Troubleshooting a Disappearing GPU on a Used Laptop: Tips and Insights

As someone immersed in the world of IT, I find myself in a perplexing situation. I recently acquired a used laptop equipped with an Nvidia 3060 notebook GPU, which performed perfectly for the first two weeks. However, just a few days ago, the GPU seemingly vanished from functionality, leaving me scratching my head.

I’ve dedicated considerable time to troubleshoot this issue, employing a variety of approaches. My attempts have included reinstalling drivers and performing BIOS updates, as well as reverting both BIOS and Windows updates to previous versions. I’ve also tried uninstalling the drivers entirely and rolling back to older versions, even going so far as to reinstall Windows itself and switch to an earlier iteration.

In the Device Manager, the graphics card appears without any issues—it’s recognized there, yet, despite this recognition, it refuses to cooperate with any software applications. This has left me wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar challenge and could offer insights or solutions.

If you’ve experienced a loss of GPU functionality on a used laptop or have suggestions for further troubleshooting steps, your expertise would be greatly appreciated. Let’s navigate this conundrum together!