Unable to install graphics drivers...

[davey_boy]

Wondering if anyone has any ideas....

I've tried to run civ 4 on a laptop which is a couple of years old, that *should* allow the game to run, although the specs are admittedly not up to recommended levels:

Intel P4 2.53 GHz, 512 MB RAM, GeForce4 440 (64M) (GeForce4 440 Go 64M).

However, when I try to run the game, it crashes giving me an error stating my display driver has stopped working and telling me to reboot. On doing this I'm given an error report to send to microsoft that redirects me to download the latest video drivers from NVIDIA. I go to this and download as requested but on running the install wizard, it exits claiming no hardware compatible with the drivers has been found.

I'm confused.

The only explanation I can come up with is the grpahics card is, somehow b*ggered. Any other ideas?

 

[robaughjr]

Try reinstalling drivers, sounds like they got corrupted somehow.

 

[davey_boy]

Thanks for your response.

When I try re-installing drivers I download from the internet the setup program comes up with the following error message:

NVIDA setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware. Setup will now exit.

I've tried both the latest version and an earlier version. I've tried removing drivers prior to downloading new drivers all with no luck.

 

[Woody]

Are you sure you are downloading the right set of drivers? The geforce GO for laptaps uses a different driver than the regular geforce for desktops.

 

[patweb]

The NVIDIA drivers sent to Microsoft Windows Update are more than 1 year old. Suprise!

Download the drivers from NVIDIA.COM.

Also, you might want to UNINSTALL the old drivers first. Then reboot and install the new drivers.

Good luck!

 

[davey_boy]

Are you sure you are downloading the right set of drivers? The geforce GO for laptaps uses a different driver than the regular geforce for desktops.

This sounds promising, but the NVIDIA website doesn't seem to have an option for laptop downloads, at least I can't find one. I'm looking around and I'll let you know if I find anything but if anyone knows exactly where I can find these downloads I'd be eternally greatful...

 

[davey_boy]

Ok thanks very much to those people who helped out. It looks like everything is working now - will have to play a game to check it doesn't crash though....

What I did:
Downloaded a driver from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/
Tried to install that - got the same 'could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware.' error so I then removed my current drivers and rebooted. Then tried to manually force the new driver to be installed, got a "warning windows cannot find any hardware that is compatible with the driver you have selected, if you continue your computer may experience reduced performance or stop working altogether. Are you sure you wish to continue?". Closed my eyes, crossed my fingers and clicked yes. Computer didn't die. Opened up civ 4. It loaded which is further than ever before, the terrain was visible but the menus showing the details etc were not. Downloaded patch 1.52 and this seems to have cleared everything up. Hopefully. Fingers crossed.