Help troubleshoot GPU driver update (nvidia).

[desert_scarab]

Hello,

 

I have an issue that's really frustrating me as I try to fix it. Especially on New Years Eve.

 

I own a GTX 780 Ti reference card and was using the 344.11 WQHL drivers up until today. It was quite stable running two monitors: one ASUS RoG Swift in the display port and a generic 1080p monitor using the HDMI port.

 

Upon downloading and installing the 374.09 drivers released this month, my screen on both monitors went black during installation. This forced me to make a hard reboot via pressing the power button. upon rebooting, the monitors flickered and went black again after the Windows boot screen finished loading.

 

So, I forced another shut down. Then unplugged both monitors and waited a few minutes where upon I plugged in the generic monitor (actually a Vizio HD TV) into the HDMI port. I was able to log into windows with a 800 x 600 screen resolution.

 

Then I began uninstalling all the nVidia drivers through the control panel. After a reboot and re-installing the 374.09 drivers, I faced the same problem again. This began a new process of trying to re-install the previous 344.11 drivers through a clean install: Deleted all the NVIDIA folders under my C:\ drive and deleted the registries under RegEdit and rebooted in safe mode after cleaning out my recycling bin. Next, installed 344.11 in safe mode and rebooted back into normal Windows.

 

Windows is able to load into a 1920 x 1080 resolution, but a problem still persists.

 

GPU-z and Hardware Monitor's GPU Monitor show that there still isn't any GPU activity. GPU-z indicate "unknown" core clock and memory speeds. EVGA's Precision X indicates there isn't any supported hardware to show. Running Unigine Valley and Heaven Benchmark display black screens or fatal error messages, while trying to watch any movies or playing any games is a stuttering mess.

 

I also tried a System Recover and restore to a previous restore point, but that ended in an error message that said it could not complete due to a corruption.

 

My system is fairly new as I built it this past March for my birthday. Windows, utility programs, and drivers are installed on an SSD, while all my games are on a Hard Drive.

 

Is my GPU dead from a simple driver update? My last step is to purchase an external hard drive and copy all my games and programs to it and then perform a fresh install of Windows.

 

Anyone help with this situation?

[kameshss]

Perform DDU.

Remove the GPU, try to run from Onboard graphics.

Then put the GPU back in then install the driver (if you're not sure about 347.09, install 344.11). See if that works!

 

 

If problem persists, Perform clean installation of OS.

If problem still persists, Put the GPU in another system and check.

[Humbug]

it's rare for a driver to damage a GPU Although it has happened.

Can You test it in a different pc?

[desert_scarab]

I did download DDU, but have yet to use it.

 

I'll try removing it later this weekend and using the on-board graphics.

 

I do have another system to test it with, but it only has a 350 Watt PSU. Might be enough to power it.

[Humbug]

I do have another system to test it with, but it only has a 350 Watt PSU. Might be enough to power it.

enough to boot up. Don't try anything graphical.

Edit- it may not have the required PCIe power connectors

[desert_scarab]

I perform the method @kameshss described:

 

> executed DDU in safe mode.

> removed all drivers and cleaned registry.

> shut down the system.

> removed power cable and waited 12 seconds, then grounded myself.

> removed the GTX 780Ti carefully.

> plugged PnP monitor into Intel Motherboard HDMI port.

> powered the system on.

 

The system booted into Windows and immediately wanted an update to the Intel HD Grpahics driver. I did so and rebooted.

I then made sure all Windows updates we completed and installed after several reboots. The system was able to display a 1920 x 180 resolution on the monitor.

 

Finally, I powered down and re-installed the GPU and plugged the monitor into its HDMI port.

 

Upon boot, I saw the PNY GTX 780 Ti post  with its BiOS signature and the system booted into Windows normally.

 

GPU-z and GPU Monitor still showed 0 Mhz speed on both clock and memory of the GPU with no GPU usage. Hardware Monitor still indicated that no nVidia GPU was present and displayed an ATI logo.

 

I then installed the 344.11 drivers with a custom install and rebooted.

 

The problem still persists: 0 Mhz speed, unknown hardware supported error message, and unable to watch videos or play games.

 

Next step is to perform a clean OS install, I guess.

 

All this trouble from one lousy clean install of the latest Geforce drivers.

[kameshss]

Next step is to perform a clean OS install, I guess.

 

All this trouble from one lousy clean install of the latest Geforce drivers.

 

Do you have another system to try with?

Or you can try your GPU in one of your friend's system.

That might really help.

If it works there, It's really an OS corrupt.

[desert_scarab]

Do you have another system to try with?

Or you can try your GPU in one of your friend's system.

That might really help.

If it works there, It's really an OS corrupt.

 

I have an older system with PCIe 2.0 and a 350 Watt PSU that has a 8+6 pin connector powering Win7 and a GTX 460.

 

Though, it is odd that the GPU has it's green GTX logo light up and the fan is currently working.

[kameshss]

I have an older system with PCIe 2.0 and a 350 Watt PSU that has a 8+6 pin connector powering Win7 and a GTX 460.

 

Though, it is odd that the GPU has it's green GTX logo light up and the fan is currently working.

It's better to perform Clean installation of OS! 

[desert_scarab]

Back with an Update.

 

I disconnected my storage drive (E:\) and then I re-installed my OS. I did this with the GPU installed, but after cleaning registries and folders of Nvidia components in safe mode.

 

I then re-installed GPU-z and now instead of the 780 Ti being detected it now says that the device is Basic Microsoft Display with the same BIOS as the 780 Ti that has 0 Mhz clock and memory speed.

 

Next, I installed the Nvidia 344.11 drivers and Geforce Experience. Same results.

 

However, I noticed that under Device Manager there needs some troubleshooting. The PCI Communicator and SM Bus communicator do not have any drivers installed.

 

Windows is trying to download files and drivers for devices as I write this (on a laptop). I wonder if the PCI controller had its drivers removed in the process and it cannot communicate the the GPU properly? That sounds far fetched since this issue came from a software installation. 

[kameshss]

Back with an Update.

 

I disconnected my storage drive (E:\) and then I re-installed my OS. I did this with the GPU installed, but after cleaning registries and folders of Nvidia components in safe mode.

 

I then re-installed GPU-z and now instead of the 780 Ti being detected it now says that the device is Basic Microsoft Display with the same BIOS as the 780 Ti that has 0 Mhz clock and memory speed.

 

Next, I installed the Nvidia 344.11 drivers and Geforce Experience. Same results.

 

However, I noticed that under Device Manager there needs some troubleshooting. The PCI Communicator and SM Bus communicator do not have any drivers installed.

 

Windows is trying to download files and drivers for devices as I write this (on a laptop). I wonder if the PCI controller had its drivers removed in the process and it cannot communicate the the GPU properly? That sounds far fetched since this issue came from a software installation. 

Have you installed the Chipset software from Intel website and tried?

It installs PCI Communicator and SM Bus communicator drivers.

[desert_scarab]

Have you installed the Chipset software from Intel website and tried?

It installs PCI Communicator and SM Bus communicator drivers.

 

No, I have not. Having a hard time finding specifically what I need.

 

Also, NVIDIA control panel is no responsive after re-installation. Device manager showed that the GTX 780 Ti had Code 42 and had stopped working. I tried to roll back the driver and it is now only Basic Microsoft Display Device.

 

In addition, Geforce Experience keeps trying to download the same drivers over and over when they are actually installed. 

[desert_scarab]

Solved the PCI Communicator by downloading Intel Device Utility tool and updated to the latest driver.

 

Now trying to solve the SM Bus Controller problem by downloading Intel INF driver from ASRock Z87 Extreme4 (my Mobo) download page.

 

Still see a Yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on the 780Ti under Display Adapters in Device Manager.

 

Decided to uninstall all the drivers for Nvidia and clean them in Safe Mode one more time. In the mean time I'm going to hunt down the Manufacturers Driver CD that came with the GPU. Might be something useful there.

[HazMatt]

Check your windows updates and try uninstalling update KB3004394 it is installed. There was a problem a little under a month ago where you can't update gpu drivers if that is installed.

[desert_scarab]

KB3004394 was not installed or found under Installed Updates.

[desert_scarab]

Found the 3rd party Driver CD and re-installed 331.60 that came originally with the GPU.

 

Still no luck. There's a problem detected under Device Manager. 

 

However, now NVIDIA control panel is view-able and executing it gives me an error message:

"NVIDIA Display settings are not available. 

You are not currently using a display attached to an NVIDIA GPU."

 

That's a bit odd, as I'm posting in this very thread able to view it through my monitor plugged into the HDMI port of the GPU.

 

At least I got a bit further and can determine whether or not the PCIe on the Mobo is having problems or the display ports on the GPU were killed when installing the 347.09 drivers as there was a known Display Port bug for those drivers.

 

Edit: Oh, I can actually access Geforce Experience now and see that it cannot detect my GPU either.

[kameshss]

Found the 3rd party Driver CD and re-installed 331.60 that came originally with the GPU.

 

Still no luck. There's a problem detected under Device Manager. 

 

However, now NVIDIA control panel is view-able and executing it gives me an error message:

"NVIDIA Display settings are not available. 

You are not currently using a display attached to an NVIDIA GPU."

 

That's a bit odd, as I'm posting in this very thread able to view it through my monitor plugged into the HDMI port of the GPU.

 

At least I got a bit further and can determine whether or not the PCIe on the Mobo is having problems or the display ports on the GPU were killed when installing the 347.09 drivers as there was a known Display Port bug for those drivers.

 

Edit: Oh, I can actually access Geforce Experience now and see that it cannot detect my GPU either.

 

Found the 3rd party Driver CD and re-installed 331.60 that came originally with the GPU.

 

Still no luck. There's a problem detected under Device Manager. 

 

However, now NVIDIA control panel is view-able and executing it gives me an error message:

"NVIDIA Display settings are not available. 

You are not currently using a display attached to an NVIDIA GPU."

 

That's a bit odd, as I'm posting in this very thread able to view it through my monitor plugged into the HDMI port of the GPU.

 

At least I got a bit further and can determine whether or not the PCIe on the Mobo is having problems or the display ports on the GPU were killed when installing the 347.09 drivers as there was a known Display Port bug for those drivers.

 

Edit: Oh, I can actually access Geforce Experience now and see that it cannot detect my GPU either.

Are you sure you're running the cable from the GPU not from Onboard graphics?

 

 

 

If yes

 

Try this

 

1. Uninstall your graphics driver through the control panel->Program and Features.

2. (Important)Restart and boot into safe mode.

3. Run Driver Sweeper and unistall all gpu drivers in your pc.

4. Restart and boot to the regular desktop.

5. Run CCleaner and remove registries.

6. Reboot

7. Install the new driver

8. Restart

Source: Tom's Hardware, YouTube!

[desert_scarab]

Are you sure you're running the cable from the GPU not from Onboard graphics?

 

 

 

If yes

 

Try this

 

1. Uninstall your graphics driver through the control panel->Program and Features.

2. (Important)Restart and boot into safe mode.

3. Run Driver Sweeper and unistall all gpu drivers in your pc.

4. Restart and boot to the regular desktop.

5. Run CCleaner and remove registries.

6. Reboot

7. Install the new driver

8. Restart

Source: Tom's Hardware, YouTube!

 

Yes, the HDMI cable was connected to the HDMI port on the GPU. If it was in the on-board graphics, I would get a "no signal" on the monitor as the UEFI was set up to have the primary graphics display set to PCIe, so a GPU in that slot would always default to it instead.

 

Anyways, I proceeded through those steps as well.

 

Same results.

 

I'm starting to think the card may have been bricked, at this point. 

 

I'll try setting the GPU in another PCIe slot next. After that, an RMA request from PNY.

[kameshss]

Yes, the HDMI cable was connected to the HDMI port on the GPU. If it was in the on-board graphics, I would get a "no signal" on the monitor as the UEFI was set up to have the primary graphics display set to PCIe, so a GPU in that slot would always default to it instead.

 

Anyways, I proceeded through those steps as well.

 

Same results.

 

I'm starting to think the card may have been bricked, at this point. 

 

I'll try setting the GPU in another PCIe slot next. After that, an RMA request from PNY (wish me lick, huh?).

Yeah try that!

 

If no luck, RMA it!

 

Wish me lick? lol! a typo!

 

I wish you luck!! 

[desert_scarab]

OK. A bit of a Hiatus, but an update:

 

Using another PCIe slot does not work either. 

 

Also had a bit of trouble re-wiring some components that lead to a three day ordeal of fighting cables and making sure everything was seated right.

 

Next is to try and get the GPU tested in another system. Then, if that fails a RMA will have to be done.

 

Looks like Nvidia 347.09 Game Ready Driver can actually harm a GPU if a monitor is plugged into the display port and another that is in the HDMI port, though still a bit skeptical.

[desert_scarab]

Just want to give a final update:

 

I was able to get full compensation for the original price of the GTX 780Ti at a local retailer where I purchased it and used the money to buy a Gigabyte WF3 GTX 980 and a Corsair 760T case. I used my own money to purchase a new Crucial MX100 128GB SSD to re-install Windows 8.1 as though I were building a new system and used my previous SSD as a storage drive after formatting it. Frankenstein'd my HDD and PSU into the new case and have a new stable gaming rig.

 

Some things I learned:

1. Limit driver updates. Actually, keep them almost to nil besides the manufacturers as these can cause problems like mine.

2. Keep receipts until the warranties run out. The retailer I did business with still honored the full price even after 10 months.

3. Don't re-install Windows as a last line of defense. PCFormat had an article stating this and it's a desperate attempt that may cause more problems. It's true as I did experience more problems as new Boot Manager was installed on my other SSD and slowed my boot speeds.

4. Always read other sources of information about a patch before patching/updating drivers. I could have mitigated the problem and saved some woes by reading others encounters.