The graphics driver could not find a compatible graphics hardware installer

This error is exclusive to NVIDIA users and appears when they try to install a new graphics card driver on their computer.. The full error message is like:

NVIDIA Installer Cannot Continue: the graphics driver could not find compatible graphics hardware

The graphics driver could not find a compatible graphics hardware installer

The error message sounds pretty clear if you've downloaded the wrong driver for your graphics card, but the error appears quite often to users who have downloaded the correct graphics card and want to install the latest driver. Check out the methods we have prepared below that should fix the problem!!

What causes the graphics driver to not find a supported graphics hardware installation error?

The list of things that cause this error is not long and the problem is usually a technical error made by NVIDIA. There are two main reasons for the problem:

• Your device ID does not appear in the required files provided by the driver installation.

• Forced driver signing may cause a problem with this driver, So be sure to turn it off for now!

Solution 1: create a device ID for your NVIDIA graphics card

This issue can occur because the graphics card ID does not appear in any of the files in “information” which the driver uses to recognize the graphics card you have in your computer. This is a rare mistake and this method will definitely require some work.

This applies to users who have decided to manually download the driver installation file from the NVIDIA website. All examples will refer to a sample file and your file will differ in certain parts which will be mentioned below.

1. Click Start and type Run. Select Run, a Run dialog will appear.

2. Enter »devmgmt.msc» in the run dialog and click the OK button. This immediately opens Device Manager.

Run Device Manager from the Run dialog

1. In Device Manager, expand the Display Adapters category by clicking the arrow next to it and locate your NVIDIA graphics card. Make sure you find out the name of your device. There should be no doubt, since you don't want to end up uninstalling the wrong device.

2. When you locate the device, right click on it and choose Properties from the context menu.

NVIDIA driver in Device Manager

1. Navigate to the Details tab in the Properties window and left click on the menu under the Properties text. Choose the Device Instance Path option and, in Value, you should see text that should look like this:

PCIVEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_20421043&REV_A1 4&30DE1B

NVIDIA driver device instance path

1. This text contains information about the manufacturer, the chipset and video card model. If you downloaded the driver file from the NVIDIA website, run it and you should see the well-known message “This graphics driver could not find compatible graphics hardware”.

2. Don't worry about it yet. Navigate to the installation directory. The default path should look like the following examples:

C:

 C: C:NNVIDIAN-DISPLAYDRIVER.DriverN-INTERNACIONAL 

1. It is the same folder you chose at the beginning of the installation, so be sure to rerun it to see what it is if you are not sure.

NVIDIA driver installation folder

1. Open files whose extension is $ 0027.inf $ 0027. For instance, you can choose the file $ 0027 inf $ 0027. Make a backup of this file by right clicking and choosing Copy option. Paste it anywhere else.

$ 0027.nfo $ 0027 files in the installation folder

1. Right-click on the same file that is still in the NVIDIA folder and choose Open With >> Notepad (or any other text editor).

2. Scroll down until you see lines like this:

[Devices_NVIDIA.NTx86.8.1] ( o Devices_NVIDIA_SetA with similar combinations )
NVIDIA_DEV.0405.01% = Section001, PCIVEN_10DE&DEV_0405&SUBSYS_15D21043
NVIDIA_DEV.0405.02% = Section001, PCIVEN_10DE&DEV_0405&SUBSYS_16341043
NVIDIA_DEV.0407.01% = Section001, PCIVEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_080117FF %NVIDIA_DEV.0407.02% = Section002, PCIVEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_15881043

Note: If you see multiple NVIDIA_SetA_Devices or NVIDIA_Devices sections, Repeat the process for all of them!

1. You will see that these lines look a lot like the device instance path you noted in Device Manager. Scroll down until you reach the section that is similar to your chipset number (the number after DEV in the device instance path).

2. Now comes the hard part. We are about to create a device ID for the graphics card you have installed in your computer!! You will enter it in the middle of the list, next to chipset numbers that look similar.

Navigating the chosen file $ 0027.nfo $ 0027

1. The first part is the same for everyone: $ 0027% NVIDIA_DEV $ 0027. The next part is the four character DEV code (appears after DEV in the device instance path). If you notice that the same DEV as yours already exists, will have to increase it. For instance, if the DEV is ODD1 and you see a line that starts like this:

% NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01%…, your line will start as% NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.02%

1. The next part is the section. The number must be the same section you insert it into, so check the number above. If the top line starts like this:

% NVIDIA_DEV.ODD1.01% = Section042…, your line should start as% NVIDIA_DEV.ODD1.02% = Section042,

1. The final part should match your device instance path. Put a comma after the section part and insert a space. Thereafter, you can right click on the device instance path in Device Manager, choose copy paste here. Finally, the line should look like this:

NVIDIA_DEV.ODD1.02% = Section042, PCIVEN_10DE and DEV_0DEE and SUBSYS_15621043

1. Use the Ctrl key combination + S to save changes. Run the installation file manually from the NVIDIA installation directory. It should be the same folder where you have located the file $ 0027.inf $ 0027 and it should be called $ 0027setup.exe $ 0027.

Locating the file $ 0027setup.exe $ 0027.

Note: if you run the file you downloaded from the NVIDIA website, everything you have done will be overwritten and you will be forced to start over.

1. Check if the problem is solved! The answer can be long, but it works!

Solution 2: disable driver signing enforcement

This option disables the driver signature enforcement, which may be one of the reasons why your drivers refuse to install. This simple solution has helped many people, so be sure to give it a try.

1. Click the Start button and the gear icon to open Settings. You can also search “Setting” in the search bar.

Running the Start menu settings

1. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings app and click Update & Security.

2. Click Recovery in the tabs on the left of the Update & Security screen.

Windows Configuration Tool Advanced Startup Settings 10

1. The advanced startup section should be located in this option, so place it at the bottom of the Recovery tab. Click Restart Now. Advanced Boot Options should appear.

Note: if you are using windows 8, swipe right to access the charms bar. Click on the Change PC Settings option and choose the Refresh and Recover option from the list. Click Recovery and follow the steps 4 a 6 from the previous solution.

Once you have successfully accessed the Advanced Boot Options, now you can freely navigate to the Startup Settings option by following the instructions below.

1. Click the Troubleshoot option located just below the Continue button.

2. You will see three different options: Update the PC, Restart PC and Advanced Options. Click the Advanced Options button.

Advanced Troubleshooting Menu Options

1. On the advanced options screen, click Startup Settings, which will open a list of startup options available to you.

2. Option number 7 should be named Disable Driver Signature Enforcement. Click on the number 7 on the keyboard or use the function key F7.

Disable driver signing enforcement

1. Press Enter to return to your operating system.