Geforce 8800M GTX on XPS M1730: cannot load any driver.

Sounds likely the card is faulty.  Run the Dell diagnostics on it -- F12 at powerup.

Actually I've tried to test the card and it seems to work. Diagnostic tool showed all the colored rows.

It's a bit frustrating... I can't even have a screensaver working!

and, of course, there's no Nvdia Panel down in the tray...

thank you anyway for answering.

Hello again,

during these last 36 hours I've been digging the web to find out a solution. Nothing worked for me and I guess I only have to format and reinstall everything. I must admit that it really annoys me since I've paid 2700 euros for a ...strong... machine and now I have to waste time and lost a lot of stuffs for a silly thing (video card drivers!)

I've read that for a lot of persons, and I hope it may help you, solved this issue by loading the "inf" file directly from the device/display card control panel.
Some other had their card working again after they uninstalled and reinstalled the driver package in safe mode.

None of them worked for me.

But there's a strange thing I've noticed. All the people that solved by loading the inf file directly they didn't have to reboot their machine.
My machine instead asks for rebooting as necessary. So I guess this is an important difference.

I've also tried some forceware (with modified inf) but it didn't work as you can guess.

I feel so unlucky...

When you did your resintallation, did you use the Dell facility to restore the computer to factory defaults (ie as it came to you from Dell), if you did this and you are still having problems, it's probably the 8800 card has gone wrong (well known for breaking as I found out to my detriment)

If the card is faulty you've got abit of a problem as Dell do not have any replacement Cards available till Mid Jan 2010.

Check out this 75 page thread all about the issues with this card.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=426693

If you neeed help send me a PM

First of all: Thanks for your nice answer.

When I've reinstalled successiful the drivers I didn't use Dell backups.
As far as I can remember, that time I've uninstalled with "your uninstaller" software both nvidia and physx drivers. Then I've checked the device control panel and, as aspected, there were no more tracks of nvidia. At this point I've rebooted in safe mode and I've ran "driver sweeper" as an admin.

After rebooting a dos prompt asked me to continue or not with nvidia drivers (I had this prompt only that time) and of course I've chosen "yes". From now I'm not sure if I rebooted again but I remember that finally the display turned into low resolution (maybe 800x600). I've downloaded from Dell site last video driver for my machine ad it worked.

First time I've rebooted Another prompt asked to complete installation. I clicked yes and evertyhing worked until the blackout :(

An hour ago I've tested again both card and display with custom video diagnostic tool (found on dell dvd) and it seems not faulty.

So I guess this must be a software issue. Moreover I think I'm recalling that all the problems began after a vista update.
I've been for months without upgrading the OS and had no problem (except for all-screen videos).

And the fact that I'm asked for reboot when i load "Inf" file seems to confirm that there's something strange (permission or what?) in my configuration.

I'm going crazy but..... I'm going.... to attempt.... a reading of the link you've provided (thanks).

I'll PM you if I'll need (superthanks!!)

bye

No probs,

Personally I'd do the Dell thing that puts the system back to it's factory standard, then see if you still have issues (if you speak with Tech they'll have you do this anyway) the problem I had with my card was that if it loads the drivers for the card Windows (any version) will no longer load, as it crashes when it tries to load the drivers, if I just do a base install of Vista and use the SVGA drivers it loads for gfx as standard it works.

Thanks again...

I guess that restoring to factory standard will delete every other stuffs (and I mean: photoshop's brushes, customizations, updates... and all of those little things that will bring back in your memory during the format process)...  A thing that I would have avoided at all!

Anyway I have a backup of system with some main software installed on factory status. Maybe I would save some hours...

EDIT:
in safe mode drivers are not marked with the yellow triangle and the exclamation point. but maybe it is normal?

I come up with an update.

I can't remember exactly what I've done becouse I've tried to do these things so many things I've got mad.

Anyway...

I've uninstalled the drivers from Devices control panel (I mean without using uninstallers)
(Can't remember if I've been asked for reboot. If so, I guess I've accepted and I've cancelled automatic  installation when the system started again.)

I've ran Driver Sweeper (I'm pretty sure in Admin Mode, but I've done some attempts without this privilege....) and rebooted.

Stopped automatic installation from vista and ran again Driver Sweeper. It had some few files to clean.  And of course I've chosen to clean them.

Prompt for Rebooted, I've rebooted the machine.

I've ran Driver Sweeper once more but there was nothing else to clean.

[here I've created a restore point to recall in case of need.]

I've reached Device control panel again and once more I've uninstalled nvidia drivers, both marked in yellow with exclamation points.

At this point it was impossible to stop automatic installation
(or something strange happpened but I'm not sure... Remember that if you create a restore point as suggested this may help you in case of  fail...)

After automatic installation (or whatelse?? maybe I've stopped the process but I've got driver installed as well? I'm sure that it happened more than one time during my attempts) I've got a "standard vga" (or similar) driver properly working as shown in Device Control Panel
(Note: later this "standard vga" became automatically 8800M gtx...)

There was still an exlamation point for a 3D Device Controller (or similar). I tried to search for a driver but it didn't work. No inf files or directories were good. so i've let this 3D controller with the usual yellow triangle.

I've installed original nvidia driver (using the DELL SUPPORT CENTER tool), rebooted and... the miracle! The drivers appears to work!!

Now I've created another restore point and I'll keep my fingers crossed...

NOTE: THIS WAS THE ONLY ATTEMPT, AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, I'VE DONE OFFLINE AND WITHOUT ANTIVIRUS AND ANTIMALWARE SOFTWARE RUNNING.

I'm sorry if I can't remember exactly how I've done. But I hope this may help....

If I'll recall some other thing I'll post it!

of course it didn't last...
after 2 days the driver have gone again.

maybe it's a motherboard fail (the battery died with strange symptoms.

bah, I hope to fix its problems (never a machine gave me so much issues) and sell this computer.

I won't buy another dell. never.

Sorry to say your cards on the way out my 880ogtx all the same symptoms then fried. waiting three months for new sli cards. Dell told me 250 a day.....like you never to be bitten again. book it in now as its first come first served. My laptop cost £2608 and its as much use as a house brick, keyboard, motherboard, fan, heat sink all been replaced in last month. Motherboard broken by engineer.

If you think others are any different, see

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447626+1258838089556+28353475&threadId=1147659

Yeah Chris, but you don't have to wait, if your in warranty, I have now (well in the process of) gotten my m1730 exchanged for an Alienware Desktop, as I didn't want to end up in a situation again where I needed a bespoke piece of hardware that wasn't available. UK consumer law protects you and being really REALLY persistant in ringing Dell till you get a resolution will work, I'd spent about the same on my m1730, so it's not small change.

If you need any further help shoot me a PM.

Another strange thing: in BIOS I've changed -just to try them- led colours on mousepad and on speakers.

They come back to default setting after a while.

(I don't know if all other computers have bad issues like this. I have a HP that works without problems)

How much it costs a new motherboard? (BTW, I've paid my m1730  2700 euros! it was a big effort for me)
I hope I won't have to wait too long in Italy.
But maybe I'll sell this laptop broken - with the right discount and the obvious advice...

Dell should take note of all these issues.

Feel so disappointed and blasted.

PS: next days i'll set up a blog to witness all these unfair problems we are experiencing. Then I'll announce it to magazines and, why not, newspaper.
I'll tell you when it will be ready. of course you'll have to sign with your real name and surname and it must be a 'polite' thing. We all feel outraged and hurted but... Just let us complain without offend anyone.

Thanks for advice will post back and PM you later. Much appreciated.

This is worrying Customer Service Failure - 3month delay on part for XPS1730 in General Hardware.post vanished because I simply said a 3 month delay is too much.

Perhaps IF they did something I would shut up. NOTHING POSTED that isnt factual. Very sad to find someone removing post that show Dells customers service poor.

OK. Here I am. Again after formatting. Still with the same problem. They were so sure about it. Please restore to default-factory settings, it's the only thing to do, believe us.

GeForce 8800M GTX is still not working.

and now?

@ Chris: Thanks for your words  (I'll wait for your pm/mail... )

@ everyone that answered: thank you.

@ Dell: What a delusion. I'm really disappointed :(