MIG-31

• WHQL Certified for Windows Vista
• Supports GeForce 6, 7, 8, and 9 series GPUs including these newly released GPUs:
  • GeForce 9800 GX2
  • GeForce 9800 GTX
  • GeForce 9600 GT
  • GeForce 9600 GSO
  • GeForce 8300
  • GeForce 8200/ nForce 730a
  • GeForce 8100/nForce 720a
• Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI™ technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL, including Quad SLI technology with GeForce 9800 GX2 and 3-way SLI Technology with GeForce 9800 GTX.
• Supports Hybrid SLI technology to turbo-charge graphics performance and enjoy intelligent power management on the following motherboards:
  • nForce 780a SLI
  • nForce 750a SLI
  • nForce 730a
  • nForce 720a
  • GeForce 8300
  • GeForce 8200
  • GeForce 8100
• Supports GeForce Boost, a Hybrid SLI Technology, on the following GPUs:
  • GeForce 8500 GT
  • GeForce 8400 GS
• Supports HybridPower, a Hybrid SLI Technology, on the following GPUs:
  • GeForce 9800 GX2
  • GeForce 9800 GTX
• Adds support for NVIDIA GeForce 3D Stereo Technology
• Adds new PureVideo HD features for GeForce 9800 GX2, 9800 GTX, 9600 GT and 9600 GSO:
  • Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
  • Dynamic Blue, Green & Skin Tone Enhancements
  • Dual-Stream Decode Acceleration*
  • Microsoft Vista Aero display mode compatibility for Blu-ray & HD DVD playback*
• Added the following pages to the NVIDIA Control Panel:
  • Manage Custom Resolutions
  • Adjust Television Color Settings
  • Adjust Screen Size and Position
  • Move CRT Position
• Improved performance on many DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL applications.
• Numerous game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.
• Users without US English operating systems can select their language and download the International driver here.
• GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring is available by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.

Download: 32 Bit WHQL / 64 Bit WHQL

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John Edwards

Having purchased Driver Cleaner and run it preparatory to installing this new driver, I was impressed with what I read and expected great things. However, having installed the driver, I am presently left with a system that EITHER:
a) when booted normally, produces a black screen after the Microsoft progress bar (with no cursor, and no further hard drive activity); or
b) in safe mode, shows my NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS as the display adapter, with driver 175.16 properly installed; or
c) in 'last good configuration' mode, a low resolution screen shows the only display adapter as Standard VGA Graphics Adapter (using a MS driver). Scanning for hardware doesn't find the NVIDIA card, and 'add legacy hardware' against NVIDIA Corporation only shows (NOT under display adapters) a series of Serial ATA Controllers (MCP61 and various nForce types) plus an NVIDIA nForce RAID Class Device.
When installing the new driver, I noticed that the first reboot produced the VGA graphics display and the second reboot produced the black screen.
When cleaning the old drivers, I just used the 'nVidia' filter, so I HOPE that I did not breach the 3rd footnote to the filter table which warns against using the NVIDIA Contol Panel filter when you have a motherboard with nForce chipset installed (I didn't know that I did, but the above information suggests that I do!)
The NVIDIA driver installation instructions have a footnote saying that "Windows may default to 16-bpp colour and disable the Desktop Window Manager (DWM). To work around this issue, set the colour to 32-bpp and then reboot the PC." I don't understand this - or whether it relates to my problem.
HELP!!!!!!!
[I'm running Vista Home Premium WITHOUT SP1, and Core2Duo 1.8Ghz processors.]

John Edwards

I'm pleased to say that I have now managed to roll-back the driver to 162.13 (from the Recovery Drive) and all is back to normal.
However, I continue to try to update the graphics card driver (including to versions earlier than the latest) - and EVERY time I get the inevitable black screen (now, as previously, WITH flashing cursor top left). I've tried installing both from the nVidia download installer AND from the Device Manager Driver Update (including allowing an internet search that came up with v169.06!); on one occasion, I was even told that v175.16 did not provide an improvement on v162.13, so it would not be installed.

I've heard elsewhere from ONE other person who suffers from this (on an 8800 GT card, with Vista 64-bit without SP1, who is stuck on v169.28). Are there really no others?????

My only option now appears to be to risk installing Vista SP1 and hope that it isn't disastrous (has anyone else achieved it (or failed!) with an nForce driver from this era?). Perhaps it will overcome the driver update problem....or is that wishful thinking (and TOO risky)??????? Any advice REALLY appreciated.......

Vikingod

Do you by chance has DreamScene running? In the past, I've had recurring problems with later series drivers and DreamScene, sounds pretty similar to your troubles.

John Edwards

I can't trace it - and don't remember downloading it [according to Wikipedia, I would need Stardock to use it with Vista Home Premium, and I don't have that either].
However, a reference there to Desktop Window Manager has reminded me that the nVidia installation instructions made mention of driver v175.16 causing the possible disablement of DWM (and offering a workaround I didn't understand). Could this be behind my problem (ie would its loss cause a black screen)?

MIG-31

About windows Dreamscene.. this tell you what it is.

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