Troubleshooting a Missing Nvidia GPU: A Personal Experience

Recently, I encountered a perplexing issue with my Asus ROG Strix GL553VW laptop that I feel may resonate with many tech enthusiasts. My laptop houses two GPUs: the reliable Intel HD Graphics 530 and the more powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M. Unfortunately, I accidentally removed the Nvidia GPU from the device manager, and since then, it has failed to reappear, regardless of the troubleshooting efforts I’ve made.

What I’ve Attempted

In an attempt to resolve the problem, I’ve explored several solutions:

1. Manual Driver Installation: I attempted to unzip the Nvidia drivers and install them manually, hoping to bypass any detection issues. However, this approach did not yield positive results.

2. Using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU): I ran DDU in safe mode with the intent of completely removing any remnants of the Nvidia driver before reinstalling it. Despite my efforts, the installer did not recognize the GPU during the process.

3. Windows 10 Reset: To eliminate the possibility of a software conflict, I even resorted to resetting Windows 10. Unfortunately, this did not fix the issue either.

4. BIOS Battery Reinsertion: I took the additional step of reinserting the BIOS battery. This was another attempt to refresh the system, but it still did not bring my GPU back to life.

Seeking Guidance

In light of these ongoing challenges, I found myself feeling quite frustrated as my laptop’s performance has significantly diminished without the Nvidia card. It’s hard to accept that this device, which once served me so well, has become nearly unusable.

Conclusion and Next Steps

After exhaustively exploring potential software fixes, I reached a sobering conclusion: the problem likely stems from a hardware failure, possibly due to poor soldering during the manufacturing process. As my laptop is a second-hand model that has long surpassed its manufacturer’s warranty, I’ve decided that the best course of action is to seek professional repair services.

I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who offered assistance throughout this ordeal. Your insights were valuable, even if the issue turned out to be beyond software solutions. For others facing similar dilemmas, sometimes it’s best to consider the hardware components after exhausting all software troubleshooting options.

If anyone has experienced a similar situation or has further advice, I would love to hear from you in the comments!