'NVIDIA App' not usable offline?

[Koozwad]

For the first time I thought I'd give the 'NVIDIA App' a try, just to see what it's about. Used DDU to completely uninstall old drivers and proceeded to install the latest drivers(576.88 I believe) after a restart, using the latest version of NVCleanstall(1.19 or something from memory). Checked and selected prerequisites for all features(did also notice a bug in NVCleanstall where one was referring to 'requiring' GeForce Experience, even though it wasn't listed anywhere). After installing drivers and restarting, I opened 'NVIDIA App' and was greeted with the following:
'There was a problem with NVIDIA App
Relaunch your app.
If that doesn't work, then try reinstalling NVIDIA App and reboot your PC.'

I assume this is because I block everything from accessing the internet by default, unless I allow it(which, IMHO everyone should be doing - taking back control).

Is it really the case that it's simply unusable offline? I can't think of any other reason that it's not working. Can anyone confirm(after a clean install and keeping it blocked from phoning home)?

 

[W1zzard]

I think it has to download some stuff on first launch to become functional, at which time it will send telemetry, no doubt.

 

[Koozwad]

I think it has to download some stuff on first launch to become functional, at which time it will send telemetry, no doubt.

Ah that would be a shame. Perhaps someone can or has tested it. However it's looking grim. Think I'll stick to the ol' classic NCP/Inspector..!

 

[Space Lynx]

Ah that would be a shame. Perhaps someone can or has tested it. However it's looking grim. Think I'll stick to the ol' classic NCP/Inspector..!

there is no need to test it, you just need to assume that all of the companies are harvesting your soul at this point.

 

[cinemaware]

Had the same problem, resulting discussion: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/nvidia-app.328773/post-5547205

The bottom line is that while the App had some basic functionality after clean install and with all the outgoing connections blocked by simplewall, I couldn't change the individual game profiles no matter what. And that's the main point of this app for me, to use Overrides (otherwise might as well stick with NV Control Panel).

I eventually opened the door and let it scan my drives and build the profiles, which enabled me to tweak games. After that I sandboxed it again, and it still seemed to work, but now I checked it again and couldn't do anything regarding individual games.

I'd much prefer having this user-friendly native app but there’s no way I'm letting NV live in my computer, so I'm now investigating just using the DLSS Swapper or some other option regarding DLSS overrides.

 

[W1zzard]

investigating

The App must store the profiles info somewhere, so if the community figures out how to extract them, and copy them in through an alternative approach, we could "initialize" it without it ever talking to NV

 

[Waldorf]

@Koozwad
like W1zzard said, you need to be online at least once when the app starts (update/login etc).

@cinemaware
you are 99% of the time providing more info to companies by plain ownership of a mobile phone/device, Nv looking at your rig probably still less problematic than MS.
control panel will be dropped, so at some point, you will be forced to use the app (and connect at least once for update/game profiles), or be greatly limited when it comes to settings (short of using profile inspector, but that wont do much for settings related to gpu/screen etc).

 

[cinemaware]

The App must store the profiles info somewhere, so if the community figures out how to extract them, and copy them in through an alternative approach, we could "initialize" it without it ever talking to NV

That sure would be nice, though I suspect it could be tricky to maintain seeing as these DLSS related overrides keep being updated. So maybe it's just easier to use some other existing solution? Unless somebody really wants that App and its assorted other functions (eg it's nice to have an FPs/temp/etc counter without having to run an additional program like Afterburner).

So, for example, one Override that interest me at the moment is that Oblivion Remaster currently allows only a simple 2x Frame Gen option in-game, but if you use Nvidia's App Override, you can choose 3x or 4x. Is it possible to make this change using some other programs?

@cinemaware
you are 99% of the time providing more info to companies by plain ownership of a mobile phone/device, Nv looking at your rig probably still less problematic than MS.

I'm not actually, since I’m one of these people who run custom android roms, degoogle and sandbox everything, including Windows, etc.

control panel will be dropped, so at some point, you will be forced to use the app (and connect at least once for update/game profiles), or be greatly limited when it comes to settings (short of using profile inspector, but that wont do much for settings related to gpu/screen etc).

If the Control Panel will really be dropped then I’m pretty sure the community will provide some solution to that, at the moment there is no real need yet.

 

[Waldorf]

@cinemaware
you have a network connection to a cell tower, and providers know wheere and how/what, or they couldnt keep score of your usage.

and i doubt you took every device apart, and cross checked schematics for discrepancies, to see if there are chips that shouldn't.

e.g. i can drive an oldtimer without any electronics, im still visible to everyone around me (and can follow my movements), get my license plate scanned by cams/ID checked by pplice...

you can only do a certain amount, definitely not to the level where you are a "black hole" moving thru space that no one sees, as i dont think Bin Laden had location tracking enabled when they got him.

 

[cinemaware]

you can only do a certain amount, definitely not to the level where you are a "black hole" moving thru space that no one sees, as i dont think Bin Laden had location tracking enabled when they got him.

Sorry, but this is just moving the goalposts in the direction of the extreme. Nowhere did I say I want to reach this "black hole" level that you project here, so please, let's not derail this topic with a pointless argument about privacy. If you're ok with telemetry then so be it, but when others try to at least minimize it, perhaps let them be too?

 

[Waldorf]

@cinemaware
sure, but then stop assuming i said "dont".
reality is, if you are connected there is a "trail", and past a certain point, some ppl are better off to get rid of their "devices" if they really are soo concerned about it.

 

[chrcoluk]

Had the same problem, resulting discussion: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/nvidia-app.328773/post-5547205

The bottom line is that while the App had some basic functionality after clean install and with all the outgoing connections blocked by simplewall, I couldn't change the individual game profiles no matter what. And that's the main point of this app for me, to use Overrides (otherwise might as well stick with NV Control Panel).

I eventually opened the door and let it scan my drives and build the profiles, which enabled me to tweak games. After that I sandboxed it again, and it still seemed to work, but now I checked it again and couldn't do anything regarding individual games.

I'd much prefer having this user-friendly native app but there’s no way I'm letting NV live in my computer, so I'm now investigating just using the DLSS Swapper or some other option regarding DLSS overrides.

Yeah when I learnt about DLSS swapper, any needs for the nvidia app vanished. As that was my only reason for considering installing it.
I am ok with optional debugging telemetry alongside transparency, but this is more then that.

 

[Event Horizon]

Nvidia Inspector, DLSS Swapper, DLSSTweaks, Optiscaler. With these there is zero reason to run the Nvidia App.

 

[Waldorf]

@Event Horizon
if you can make shadowplay work without the app, let me know...

 

[Event Horizon]

@Event Horizon
if you can make shadowplay work without the app, let me know...

Is there a feature within Shadowplay you need that isn't available elsewhere? There are good alternatives for recording and streaming.

 

[Waldorf]

@Event Horizon
yes, shadowing in background.
wasnt even using shadowplay before, only after the one i was using got too old for my use, and decided to try it.
its so fa the only one that works wirh all my games (and their stupid installer apps), their overlays/anti cheat stuff.

others are either not able to "buffer" (for recording past gameplay without constantly recording), break stuff mentioned above, or waste space/resources.

 

[JIWIL]

The bottom line is that while the App had some basic functionality after clean install and with all the outgoing connections blocked by simplewall, I couldn't change the individual game profiles no matter what. And that's the main point of this app for me, to use Overrides (otherwise might as well stick with NV Control Panel).

Yep, I couldn't get any individual game functionality out of it after firewalling. The only thing I continue to use it for is the Toggle Indicator when using RTX Super Resolution.

 

[Ruru]

Nvidia Inspector, DLSS Swapper, DLSSTweaks, Optiscaler. With these there is zero reason to run the Nvidia App.

I don't use any of those yet I don't use the Nvidia App, just like I didn't use GeForce Experience previously. Just the drivers and I'm good to go.

 

[eidairaman1]

Ah that would be a shame. Perhaps someone can or has tested it. However it's looking grim. Think I'll stick to the ol' classic NCP/Inspector..!

Its a snooper program

 

[cinemaware]

Nvidia Inspector, DLSS Swapper, DLSSTweaks, Optiscaler. With these there is zero reason to run the Nvidia App.

Ok, could you tell me how to achieve the following using one of these programs?

So, for example, one Override that interest me at the moment is that Oblivion Remaster currently allows only a simple 2x Frame Gen option in-game, but if you use Nvidia's App Override, you can choose 3x or 4x. Is it possible to make this change using some other programs?

I tried DLSS Swapper with Oblivion RM and updated the files to the latest it has, but when I start the game I still only have the old Frame Gen option, can't choose 3x or 4x.

 

[Grimling]

it does not surprise me at all, that the nvidia app will require an active online connection to work. I personally do not use it, because i do not like the idea that a corporation like nvidia is scanning my system and sends all its findings to nivida.

 

[Event Horizon]

Ok, could you tell me how to achieve the following using one of these programs?

I tried DLSS Swapper with Oblivion RM and updated the files to the latest it has, but when I start the game I still only have the old Frame Gen option, can't choose 3x or 4x.

I don't have a mfg supporting card (3060 Ti), but I would try Nvidia Inspector along with upgrading the framegen dll. The game might still report the old framegen, so you might need to measure the framerate to confirm it's working.

yes, shadowing in background.
wasnt even using shadowplay before, only after the one i was using got too old for my use, and decided to try it.
its so fa the only one that works wirh all my games (and their stupid installer apps), their overlays/anti cheat stuff.

others are either not able to "buffer" (for recording past gameplay without constantly recording), break stuff mentioned above, or waste space/resources.

From what I know OBS and Steam can shadow record. I don't record games that way so I can't really comment on their quality.