Faulty Driver? Bad GPU?

[Hobbes]

So I installed the latest driver for my GeForce 630M, after getting a BSoD everytime I tried running a 3D game (also when trying to change the 3D settings from the Nvidia Control Panel), but after I visited their website and scanned to to see if my drivers were really ok, it was as if I had no drivers installed and was prompted to re-download the driver... Is this an issue with the GPU itself, or is it just a driver thing?

[karamazovmm]

the problem might be nvidia optimus. You can try to whitelist the exe from the game that you are trying to play in the nvidia control panel, that way the nvidia gpu would be engaged when you are gaming.

the 630m aint the cream of the crop either (its a 2 generations old gpu), whats the game and settings that you are using and whats the fps like?

[Hobbes]

Nah, that can't be it, the main issue is the driver installation obviously, since even Nvidia's website thing can't recognise any installed drivers.

[karamazovmm]

well you have your answer, clean install nvidia drivers. boot into safe mode, remove the drivers, and install afterwards the ones you want

[Hrothgar Óhreinsaður]

Here's a good plan:
Uninstall nVidia graphics drivers. Reboot.
Log into Safe Mode. Execute Driver Sweeper. Delete the nVidia graphics drivers. Reboot.
Install the new drivers. Reboot.
Cross your eyes... fingers.

[Hobbes]

Yeah, so I uninstalled everything and tried to do a clean install. Nothing different. I noticed that the BSoD mentions some nvlddmkm.sys issue.

[irishron]

Can you post the full message? Little nuggets are usually hidden inside.

[Hobbes]

The full message of the BSoD? How do I do that?

[irishron]

When it comes up and before the computer restarts, write it down.
In one of the threads in here, Ishan has a link to a BSOD capture utility.

[Hobbes]

I found a freeware utility that gave me a lot of info. No idea if that's what we're looking for, though.

===============================================
Dump File : 093012-13478-01.dmp
Crash Time : 30/9/2012 4:16:49 πμ
Bug Check String :
Bug Check Code : 0x00000116
Parameter 1 : fffffa80`03e77010
Parameter 2 : fffff880`0f377584
Parameter 3 : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 4 : 00000000`00000002
Caused By Driver : dxgkrnl.sys
Caused By Address : dxgkrnl.sys+5d000
File Description :
Product Name :
Company :
File Version :
Processor : x64
Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+7f1c0
Stack Address 1 :
Stack Address 2 :
Stack Address 3 :
Computer Name :
Full Path : C:\Windows\Minidump\093012-13478-01.dmp
Processors Count : 4
Major Version : 15
Minor Version : 7601
Dump File Size : 454.080
==================================================

It has also highlighted these:

dxgkrnl.sys dxgkrnl.sys+5d000 fffff880`0445f000 fffff880`04553000 0x000f4000 0x4ce799fa 20/11/2010 12:50:50 pm
dxgmms1.sys dxgmms1.sys+ff07 fffff880`04553000 fffff880`04599000 0x00046000 0x4ce799c1 20/11/2010 12:49:53 pm
nvlddmkm.sys nvlddmkm.sys+14b584 fffff880`0f22c000 fffff880`0ff14000 0x00ce8000 0x503f8bb8 30/8/2012 6:50:16 pm

[irishron]

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...f-21ee0e510cd7 is for the driver.
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...x00000116.html seems to match yours.

[Hobbes]

I tried a lot of thing today. One of them was to remove the laptop's battery thinking that it might be increasing the temperatures or something. It worked. Now I suppose I will have to get this laptop back and demand a refund because their product is shite...