My Stupidity, But Damn You nVidia!

[Prime2515102]

So, my computer started randomly shutting down yesterday, then it would start right back up and repeat. After this happened five or six times it wouldn't start at all. I assumed something died (namely, my seven year-old PSU) so I proceeded to connect my laptop to my monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. The odd part of this though, is that it would only do it while I had Waterfox Classic running.

After about an hour I plugged the 24-pin ATX connector into my PSU tester and the PSU fired right up. This scared me because I was thinking dead CPU which would be a lot more expensive to replace. I plugged it back into the motherboard and the computer started right up. hmmm...

I stopped and thought about what changes I had made recently and there were only two: Waterfox, which was updated to v2020.1, and the GPU driver. I down-clocked my CPU, GPU, and downgraded Waterfox, which was a huge pain because I couldn't find the 2019.12 version anywhere and I never saved an installer so I had to use the portable version.

I figured I better update the GPU driver while I was at it, even though I had done so in early January, so I went into my driver archive to see what version I had installed.

It was the latest version, but it was the laptop driver.

nVidia has set the default selection on the driver search page to the laptop version for some idiotic reason and my dumb ass didn't bother to read that, or the file name, or the file name again when I used nvcleaninstall to install it.

I did a clean install of the desktop version and all is well again. I'm baffled as to how this could make the computer not start again like it did.

Just a heads up when downloading from nVidia's driver search page - be sure to change it to the desktop version if that's what you're after.

 

[StefanM]

It might have been easier to roll back via system restore points.

 

[Prime2515102]

True, but then I wouldn't have learned anything.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

classic example of RTFM before clicking

 

[newtekie1]

nVidia has set the default selection on the driver search page to the laptop version for some idiotic reason and my dumb ass didn't bother to read that, or the file name, or the file name again when I used nvcleaninstall to install it.

A little known fact: The nvidia drivers for their notebooks and desktops have been identical down to the bit for a long while now. So it doesn't matter which one you download, they are exactly the same driver.

 

[londiste]

A little know fact: The nvidia drivers for their notebooks and desktops has been identical down to the bit. So it doesn't matter which one you download, they are exactly the same driver.

Drivers themselves? Installer and drivers these are claimed to contain are different:

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

www.geforce.co.uk

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

www.geforce.co.uk

I would be more curious about how notebook drivers got installed on the desktop GPU. Automatically, I assume, but did the ID check fail or are notebook and desktop GPUs/cards with the same ID?

 

[Sashleycat]

I know that NVIDIA's driver selection requires me to jump through some hoops to get the correct one. The normal one is the DCH and doesn't even have the Control Panel included, and that errors when I try to get it from the Microsoft Store. So IDK.

 

[Prime2515102]

A little know fact: The nvidia drivers for their notebooks and desktops have been identical down to the bit for a long while now. So it doesn't matter which one you download, they are exactly the same driver.

Well then that's very bizarre indeed. Perhaps it had nothing to do with the download but rather a corrupted file or something. Re-installing the driver fixed it though, everything is exactly as it was with that exception.

That does make sense though because I was wondering why it would allow a laptop driver install. On the other hand, why would they bother labeling one "laptop" and one not if the package contains the drivers for both?

 

[newtekie1]

Drivers themselves? Installer and drivers these are claimed to contain are different:

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

www.geforce.co.uk

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

Geforce Driver Results | NVIDIA

www.geforce.co.uk

I would be more curious about how notebook drivers got installed on the desktop GPU. Automatically, I assume, but did the ID check fail or are notebook and desktop GPUs/cards with the same ID?

Those two are bit for bit identical. The only difference is the file name. Download them and look for yourself. They even extract to the same exact location with all the exact same files. The installer then uses huge reference text file to determine what actual driver files get installed for which card based on device ID. So it doesn't matter what driver package you download and run, they are both the same, and will install the correct drivers for your card.

That does make sense though because I was wondering why it would allow a laptop driver install. On the other hand, why would they bother labeling one "laptop" and one not if the package contains the drivers for both?

They just never bothered to change it from back when they were actually different. And they may be keeping it that way just so they have the option to make them different again the future without pissing people off.