GPU not being recognized – NVIDIA Control Panel won’t open

System Information

• Lapmargin: 0;">GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GB)

• Integrated GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home 25H2 (OS Build 26200.6899)

Issue Summary

• The dedicated NVIDIA GPU (GTX 1650) is not being recognized or utilized by the system.

• In Task Manager → Performance, only Intel UHD Graphics 630 (GPU 0) is visible.

• In Device Manager → Display adapters, the GTX 1650 consistently shows a yellow warning triangle ⚠️ with error Code 43: “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems.”

• NVIDIA Control Panel fails to open or is missing entirely.

• Games and GPU-accelerated apps only use the integrated Intel GPU.

• GeForce Experience detects the GPU but repeatedly offers to reinstall drivers, suggesting a driver or hardware initialization failure.

Troubleshooting Steps Already Attempted

1. Driver Cleanup and Reinstallation

• Booted into Safe Mode.

• Used Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) (latest version) to completely remove all NVIDIA-related drivers and registry entries.

• After cleanup, installed drivers in this exact order:

  1. Intel Chipset Driver (Dell official package for

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     ).

  2. Intel UHD Graphics 630 Driver (Dell official package).

  3. Dell-certified NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Driver (v496.49 A09) from Dell Support.

• Installation reported Success in Dell logs (Exit Code 0), but after reboot, Device Manager still shows Code 43.

2. Tried Alternative Driver Sources

• Installed the latest NVIDIA Game Ready Drivers via:

  • NVIDIA official site (using manual model/OS selection).

  • GeForce Experience (auto-detection).

• Installations complete successfully, but the GPU remains in Code 43 state.

• GeForce Experience always re-prompts installation after reboot, indicating the driver didn’t actually load.

3. System-Level Fixes

• Updated BIOS, Chipset, and Intel Graphics from Dell’s official support page.

• Verified Switchable Graphics is Enabled in BIOS.

• Power-cycled laptop (disconnect AC, hold power 30 sec).

• Confirmed all Windows Updates installed.

Current Behavior

• GPU still not functional; Intel UHD 630 handles all rendering.

• Device Manager:

  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 → Error Code 43.

  • Driver version from Dell package appears installed (31.0.14.9649 / 496.49).

• Task Manager: only Intel GPU activity visible (see screenshot).

• NVIDIA Control Panel: does not open.

• No “3D” GPU load appears anywhere.

Any help would be appreciated.