If your graphics card stops working in Windows, there are several possible causes and some steps you can take to diagnose and fix the problem. It’s important to be methodical when troubleshooting hardware issues and try not to jump to conclusions. The first step is to ascertain whether the issue is with the graphics card itself or with the configuration of the system. Here we explore the different diagnostics you can perform in order to identify the cause of the problem.
1. Use System Information to Check Your Graphics Card
The first part of diagnosing a graphics card issue is to make sure the card itself is functioning correctly. One way of doing this is to open up System Information and check the information about your graphics card. To open System Information, press the Windows key + R and type “msinfo32.exe” into the command line. In the menu that pops up, look for “Display” and note down what it says about your graphics card. If the information displayed looks accurate, then the card is likely functioning properly.
2. Check Your Drivers
If you’ve checked the System Information and everything appears normal, the next step is to check if the drivers for your graphics card are up to date. Outdated drivers can lead to a wide range of issues, so if they are out of date, updating them could be the solution to the problem. To check the drivers, open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and clicking Device Manager. Find the graphics card in the list and right-click it to bring up a menu. Select “Update Driver Software” and follow the prompts.
3. Test the Card in Another Computer
If you’ve checked the System Information and updated the drivers but the graphics card still isn’t working, the next step is to test the card in another computer. This will allow you to determine whether the issue is with the card itself or the system configuration. To test the card, you will need to install it into another compatible system and boot it up. If the card works in the other computer, then the issue is likely related to the configuration of your system.
4. Try Changing the BIOS/UEFI Settings
If the card works in another computer, but not in yours, then it’s possible that the issue is related to the BIOS/UEFI settings. Try changing the settings to see if it helps. You will need to restart your computer and press the setup key (often F2 or Del) to access the BIOS/UEFI setting menu. Once inside the menu, look for options relating to the graphics card, such as “Disable internal graphics” or “Switchable Graphics mode”. Change these settings and save your changes before restarting the computer.
5. Reset the BIOS/UEFI
If changing the BIOS/UEFI settings doesn’t work, then try resetting the BIOS/UEFI. This will restore the settings to their default values and may help to resolve the issue. To reset the BIOS/UEFI, restart your computer and press the setup key (often F2 or Del) to access the BIOS/UEFI menu. Look for an option to reset the settings and follow the on-screen instructions. Once the reset is complete, restart the computer and check if the issue has been resolved.
6. Try Uninstalling the Drivers
If the issue persists after trying all the above steps, then the next step is to uninstall the drivers for your graphics card. This will remove any software conflicts that may be causing the problem. To uninstall the drivers, open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and click Device Manager. Find the graphics card in the list and right-click it to bring up a menu. Select “Uninstall” and follow the instructions to remove the drivers. Then restart the computer and see if the issue is resolved.
7. Perform a Clean Installation of the Drivers
If uninstalling the drivers doesn’t fix the issue, then you should try a clean installation of the drivers. This will ensure that you have the most up to date version of the drivers installed. To do this, first download the latest version of the drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Then open the Device Manager and find the graphics card in the list. Right-click it to bring up a menu and select “Update Driver Software”. Follow the instructions to install the new drivers and restart the computer.
If none of the above steps have solved the issue, then the final step is to replace the graphics card. If the card is under warranty, contact the manufacturer and ask them to send you a replacement. Otherwise, purchase a new graphics card and install it. Make sure the card is compatible with your system and follows the recommended specifications. Once the card is installed, restart the computer and check if the issue has been resolved.
In conclusion, if your graphics card stops working in Windows, there are a few possible causes and some diagnostics steps you can take to identify and fix the issue. Start by checking the System Information to make sure the card is functioning normally. Then, check to make sure the drivers are up to date and try testing the card in another computer. If the issue persists, try changing the BIOS/UEFI settings and uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers. If none of the above steps solves the issue, the final step is to replace the graphics card.