Troubleshooting a Frustrating GPU Issue: Insights from an IT Professional

As an IT professional, tackling technical challenges is part of the job description. However, I find myself stumped by a recent issue that has arisen after purchasing a used laptop from my previous employer. This device, which features an Nvidia 3060 GPU, performed flawlessly for two weeks before unexpectedly ceasing to function.

In an attempt to resolve this perplexing situation, I’ve undertaken several troubleshooting measures. Initially, I reinstalled the graphics drivers and ensured all BIOS updates were current. When these steps failed to yield results, I even reverted to older driver and BIOS versions, as well as rolled back updates to both Windows and the BIOS. At one point, I even decided to reinstall Windows entirely, but to no avail, as reverting to a previous version of the operating system wasn’t successful either.

Interestingly, the GPU still appears in the Device Manager, indicating that the system recognizes it at a hardware level. However, it seems other programs cannot detect the card, leaving me baffled about the next steps.

If anyone has encountered a similar issue or has insights on how to navigate this predicament, your expertise would be greatly appreciated! It’s moments like these that remind us, even as IT professionals, some technical problems can leave us scratching our heads. Sharing knowledge in the tech community can make all the difference.