Question GPU only works without drivers or in Safe mode.

[Sannad]

I have a GTX 960 (2GB). The GPU works without drivers or in safe mode. I tried uninstalling the old drivers using DDU and reinstalling latest drivers, this didn't work. Tried old drivers, that didn't work either. Tried a different HDMI and a different monitor. Any other solution?

 

[InvalidError]

Is this a known-genuine GTX960 or an "eBay special" which may or may not be an actual 960? Without model-specific drivers, the GPU gets initialized by Microsoft's generic VGA adapter drivers that will work on nearly any VGA graphics adapter from the past 30 years. GPU-specific drivers for acceleration however require that the hardware actually matches what the PCIe/BIOS info says it is so if the info got overwritten by an eBay scammer or similar, the drivers attempt to initialize the GPU following the declared model number code path and ends up in an invalid state because hardware does not match description.

If you are 100% certain the GPU is genuine, make sure AUX power is connected if needed, some GPUs will allow legacy boot without AUX but require it for hardware acceleration. Most either refuse to power-up or display an error message at boot telling you to power down and plug it in.

If none of the above works, the last ditch option would be to fresh-install Windows on a spare HDD/SSD and see if drivers still fail on that. If it does, then the GPU may very well be defective or otherwise bricked beyond basic VGA functionality.

 

[Sannad]

Is this a known-genuine GTX960 or an "eBay special" which may or may not be an actual 960? Without model-specific drivers, the GPU gets initialized by Microsoft's generic VGA adapter drivers that will work on nearly any VGA graphics adapter from the past 30 years. GPU-specific drivers for acceleration however require that the hardware actually matches what the PCIe/BIOS info says it is so if the info got overwritten by an eBay scammer or similar, the drivers attempt to initialize the GPU following the declared model number code path and ends up in an invalid state because hardware does not match description.

If you are 100% certain the GPU is genuine, make sure AUX power is connected if needed, some GPUs will allow legacy boot without AUX but require it for hardware acceleration. Most either refuse to power-up or display an error message at boot telling you to power down and plug it in.

If none of the above works, the last ditch option would be to fresh-install Windows on a spare HDD/SSD and see if drivers still fail on that. If it does, then the GPU may very well be defective or otherwise bricked beyond basic VGA functionality.

The GPU is genuine. I have used it for 3 years. It just stopped working all of a sudden.

 

[ying0410]

Might be some windows update messed up with the GPU driver, try roll back to a recover point before last major update.

 

[Sannad]

Might be some windows update messed up with the GPU driver, try roll back to a recover point before last major update.

Tried that too. Even tried really old drivers as well. Nothing worked.

 

[itsdigger]

Maybe download DDU and download the graphics driver from Nvidia, restart in safe mode and run DDU and than restart in safe mode again. Install the Nvidia driver and restart normally.

 

[Sannad]

Maybe download DDU and download the graphics driver from Nvidia, restart in safe mode and run DDU and than restart in safe mode again. Install the Nvidia driver and restart normally.

Tried that too, didn't work

 

[rolli59]

Dying card works in 2d (windows generic drivers) does not work in 3d on the proper drivers. If lucky still in warranty but needs replacing anyway.