How do I restore my nvidia graphics card settings?

[paulechapman]

HP G6000 laptop/ Windows Vista 32 bit

Hello.

I think I did a stupid thing and set my graphics setting to dual monitors in control panel. Now when I log on the monitor on my laptop goes blank just after staring up (sometimes  the desktop just shows just before blanking) so I can't change it back. I am able to run the laptop using the native graphics display but would like to re-set the nvidia card. I think I would be able to see the desktop etc if I had a second monitor but I don't have one that has the correct cable. Is there an easy way around this without using a second monitor?

[DavidPK]

Hi,

Try running Windows System Restore in Safe Mode - this way you should get to a Desktop as only a generic video driver will be loaded. 

Shut down the notebook.  Tap away at f8 as you start the notebook to enter Windows Recovery Console.  Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode and hit enter.  When this has loaded, from the Start Menu, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools and launch System Restore.  Pick a restore point at least 24 hours before the setting change was made and then proceed with the restore process.  When complete, Windows will reboot as normal.

Regards,

DP-K

[banhien]

Hi,

Under Display settings, give laptop screen as primary screen. You can use NVIDIA Control Panel to setup or use Vista to setup. You need to connet to the external monitor to do this work IF you gave external monitor as primary screen.

Regards. 

[paulechapman]

Thanks for this BUT I can't use the nvidia control panel as I have to disable nvidia to get any display at all. Also when I use Vista display settings it only shows one monitor. Do you think there should be two? If so maybe I have a more serious hardware problem!

[banhien]

Hi,

As mentioned above, you need to connect to the external monitor to get 2 monitors in this case. You should see TWO monitors/screens (#1 & #2).

Regards.

[iquemans]

I can't use the nvidia control panel as I have to disable nvidia to get any display at all.

[banhien]

Hi,

Can you see this when reight click the desktop ?

You should also can see it under Control Panel too. I don't know why you have to disable it to be able to get display. You can download driver and reinstall it.

Regards.

[paulechapman]

Nope - I used to see the Nvidia control panel as a separate item in Windows Control Panel but as I say I have not been able to see it since I disabled nvidia.

I have also tried updating the drivers and also went as far as uninstall and restall nvidia but all to no avail! Unfortunately my windows restore points do not go back to before the problem so I can't do a system restore either!

I am thinking that a complete factory restore may be the only way to overcome this but that would be my final option if all else fails.

[paulechapman · Accepted solution]

Solved this by a stroke of luck.

I re-enabled the nvidia graphics (actually did a recovery manager restore of hardware drivers) and when windows re-loaded I got the usual black screen. However I noticed the F4 key had a screen symbol and when this was activated (fn button + f4) the display came back - I was then able to get into Nvidia Control Panel and re-set the monitors to laptop only.

It's a case of "RTFM" - the HP user guides call the f4 the "switch screen" hotkey.

Absolutely obvious!! The solution was there all the time just waiting to be read!!!

Now all I've got to do is try to get the sound working...but that's another discussion topic, I think.