Laptop only uses one of two installed graphics drivers

[GDThai]

My laptop has two video/graphics cards, Intel HD Graphics and Nvidea Geforce 940MX. The lastest drivers have installed both from HP and from Nvidea. The Intel driver works OK but the Nvidea driver reports, in Device Manager, Events,  Device PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_134D&SUBSYS_8216103C&REV_A2\4&1f540af0&0&00E0 requires further installation.  When I right click the desktop and select "Nvidea Graphic Settings" I get the message "You are not connected to a Nvidea Card" (or similar).  I have tried disabling the Intel driver in the hope it will load the Nvidea driver on rebooting only to find it uses a basic VGA style of graphics. I would like to use or at least see what the screen looks like with the Nvidea graphics. Many thanks for reading this.

[Huffer]

You do not need any driver other than the HP driver. If you tried to install a driver directly from nVidia you likely broke the switchable graphics feature. Did you install a driver from the nVidia website? 

[GDThai]

Hi Huffer, Thanks for looking at this. I used the original installed driver. I brought the laptop new in Bangkok. I had a feeling something was lacking so I then updated from the HP drivers site, same problem, I then updated from Nvidea and reverted back to the HP lastest drivers. I've never seen or used the switchable feature.

[GDThai]

The laptop is listed by HP as having the Nvidea graphics and they offer the driver for it so I thought it would be OK, I've broken something haven't I ? 😞 

[Huffer]

Not physically broken, just interfered with the function. It is switchable graphics. It has both an Intel and nVidia video chip in the laptop and you have to set the nVidia to take over when the laptop needs graphics power like Google Earth or games. In the program list do you have an nVidia Control Panel or in the lower right toolbar? If so open it and see what it shows. 

[GDThai]

A funny thing happened, I restarted my laptop and Windows gave me an update. I still have both the Intel HD graphics 620 and the Nvidia drivers loaded. Under Device manager, Events the Intel driver reports Device PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_5916&SUBSYS_8216103C&REV_02\3&11583659&0&10 requires further installation. And the Nvidea reports Device PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_134D&SUBSYS_8216103C&REV_A2\4&1f540af0&0&00E0 requires further installation.but I now have both, Intel Graphics Settings and NVIDIA Control Panel when I click on Nvidia Control Panel I get Nvidia Control Panel v 382.05  Geforce 940MX.

I  can't load a sceen shot of it now but it seems to be working.

[GDThai]

A funny thing happened, I restarted my laptop and Windows gave me an update. I still have both the Intel HD graphics 620 and the Nvidia drivers loaded. Under Device manager, Events the Intel driver reports Device PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_5916&SUBSYS_8216103C&REV_02\3&11583659&0&10 requires further installation. And the Nvidea reports Device PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_134D&SUBSYS_8216103C&REV_A2\4&1f540af0&0&00E0 requires further installation.but I now have both, Intel Graphics Settings and NVIDIA Control Panel when I click on Nvidia Control Panel I get Nvidia Control Panel v 382.05  Geforce 940MX.

I  can't load a sceen shot of it now but it seems to be working.

[GDThai]

When I say it seems to be working now I mean the right click menu. How can I confirm that the switching is working?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

How can I see which graphics card is being used?

1. Click Start and then Control Panel. Select Classic View from the left side of the window.
2. Double-click NVIDIA Control Panel.
3. Click View and next Display GPU Activity Icon in Notification Area.
4. Click the new icon in the notification area.

From the nVidia Control Panel you can drop a "GPU Activity Icon" to the taskbar in the lower right corner of the screen. It lights up in color when the nVidia graphics is being used. 

This will also help:

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht078706

I use the nVidia for Google Earth...set that app to run on the high powered graphics then launch it and see if the little notifier icon turns neon colors. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[GDThai]

Thanks Huffer for helping me. Now all is well and I am a happy bunny with a bit more knowledge than I had yesterday 🙂