Solved Standard VGA Driver Can't Start message

M

mdiemer

I am using Vista VGA drivers, as Nvidia drivers cause me to have frequent display driver failures (please, no more suggestions on how to fix this - I'm happy with the VGA drivers!). When I look in Device Manager to see just what driver it is, in case I want to update it, I see the above message. What does this mean? The driver is in fact working fine, so how could it not have started?

also, should I update this to a later VGA driver, and if so, how? Wouldn't Windows automatically install Nvidia drivers?
 

My Computer

System One

Hi,

This happened to me. I fixed this by booting into safe mode, going into device manager and selecting the driver and then Uninstall. Reboot normally, and Standard VGA Graphics card will be reinstalled. If you want to keep Standard VGA Drivers make sure NVidia drivers are not installed at all (or were ever) on the system, as they are never completly uninstalled. Same for VIA, Intel, and AMD/ATi.

Hope this helps :)

Josh

[Edit]: What i mean by never completely uninstalled is that the uninstaller leaves the driver behind, but removes the utlities and menu options, as well as registry keys.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Windows Vista Business x64
Thanks Josh,

I tried doing the uninstall thing, got the same result. Tried updating the VGA driver in device manager, ended up with an Nvidia VGA, which immediately had a display driver failure. Got rid of that, now have the good old Vista VGA driver again from 2006, which device manager tells me can't start, but works perfectly. Leave well enough alone, I guess.
 
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My Computer

System One

Did you ever install The NVidia drivers? Having a problem in device manager causes lots of future problems. Did you try to install the official NVidia drivers?

I would also also mention that you should rebuild the driver database. The Standard VGA driver may not be comparable with your card, as it is just there mainly for safe mode, and for before you have installed the video driver.

which NVidia GPU do you have? There are installs for most NVidia cards newer than 2004 that work well with Vista. If I have the model number I can try to provide an official NVidia driver, rather than the driver windows provides for that card

Best of Luck :)

Josh
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Windows Vista Business x64
Yes, actually I have tried many different Nvidia drivers, directly from their site, and I've installed them in various ways, but the end result is always the same, I get display driver failures. On another thread I posted about this, I guess I came across as blaming Microsoft, but I understand now that it's really not their fault. I may have bad hardware. I suspect either the GPU (8400GS - Galaxy, with Nvidia chipset), or my mobo (Nvidia 6150SE chipset). If you think you may know of a driver that will work I'll try it, I can always go back to these VGA drivers, which are at least rock-solid stable.
 

My Computer

System One

Ok.

It appears that either your windows installation has left over drivers that we're never installed/uninstalled properly (not your fault, it happens sometimes) The standard VGA driver isn't comparable with the NVidia 8400GS which is why the device can't start. I will try to find other drivers that may work, but if you want everything on your computer to be fully functional, I reinstall may need to be done. Leftover or corrupted drivers can cause you many issues after updates are released to windows, such as BSODs, system lock ups, and more.

Hope this helps :)

Josh
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Windows Vista Business x64
Hello,
I know it's been a while, I was on vacation, but I have found a Nvidia GeForce 8400GS driver for Windows Vista/Windows 7. It is linked here: NVIDIA DRIVERS 280.26WHQL

These are office, Nvidia drivers.

Hope this helps,
Josh
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Windows Vista Business x64
Thank You Josh. I see that I already have this driver saved on my external drive, so I may have already tried it. but I'll give it another go as I have just reinstalled Windows 7-64 on another drive in this computer.

Question: how can I prevent windows from automatically updating this driver once I install it? I used to know how to do this but have forgotten.

Thanks, michael
 

My Computer

System One

mdiemer said:
Thank You Josh. I see that I already have this driver saved on my external drive, so I may have already tried it. but I'll give it another go as I have just reinstalled Windows 7-64 on another drive in this computer.

Question: how can I prevent windows from automatically updating this driver once I install it? I used to know how to do this but have forgotten.

Thanks, michael
Click to expand...

Give it a go, I know that it was updated recently, so I'm not sure, This driver works with Windows Vista and in 7, if it does not work, you will need to re-install your operating system and try again. If you tried a corrupted, or out-dated driver, the computer will have problems, such as the ones you had before. The standard drives don't work with your card, (Nvidia GeForce 8400GS) so they will cause problems as well.

I noted you installation of Windows 7, try to re-install Vista and try again.

Hope this Helps :)

Josh
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Windows Vista Business x64
Well, the 280.26 drivers blue-screened me. So I took out the 8400GS card, and am going with the onboard video (NVidia 6150SE). At least it works most of the time...If I get too many DDF's, I'll just go back to VGA drivers. Videos don't play right in them, but otherwise they're fine for my purposes. Thanks for your help, but this problem just seems to have no solution. It gets pretty boring reinstalling Windows, not to mention all the wasted time.
 

My Computer

System One

My computer has two drives currently. one with Vista 32, the other W7 64 (just installed). The Vista drive is working well with the NVidia drivers for the onboard graphics. However, I don't know if they would work for the W7 drive. The drivers are from 8/22/06. I can't find an ID number for them, just the date they were made and a number that you can't look up on the Nvidia page (7.14.10.9687). I will research this to see if I can find and install these drivers on the W7 drive.
 

My Computer

System One

I found a driver and installed it on the W7 drive, 296.10. So far it's stable. So if it works out, with the one on the vista drive working well, hopefully this issue will be resolved. 296.10 is pretty basic, just a graphics driver, nothing else. but that's probably what my system needs as it regurgitates anything more complicated.
 

My Computer

System One

The 296.10 drivers are failing. DDF's and The Blurs. Went back to VGF drivers, but when I started up Windows updated to new Nvidia's, which promptly failed. This is on my Seven drive. The vista drive is doing great, Windows found some drivers for the onboard video that are working. When windows 10 comes out I may update the other drive, but I fear the problem will be still be there, as it is looking increasingly likely that either Nvidia drivers suck, or I have a hardware problem. Fortunately, I can use the Vista drive another few years.
 

My Computer

System One

Windows seems to have finally found drivers that work! Vista drive ok now. Am going to install Firefox on W7 drive, as the problem only seems to happen with IE. Thanks to all who helped.
 

My Computer

System One

I do not use windows update to install drivers.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
I didn't, Windows installed them on its own. but happily they are working! (On the vista drive, that is. on the seven drive I have to use Firefox, as IE crashes).
 

My Computer

System One

Windows will only install drivers if you have automatic updates enabled. If you install updates manually you can hide the drivers.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
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