Windows 7 Tip - NVIDIA GT 220 driver

My desktop test system for Windows 7 Ultimate is a HP s5150t with a NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 video graphics driver. As I post this tip, the NVIDIA site has the following video driver available (since 8/21/2009):

• 190.62_desktop_win7_winvista_32bit_english_whql

Which I installed a couple of weeks ago. Previously they had the following:

• 186.34_desktop_win7_winvista_32bit_international_whql

I was having periodic problems with the v186.34 version where the video would just stop sending a signal, and I'd have to remote in and restart the computer.  Since putting on v190.62 I haven't had this issue so I think the bug has been fixed.

However, I recently ran Windows Update (I think on Friday morning) and it said there was a new graphics driver available for the NVIDIA GT220. I mistakenly trusted the recommendation and installed it.  It appears to have been the v186.34 version because my video issue shortly re-appeared.  I backed out the buggy update, put v190.62 back on, and everything is stable again.

Hopefully, as Window 7 gets closer to official launch, this type of driver issue will be resolved.  If not, it could be a rocky launch for what has been for me a pretty solid product.

Comments

[Derek]

Ya I'd never trust Windows Update for video drivers. They are usually stripped down and older than what's on the manufacturer's web site. I dumped nVidia a few years ago with all their Vista problems and went to ATI. No problems with ATI since.

[Fugg]

I have been running Windows 7 on my Dell Latitude E6400 and the biggest thing I have seen so far is the lack of driver availability specifically for Windows 7. The good thing so far is that using the Vista drivers for most hardware still works like a charm. I am a little sketched out about Windows Update downloading drivers though as they are usually way behind in version, as you have found out.

At any rate, you can read my thoughts on Windows 7 at http://fuggstech.blogspot.com/2009/10/windows-7-my-thoughts.html.

[Adgangskontrol]

thanks for sharing about it.

[tim]

Thanks for this - I've installed 191.07 from NVIDIA and that died - screen just goes black, rather than no signal... I'll try and find the version that worked for you and report back!!

I'm getting Vista flashbacks here... :S

[tim]

me again..... well, worth a try, but still getting Black Screens with the driver that worked for you.

I can't believe that NVIDIA / MICROSOFT are letting this happen.... AGAIN!!

[Steve Holden]

Tim,

I know this is kinda strange ... but the only other recommendation is to swap out the video cable between your computer and the monitor.

Have you setup remote desktop? I was able to use that to get back into the computer and do a graceful shutdown instead of a hard reboot.

If anything new shows up I'll let you know.

Steve

On Oct 24, 2009, at 1:29 AM, typepad@sixapart.com wrote:

[Steve Holden]

I just had a problem after loading up some video from the flip and trying to watch a preview in the Flip application. Screen went blank and then the system rebooted. So all is not completely well with v190.62.

[Angel]

Hi;

little bit late in the party :)

well i just recently update win 7, and i also update driver on gt220 from 7.15 to 8.15. and now i experienced first glitch screen then black death screen.

i reboot my pc, this time it happens during welcome screen.

i again reboot my pc in safe mode and went to device manager and roll back the diplay driver.

it works fine but when i try to go in nvidia control panel. i get this message:

The NVIDIA Dispay Panel extension cannot be created.
Possible reason include:
Version mismatch. Reinstalling display drivers may solve this problem.

i have not yet try 8.16 & 9.1.

any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

[Steve Holden]

I think you need some sort of free install again of the latest drivers. I did to a "redo" last weekend and did a fresh install of the 64-bit version of Win7. That seems more stable. There are beta drivers out for NVIDIA but I haven't tried those as the 64-bit change seems to have helped.

[angel]

i found this driver. 64-bit 186.34. and it is working awesome.

i don't have any problem.

[Steve Holden]

Angel ... that is good to know ... I have been trying out for the last couple of days the new beta 195.55 (64-bit) with no problems. I had DVD crashes over the weekend with the non-beta 191.07 (64-bit).

[Matt Passell]

Ack! I'm having very similar problems. Unfortunately, when I Googled for "gt220 screen blank", I got several matches (including this one). If anyone has come up with a brilliant, functional solution to this since Nov. 18, please let me/us know. I guess I'll give the 195.55 version a try soon.

Thanks,
Matt

[Steve Holden]

Matt the latest drivers (as of today - Dec 21, 2009) are 195.62. I have those installed and I haven't had an issue like I've had in the past since installing this version. I suggest trying the latest versions.

[Matt Passell]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, neither that version of the drivers nor any other I could get my hands on seemed to fix the problem. Fortunately, on a whim, I tried connecting the monitor via the D-SUB/VGA port instead of DVI and that fixed it! I'm puzzled, but happy. :)

--Matt

[Matt Passell]

By the way, I've got an ASUS ENGT220 running under Window 7 64-bit, but it looks like people have been having this problem with the GT220 generally.

--Matt

[Steve Holden]

Matt -- Thanks for the update. The cable thing is weird because I had the opposite experience. When I went to DVI the problem happened less frequently.

[Matt Passell]

Wow, truly funky... Makes you wonder how these graphics card/driver combinations got WHQL certification. It must not be very meaningful. Sigh...

[Matt Passell]

Sorry to be blanketing your post with comments, but I really want keep others from wasting as much time on this problem as I have. (Grr!)

By the way, I found the forum post that gave me the idea of switching from DVI to D-SUB. I'll leave a comment there as well: http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=151966