Display driver 'version mismatch' error on reboot

[UsedBits]

A reboot does not activate the video drivers. Motherboard has built in nVidia GPU (7050).

Running the nVidia Control Panel fails with the following error:

The NVIDIA Display Panel Extention cannot be created. Possible reasons include: Version Mismatch. Reinstalling display drivers may solve the problem.

Well, reinstalling *does* solve the problem, until the system is restarted.

There are no 'symptoms', per se, that the drivers have not been enabled. However, my HDTV 2nd monitor, without readjustment, doesn't display the entire desktop, for example, the mouse disappears around the edges. I can't adjust the settings until the drivers are reinstalled.

I am installing what are believed to be the latest drivers for my hardware:
GPU: GeForce 7050 PV / nForce 680a
CPU: AMD Phenom 9850 quad core
Memory: 2.87 GB
Driver: 307.83
OS: Win XP Pro (sp3)

 

[UsedBits]

More information on the above. All of the reboots mentioned above were the result of applying Windows updates. On the most recent update, I noticed that one of the listed items was "Nvidia drivers and updates".

I unchecked this particular line item. The remaining Windows updates were applied. The system rebooted and, voila, the drivers remained active!!!

A little more web research revealed another post indicating that the Windows 'update' of nVidia drivers should be avoided.

Given this anecdotal sample of two (count 'em, 2), it appears that the Windows detection of changes to the nVidia drivers and associated 'update' should be avoided.