NVIDIA Driver Update Through Device Manager

Question

NVIDIA Driver Update Through Device Manager

Anonymous

Hi!

I would like to report this, perhaps, "wrong" behaviour.

I have an NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT.

Running on Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.

I had installed latest NVIDIA drivers though the NVIDIA website. Currently was at Version 332.21.

Windows Update, had found some NVIDIA related drivers, when going this way in a previous Windows installation, I found out that actually, they integrate then fully with NVIDIAs websites drivers and update systems. So this time, I went straight and downloaded latest driver from NVIDIA and installed it.

After that, Windows nicely noticed those drivers, and further Windows Updates were not found or suggested, about NVIDIA graphics drivers.

I had one day some serious issues with my PC, which has happened also another time some month ago.

Mainly, as seen in Reliabilty Monitor, Video hardware errors, and Windows abnormal shutdowns, because I needed to push the reset button to shutdown, after the freezes of the monitor, together with slowdowns of mouse cursor and odd colours on the screen. This together with a failed Windows startup, which resulted in using the recommended Startup Repair, on Windows boot. This happened another time, exactly the same, some time ago. At that previous time, the Startup Repair said, that it found some error root cause, although, it was little cryptic, something like perhaps, changes to system configurations or stuff like that. Nevertheless, it said that it passed the tests and Integrity Repair went OK. This time, however, Startup Repair could not perform the final Integrity Repair, and reported some root cause of: "Unknown Bugcheck: Bugcheck 124, ..."., with a final:

Repair action: System files integrity check and repair

Result: Failed. Error code = 0x490

Nevermind all that, (although it would be nice if you know something about this), my main reason for posting this is for the following:

After I went to Reliability Monitor, I clicked on Check for solutions, on the Video hardware errors.

After a little time, Windows came back with suggesting some actions, in the Action Center.

One of those, which probably had to do with the Video hardware errors, suggested a procedure about the NVIDIA driver.

The message was labeled:

"Solve a problem with NVIDIA Graphics Driver"

I opened the solution, and it said those stuff:

Solve a problem with NVIDIA Graphics Driver

NVIDIA Graphics Driver has stopped working properly.

A driver update, if available, might prevent this problem from recurring.

There are several ways of locating and installing driver updates, but it is best to let Windows do this for you. Try the first step below, which describes the process. If it doesn't produce a driver update that solves the problem, then try the remaining steps in the order given.

Check for optional third-party updates
Try updating manually
Check the NVIDIA Corporation website for driver updates
Check your computer manufacturer's website for driver updates

What is a driver?

So, I began by taking the steps one after another, from top to bottom as suggested.

The number 1. options when expanded, said:

Even if all critical updates have been installed on your computer, optional updates might be available for NVIDIA Graphics Driver that have yet to be installed. Here's how to use Windows Update to check for and install optional driver updates:

a. Tap or click to open Windows Update in Control Panel

b. In the left pane, tap or click Check for updates to see if there are any optional updates available for your computer.

c. If optional updates are available, tap or click the link to view and select the updates to install. (If you don't see this link, you might have to tap or click Check online for updates from Microsoft Update).

If no optional updates are available, go to step 2.

d. Select the optional updates you want to install (especially if they appear to be graphics related), tap or click OK, and then tap or click Install updates.

This procedure, did not produce any results. I checked for Updates but there was none found.

So the issue I am going to report here, has to do with option number 2.

Option 2, when expanded, said:

If no optional NVIDIA Graphics Driver updates were available in Windows Update, you can try updating NVIDIA Graphics Driver manually.

Note

It's best to let Windows install drivers for your hardware automatically, as described in step 1 above.

If you decide to manually update , here's how to do it:

a. Tap or click to open Device Manager If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

b. In Device Manager, double-tap or double-click Display adapters, and then double-tap or double-click the name of the device running NVIDIA Graphics Driver.

c. Tap or click the Driver tab, and then tap or click Update Driver.

d. When asked how you want to search for driver software, tap or click Search automatically for updated driver software.

e. Windows will locate and install a new driver if one is available.

When I followed the above procedure, this "wrong" thing happened.

Windows said, that it Updated the Driver successfully.

It installed, an older driver in place of my latest 332.21 NVIDIA driver that I had installed from NVIDIA.

I can confirm that the driver was 332.21, as when I saw the Driver Tab it had:

Driver Version: 9.18.13.3221

The specific driver that Windows Device Manager installed was:

NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.1)

General Tab

Device type: Display adapters

Manufacturer: NVIDIA

Location: PCI bus 5, device 0, function 0

Driver Tab

Driver Provider: NVIDIA

Driver Date: 14-May-09

Driver Version: 8.15.11.8593

Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows

After that, my NVIDIA 332.21 driver, were listed in Add/Remove Programs, but I did not check to see if it works, for example if it could be uninstalled.

But, at least, I could report, that in Control Panel, there was this NVIDIA Control Panel, which I clicked, but nothing happened.

It did not open the NVIDIA Control Panel.

So, I report all this, because I feel that it is wrong behaviour.

A question that came to my mind for example is, why did Windows update the Graphics driver, through Device Manager, when the current NVIDIA driver, was newer than the one which Device Manager installed?

Thanks a lot.

Appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on this.

Perhaps, something might be done, if this above behaviour is not as it should be.

Cheers!

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

5 answers

Answer 1

>>What is the make and model of your computer?

EEE Hmm.

Nothing its just a Hewlett-Packard (HP) Desktop PC.

Running: Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium.

Actually, in the HPs website, there are not any drivers for Windows 7.

But, I download my graphics drivers from NVIDIA:

Thanks though. Now, my system has not experienced any serious issues till those freaky moments that I mentioned above some time ago. The scary thing is, that it happened exactly the same, after format and reinstallation of Windows. So, maybe there is something with some software?

Dont know. hope that in future I dont see again same BSODs, and stuff.

Still, this post is relevant, and perhaps, Microsoft could do something about this in the future Windows. Of course, its just a minor issue, and it involves changing the solution procedure offered for updating the NVIDIA graphics driver.

Answer 2

Hi Markos,

Thank you for your update on the issue.

To check the model no. of your system, you, may follow these steps:

Click Start button, type msinfo32 in the Start search and hit ENTER.
Check for the System model, in the list of System summary.

It's good to know that you got your issue resolved. However, to check for compatible drivers for your system, you must look for the latest drivers updated on the system manufacturer's website. After obtaining the system model for your HP PC from the above mentioned steps, you may search for the drivers by entering the model number (product name or number) in the following link:

HP Drivers & Downloads

In addition to that, please feel free to reply, in case you face any other issues with Windows in

future. We'll be glad to assist you.

Answer 3

Hello Markos,

Thank you for updating this issue.

What is the make and model of your computer?

Basically, the Windows update picks up the latest driver edition that is compatible with your system configuration. So, I would recommend you to visit the system manufacturer's website and install the latest graphics driver that is available at their support page to ensure your system is updated with the latest version and that your system does not experience any random crash dumps or blue screens (BSODs).

Please post back for any other queries. We'll be glad to assist you further.

Answer 4

HI JohnsonJames2011,

Thanks for the info, but I unfortunately have Home Premium, so Group Policy Editor is not available for me. Nevertheless, I have found something similar to what you say:

Control Panel->Deviced and Printers->Right Click on Computer->Device installation settings.

I thought hard to what I should put here.

Please if you could give a suggestion and I might think about it.

Before, when playing with the NVIDIA Drivers as said in my post, I had it to never install drivers software from Window Update.

Now I changed it to the Recommended setting of Yes, do this automatically.

I noticed this change, when I recently uninstalled my NVIDIA driver, and then upon reboot, Windows automatically installed the Driver that I mentioned in my post above.

That was not bad behaviour although it could be avoided.

Neverthess, after the next reboot, I installed the latest NVIDIA normally.

Now, Windows understands that I have the NVIDIA latest driver, so this automatic driver software from Windows Update, has not in any way interfered or suggested some other driver.

Also, I think that I want this automatic driver software from Windows Update, because I want my devices to have nice drivers and new ones.

Still, I think, that the problem that I described in my post above, remains.

And surely, it would be better for example, if Windows did not suggest the step 2 of manually updating the Driver through Device Manager. Because it went and installed an older driver, which of course contradicts the whole point of clicking on *Update* Driver.

For me, it would be better, for example, if the step 2 was not there at all and we went straight for step 3 or 4.

Also, as an important notice, I would like to mention, that I went to read a little bit the Release Notes and information PDF of the NVIDIA driver 332.21:

http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/332.21/332.21-win8-win7-winvista-desktop-release-notes.pdf

Somewhere there, it was mentioned:

Uninstalling Drivers Using Device Manager is not Supported

Issue

On all supported versions of Microsoft Windows, uninstalling the NVIDIA driver using

the Windows Device Manager may not remove associated files or applications.

Explanation

Microsoft has confirmed that this behavior is by design. If you wish to uninstall the

NVIDIA driver, it is recommended that you do so using Add and Remove programs.

See the Microsoft KB article 2278714:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2278714/en-us

Of course, here it is saying about UNINSTALLING drivers, whereas my problem in this post, has to do with UPDATING a driver. Neverthess, they both have to do with Device Manager.

As you can see, clearly, the step 2 should not be suggested perhaps.

What do you think?

Cheers

Answer 5

Hey,

Suppose you have connected a device with your computer, Windows 7 / Vista will now automatically search for the driver and install it. If you want to select every driver manually(because you have a manual driver that is better), then you should disable automatic driver installation. To do this you don’t need to install any software at all, you can do this using Windows Driver Settings.

Here is what you need to do:

Go to Start–>Search type in gpedit.msc
Click the file to open the Local Group Policy Editor and show Windows who is in control!!
You want to go here: Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->System->Device Installation. Click on the subfolder Device Installation on the left and on the right side you will see the possible restrictions.
Right Click on Prevent Installation of Devices not described by other policy settings and edit this option, set it on ENABLED.

Reboot Windows and enjoy its inability to pollute your system with its standard driver, open gpedit.msc again and revert the change so you will be able to install your driver.

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NVIDIA Driver Update Through Device Manager

5 answers