Solutions for NVIDIA Driver Installation Failure
When installing the NVIDIA graphics driver on a Windows computer, you may encounter driver installation failures. This article provides effective solutions to help you successfully install the NVIDIA driver.
1. Uninstall and Reinstall the Driver
Uninstall the Driver:
Press Windows + X, select and open "Device Manager".
Expand Display adapters, find the NVIDIA graphics driver, right-click it, and select "Uninstall device".
Check "Delete the driver software for this device", then click "Uninstall".
Automatically Install the Driver:
Click the download button to get the latest version of Driver Sentry. After installation, open the software and click "Scan".
Once the scan is complete, the software will display missing or outdated drivers. Locate NVIDIA graphics driver in the list and click "Install".
After updating, restart your computer to ensure the driver takes effect.
2. Run the SFC System Tool
Press Win + S, search for "cmd", right-click Command Prompt, and select "Run as administrator".
In the command prompt window, enter the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
The SFC tool will scan and repair corrupted system files. This process may take several minutes.
If successful, restart the computer and try installing the NVIDIA driver again.
If SFC cannot fix all issues, run the following DISM command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
After execution, restart the computer and attempt to reinstall the driver.
3. Perform a Clean Boot
Press Win + R, type "msconfig", and press Enter.
In the System Configuration window, go to the "Services" tab.
Check "Hide all Microsoft services", then click "Disable all".
Switch to the Startup tab and click "Open Task Manager".
In Task Manager, disable all enabled startup programs (right-click each and select Disable).
Close Task Manager, click "OK" in the System Configuration window, and restart your computer.
Try reinstalling the NVIDIA driver.
4. Check for Disk Errors
Open Command Prompt as an administrator (refer to the SFC tool steps).
Run the CHKDSK command by entering the following and pressing Enter: chkdsk C: /f /r
Explanation:
C: represents the drive where the system is installed. If the NVIDIA driver is being installed on another drive, replace C: with the corresponding drive letter.
/f fixes disk errors.
/r finds bad sectors and recovers readable data.
If prompted with "The disk is in use", type "Y" and restart the computer to allow CHKDSK to run at startup.
Once the scan is complete, check if the problem is resolved and attempt to reinstall the NVIDIA driver.
5. Temporarily Disable Firewall and Antivirus Software
Disable Windows Defender Antivirus:
Press Win + I to open Settings, then navigate to "Privacy & Security" > "Windows Security".
Click "Virus & threat protection", then select "Manage settings".
Turn off "Real-time protection" and "Cloud-delivered protection".
Disable Windows Firewall:
Press Win + R, type "control", and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
Click "System and Security" > "Windows Defender Firewall".
On the left, select "Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off".
Select "Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended)" for both Private and Public networks.
Disable Third-Party Antivirus Software:
Open your third-party antivirus program and find the Real-time Protection option, then disable it temporarily.
Alternatively, right-click the antivirus icon in the system tray and select "Exit" or "Disable Protection".
After disabling security software, try installing the NVIDIA driver again. Once installed, re-enable your firewall and antivirus software.
6. Reinstall Windows
Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to "Update & Security" > "Recovery".
Under "Reset this PC", click "Get started".
Choose "Keep my file"s or "Remove everything" (recommended for a clean installation).
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Windows reinstallation.
After reinstalling Windows, download and install the NVIDIA driver again.
Following these steps should allow you to successfully install the NVIDIA driver. If the issue persists, check your graphics card model or contact NVIDIA support for further assistance.
See also:
Resolve the Mouse Keeps Disconnecting Issue on Windows 10
How to Fix Mouse Scroll Wheel Jumping Issue
