What can I do if my graphics card is not recognized by Windows?

If your graphics card is not being recognized by Windows, there are a few steps you can take to try to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

1. Check for driver updates

The first step is to check if you have the latest version of the graphics card driver installed. You can do this in Device Manager; open it, find the graphics card, right-click it and select Update Driver. Then select “Search automatically for updated driver software” and allow Windows to search the internet for a suitable driver. If a newer driver is found, install it and restart the computer.

2. Manually install the driver

If a newer driver isn’t available, you can try manually installing the driver from the manufacturer’s website. Search for the model of your graphics card and download the relevant driver. Once the driver has been downloaded, open Device Manager, find the graphics card, right-click and select “Update Driver”. Then select “Browse my computer for driver software”, select the driver file and click “Install”.

3. Reinstall the driver

Sometimes, corruption of the driver files can prevent them from working correctly. To resolve this issue, uninstall the current driver for the graphics card and then reinstall it. In Device Manager, right-click the graphics card and select Uninstall. This will remove the driver and all associated files. Next, go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the driver. Install it and restart the computer.

4. Check the BIOS settings

Some computers require you to change the BIOS settings in order for the graphics card to be recognized. Enter the BIOS menu (usually by pressing F2 or Delete upon boot) and look for options related to onboard or integrated graphics. Make sure the settings are configured to “Disable” or “Off” for integrated graphics and “Enable” or “On” for the graphics card. Save the changes and reboot the system.

5. Check the power supply

For dedicated graphics cards, make sure that the power supply is providing sufficient power. Ensure that the power supply’s wattage matches or exceeds the minimum requirements for the graphics card. Also, check that the power connectors are securely connected to the graphics card. Lastly, make sure that the motherboard has an available PCI-Express slot for the graphics card (for desktop computers).

6. Check the hardware

It is possible that the graphics card is faulty. Inspect it to make sure that there is no visible damage such as a blown capacitor or burnt components. If you cannot visually inspect the card, try installing it in a different computer to see if it works there.

7. Disable onboard graphics

If your computer has both onboard (integrated) graphics and a dedicated graphics card, the onboard graphics might be preventing the dedicated card from being recognized. To resolve this, enter the BIOS and look for “Primary Video Adapter” or “Primary Display Adapter”. Change it to “PCI/PCIe” or similar. This will instruct the computer to use the PCI/PCIe slot for the graphics card instead of onboard graphics.

8. Roll back the driver

Sometimes, the latest version of the graphics card driver may not be compatible with your system. In this case, try rolling back the driver to an earlier version. Open Device Manager, find the graphics card, right-click and select Properties. Then go to the Driver tab and click on “Roll Back Driver”. Next, select a driver version from the list and click “OK”.

9. Reset Windows

If none of the above steps help, you can try resetting Windows. This will reinstall all system files, including the graphics card driver. Note that this will remove any installed applications, so it is recommended to back up your data beforehand.

These are some of the steps you can take if your graphics card is not being recognized by Windows. If none of the steps help, contact the manufacturer’s customer support for further assistance.