the driver I get a message:

"Windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install it.

NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+

The system cannot find the filed specified."

I've tried everything including updating my BIOS, updating my mainboard drivers, downloading current WQHL certified graphics drivers, uninstalling any and all drivers related to NVIDIA, etc with no luck. I have a feeling there is something simple that I'm not doing but I have no idea what it is. Any help? I can't play any games because the system "Failed to find a suitable display device. Exiting program."

Hello Thunck,
Did it just stop suddenly or has it been playing up for a while ?, if you have another card can you try that or try re-seating your card, and also check to see if it is getting power, i had a problem like this and i removed the power lead from the PSU for about 5 min's, then re-connected it and it worked, dont ask me why but it did. Good luck and post your results.

did you try to re-seat your video card?

fadedrs, read my post again.

Get some surcit board cleaner spray it on and it will work fine.

sorry stoneys-nutz must have missed that when i read it.

LOL, Im glad im not the only one to do it then.

Sounds like deja vu.

Yea, we all do it dont we ?.

I was getting random BSOD crashes every few days that I thought were graphics driver related but a reset usually worked. It was just recently that it crashed and when I reset it all of a sudden didn't show up in my device manager. I haven't tried to reseat the card yet. I'll give it a go when I get home from work. I do have my old 8800 card that I can try if that doesn't work.