Nvida driver help?

So I am doing my first build on the (very) cheap. Just to get the basics of what's involved with building a rig.

Everything has come together pretty alright, from what I can tell. But I am having hassle getting the driver for the GPU to work right. Every time I install a nvida driver that is meant to be for the GPU, and I reboot, I get as far as the windows loading screen then my screen goes black. It is still running, to my knowledge, just with the screen been black. I have tried to install the drivers that came with the GPU on the CD. I have also installed (the latest and advised by the nvida site) 327.23 driver and and an older 186.18 driver. I have also tried updating and removing updates from vista. Both have not fixed my problem.

I am assuming it might have something to do with the bios or a compatibility issue. Although the motherboard and GPU are supposedly compatible.

Please any help would be much appreciative.

My specs are:

CPU: AMD Phenom(tm) 9500 Quad-Core Processor 2.2 Ghz
RAM: 2.6 GB
OS: Microsoft Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1 (build 6001), 32-bit
Motherboard: Gforce 8100/nforce 720a
DirectX 9.0c

The GPU in question is a Inno 3D Gforce 9500 GT 1 gb.

Btw, while running the card seems to be ok, fan is working and I have my screen running off it in safe mode. Also no burn marks or such. Any way to tell if it's dead?

Thank you

 

I would try updating to DirectX10 before installing the drivers, just to err on the side of caution.

You have not provided details on your power supply. I'd wonder if it is capable of driving this card. Most anyone who posts here will tell you that a solid power supply is the foundation of your build.

 

My power supply is 500w and I am 100% sure I am well below that with this system.

I just tried the directx 10 install followed by the most recent driver install and still having the same problem. Any more tips?

 

A cheap, claimed 500W PSU may only be a 'real' 350-400W unit - even then, it may be based on an older, poorly regulated, design. Seriously, I'd want a quality PSU as the base for any build if reliability and data safety is needed - when PSUs fail, they can kill other components, including drives storing your valuable data!

Your graphics problem on boot may be that the old 9500GT is failing, it's common (I experienced the same on my old 9800GT), they're old and most of them were used for heavy gaming. Sometimes, reflowing the card fixes this for a while. Test it in a known good PC.

 

As already mentioned, hardware problems may be causing this.

I suggest that you clean up the mess created by multiple install attempts with different driver versions,
via Control Panel > Programs and Features.

You said you are able to boot into Safe Mode and that is the best way, IMHO.

After that, Driver Fusion can help remove other leftovers.

Based on an Nvidia website search, the proper driver for Geforce 8100 /nForce 720a is 15.49 WHQL

During installation, if you are given a Custom Install option, choose that and install Only the Display Driver.

Do not install PhysX System Software or other options if they are offered. (my suggestion)

Also, check the box for "Perform a clean installation".