Can't update graphics driver, windows crashes

[PerformanceIssue]

I have an EVGA 3060 Ti, 5900X, and motherboard is MSI B550 A Pro. I got all of these components new, when they came available in stores, over two years ago.

The last time I was able to successfully update my graphics driver was in September. I don't know why, but ever since if I try to install the driver windows crashes, goes into a recovery mode and "repairs" itself for about 10 minutes, and then most of my files/applications that I had open become corrupt (including the geforce experience app used to update).

At first I thought the issue was with my RAM, and I RMA'd the ram to G.Skill and got sent back a new pair, but to my surprise, the same issue persists. 

Can anyone help me out here? Is there something faulty with my graphics card?

[Campusto]

Have you tried https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html ?

[Guest]

The smartest thing to do is roll back your graphics driver and quit worrying about it while you're enjoying your cup of coffee. The are only reasons for updating driver, most importantly there is a bug causing YOU to have a problem that's been fixed or that the update you need or allows you to do something.

 

There's an old, old saying that keeps on proving itself, "IF IT AIN'T BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT."

 

What to do to get the old driver is to go to the manufacturers website, download the last working driver,then go into device manager, remove the present non-working driver and reinstall the downloaded driver. There's no need for any 3rd party application to do what is already built into the OS.

[PerformanceIssue]

20 minutes ago, Campusto said:

Have you tried https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html ?

I just tried this. I’m writing from my phone since now my computer is diagnosing and attempting repairs once again. The software worked and restarted the PC, but once I go to download and install the driver then the monitors just immediately go black…

[Campusto]

Thomas4 is correct. Try with different drivers (older, or beta) and just for fun, try to install the drivers with just one monitor plugged in. Sounds stupid, but sometimes even that might help.

[PerformanceIssue]

19 minutes ago, Thomas4 said:

The smartest thing to do is roll back your graphics driver and quit worrying about it while you're enjoying your cup of coffee. The are only reasons for updating driver, most importantly there is a bug causing YOU to have a problem that's been fixed or that the update you need or allows you to do something.

 

There's an old, old saying that keeps on proving itself, "IF IT AIN'T BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT."

 

What to do to get the old driver is to go to the manufacturers website, download the last working driver,then go into device manager, remove the present non-working driver and reinstall the downloaded driver. There's no need for any 3rd party application to do what is already built into the OS.

I see what you mean and you’re definitely right, at this point it’s causing me way more of a hassle trying to update when a new version comes out every month.

 

Just curious, the only “bugs” I encounter is that anytime I alt-tab off from a full screen game or even when my computer awakes from the screen locking, my monitor flashes black for a good 5-10 seconds until displaying what it should. Don’t know if that has to do with the outdated driver? I don’t remember it being that slow in the past.

[PerformanceIssue]

12 minutes ago, Campusto said:

Thomas4 is correct. Try with different drivers (older, or beta) and just for fun, try to install the drivers with just one monitor plugged in. Sounds stupid, but sometimes even that might help.

So I unplugged my second monitor, booted into safe mode, and was actually able to install the latest driver. I restarted back to normal windows and immediately as I plugged back in my second monitor computer blue screens and goes into recovery mode again, only this time, I don’t have the option of restarting. I can only shut down my pc and cannot get back into windows. The second monitor has never had this problem with the previous drivers up until September or so??

[PerformanceIssue]

Okay now I need some help for sure.

No matter what combination of only primary, only secondary, or both monitors, windows only boots up to a blue screen giving me the option of shut down or advanced repair. How do I roll back the display driver from here?

[Heliian]

Sounds like windows is corrupted, you might need a fresh install. 

 

Geforce experience hasnt worked properly for updates for a while now.  

 

Best to get it right off the nvidia site and just run the installer. 

[OddOod]

22 minutes ago, PerformanceIssue said:

How do I roll back 

You can try Advanced Options > System Restore and pick a restore point before you started futzing with stuff. But yeah, if you've got important stuff backed up I'd just reinstall fresh windows

[Campusto]

Yeah I agree with the people here.... I'm afraid it's "rufus time" for your setup. Good reason to upgrade to Windows 11