Solved Can't update graphics driver

This is on Windows 10 by the way. So I continue to get a black screen when playing some videos - which is really annoying and usually have to do control alt delete and sign out to use the computer again.

As it's becoming so regular I looked on the HP page to see if there's a newer graphics driver than the one installed, and there is. So I downloaded it and installed it but it didn't install. (Instructions were to double click on the file). The old one is still there. So I tried right clicking on it in device manager to install the driver that way, but Windows couldn't see it and just kept saying - the best driver is installed. Well it isn't! It's not working.

So I assume Windows just automatically rejects the driver install and replaces the one it thinks I should have each time. I've come across this before sometimes in the past, but can't remember how I solved it (to get the driver installed).

Windows 10 Pro 21H2 19044.2251

In the left lower corner search type: msinfo32 > save as NFO (don't save as txt) > post a share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive.

Open the HP website Laptop Computers, Desktops, Printers, Ink & Toner > support > software and drivers > enter the serial number, SKU, or model > select the operating system > view drivers > post a URL or link into this thread

Download and install: HP support assistant version 9.20.22.0

Run the HP support assistant > report updated drivers and BIOS

Have you tried Intel Driver and Support Assist. I always update my graphics using Intel's tool.

glasskuter said:

Have you tried Intel Driver and Support Assist. I always update my graphics using Intel's tool.

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This is exactly why I'm against removing vendor specific apps whose job is to find drivers, BIOS and software updates for said machine. And why I keep Lenovo Vantage. I did a clean install on my Lenovo laptop a few months ago, and all I needed to do was install Lenovo Vantage, and it found all my drivers, apps, and BIOS update. Easy. Simple.

@Hazel123, I don't have an answer for you other than checking HP for the specific model of laptop and finding your drivers.

Hazel123 said:

So I assume Windows just automatically rejects the driver install and replaces the one it thinks I should have each time.

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No, that would be incorrect. I also know this via my experience explained above. Windows will not overwrite a driver here, and especially since these are in most cases vendor specific drivers for a particular laptop.

I'm sure some will argue, but that's not how it works. HP will (should) also confirm this.

I would download the Graphics driver then use DDU to cleanly remove the installed version & then install the newer driver.

It’s the driver for the specific laptop on the HP page which is an Intel driver. The one currently installed is also an Intel driver but an earlier one (2020 instead of 2021).

I did have HP support assistant installed at one point and yes that is a way of updating drivers, but had issues with the program so uninstalled it again. I could reinstall it temporarily but I have had driver updates fail with that before too.

I vaguely remember there was a way to turn off Windows automatically replacing a driver while you installed a new one - had to do it once before on a machine that needed a manufacturer specific version of nvidia driver after a clean install. Just can’t remember how I did it lol.

I’ll check out that DDU link and might try HP support assistant again. If the latest version is ok.

Hazel123 said:

I vaguely remember there was a way to turn off Windows automatically replacing a driver while you installed a new one

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Download DDU and the newer driver... first.
Then disconnect the internet.
Run DDU in safe mode.
Reboot back to normal mode, and install the newer driver.

Then you can reconnect the internet.

It looks like you have an old Intel graphics card with Windows 7 only drivers. Intel has locked most Windows 7 drivers and cannot normally be installed in Windows 8 or higher. Download a utility such as Aida64 or Speccy to identify which graphics card you have exactly. For some old models, such as my Intel Mobile 4 family (aka GMA 4500) you can install patched Windows 7 drivers in Windows 10 or 11. There are patched drivers for Intel 945G as well. Run the utility and let us know.

spapakons said:

It looks like you have an old Intel graphics card with Windows 7 only drivers. Intel has locked most Windows 7 drivers and cannot normally be installed in Windows 8 or higher. Download a utility such as Aida64 or Speccy to identify which graphics card you have exactly. For some old models, such as my Intel Mobile 4 family (aka GMA 4500) you can install patched Windows 7 drivers in Windows 10 or 11. There are patched drivers for Intel 945G as well. Run the utility and let us know.

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I looked up her laptop and the specs say that it came with Windows 10 Home.

Download latest official drivers from manufacturer.

spapakons said:

Download latest official drivers from manufacturer.

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Yes laptop is only about 2 years old and came with Windows 10. I downloaded the latest manufacturer driver (Intel) from HP site for this model. That’s the one that doesn’t install. Haven’t had chance to do it last few days (and need to back up first!). Will be doing it asap though.

It’s basically an “upgrade “ equivalent from my older HP Pavilion DM4 that fell apart. But the DM4 was way better lol! This one is noisy and glitchy! And no faster. Despite having a much more modern core i5 (DM4 was running windows 10 too). I miss that machine!

HP site may not have latest drivers. Download directly from www.intel.com

spapakons said:

Download latest official drivers from manufacturer.

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If they have them available, that should be done first. If the OEM no longer supports your graphics card, find your Intel processor on the Intel website to find the appropriate graphics driver for it, download the zip file and extract it. Run Device Manager to find and update your graphics driver.

For many 3rd generation Intel CPUs the onboard graphics card is Intel HD 4000 or similar. Most manufacturers have an old driver from 2015, say, while Intel's last drivers are from 2020 or 2021. So unless the manufacturer has customized the hardware and needs only modified graphics drivers, go directly at Intel's support site for the latest official drivers.

The OEM don't heavily modify a graphics driver and if they do make customisations they're minimal in nature. The 2021 Intel HD Family Graphics driver I got from Intel isn't all that different from the one supplied by Microsoft for its Surface devices.

I prefer the official Intel graphics drivers over an older OEM version.

Ok so I tried HP Support assistant first. That only installed a bluetooth driver. Restarted, tried it again and it installed a bios update. Restarted again - no more updates found. So I decide to try installing the driver again after the bios update and it seems to have worked. It now has the correct/latest driver number from HP (although strangely the date is different and says 2020 instead of 2021) but the driver number is the same. So see if that sorts it.

You need to update the driver because Memory Integrity will block an outdated driver.

Manufacturer sites do not always have the latest drivers. The latest one with HP is dated 2019. If you use integrated graphics, For latest driver you can Intel Driver and Support Assistant on Intel site. According to specs for your model you have

i5-1035G1 Processor - Verify that is indeed correct​

you can find appropriate drivers dated 2022 here
During install there is a box to check to start with a clean installation. This completely removes all remnants of the old driver and installs updated driver clean.