If you don’t see your NVIDIA graphics card listed in the Device Manager, you can say that the graphics card was incorrectly detected by Windows. The common error that you encounter is not being able to install the driver for the NVIDIA graphics card. This problem can be caused by many reasons. In this article, you will learn the best methods for troubleshooting. With the following instructions, your problem will be solved in no time.
Method 1: Show hidden devices and reinstall graphics drivers
This method is especially useful for troubleshooting problems caused by leftover drivers after replacing the video card. Follow these steps:
1. Open Command Prompt.
2. In the Command Prompt, type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices = 1, then press Enter.
3. Enter start devmgmt.msc, then press Enter to open the Device Manager window.
4. When the Device Manager window opens, click the View menu and select Show hidden devices from the drop-down menu. Then, any devices that are not connected to the computer will be displayed, including NVIDIA graphics cards.
5. Uninstall each version of the NVIDIA card and any unknown devices (Unknown devices will be listed under Other devices).
To uninstall a device, right-click on the device name and select Uninstall from the context menu. Follow the instructions in the screenshot below.
Note: NVIDIA graphics cards may not be displayed with a proper name. It could be called an unknown device, a video controller, etc. If you’re not sure how to identify it, just uninstall the device that has a yellow mark on it.
6. After uninstalling, restart your computer, and Windows will automatically reinstall the driver.
If the problem persists, you should update the driver to the latest version. If you don’t have enough time, patience, or computer skills to update your drivers manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy. It’s a tool that detects, downloads, and (if you use the Pro version) installs any driver updates your computer needs.
To update drivers with Driver Easy, just click the Scan Now button, and then, when it lists the drivers you need to update, click Update. The correct drivers will be downloaded, and you can install them either manually through Windows or automatically with Driver Easy Pro.
Method 1 will be useful in most cases. If it doesn’t work for you, try the remaining methods.
Method 2: Restore the default BIOS settings
If you are an experienced computer user, you are probably already familiar with how to enter BIOS and restore BIOS to default settings. If not, contact your PC manufacturer or a technician and ask for help doing this, as modifying the BIOS settings incorrectly can cause serious problems.
Method 3: Update BIOS
You can visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website or your PC manufacturer’s website to check and download the latest BIOS version that you can update. Contact your PC manufacturer or technician for help, as an incorrect BIOS update can cause serious problems.
Reference:
- Tips to get the most out of your graphics card
- List of the best graphics cards sorted by price range
- Experience upgrading computer graphics cards
