Nvidia 306.97 driver help!

I have tried multiple times to install the Nividia 306.97 driver on my Alienware m11x R1, but every time I do so, when it restarts, I am greeted by bad resolution, my icons are huge and occupy the entire screen, and when I try to go to the nvidia control panel, it says a nvidia graphics card could not be detected. When I restore my system, everything works fine again, but I'm using an older driver. This is VERY frustrating, because I have tried to install the 306.97 driver around five times, and every time I have gotten the same result. Here is a screen shot (I guess click the image to enlarge it):

 

Windows 7 / 8?

Apparently Windows 8 users had problems with older whql Nvidia drivers. Seems like the latest betas solved them. But it could also be something else. But it's good practice to always use the latest drivers even if it's beta.

 

Windows 7. I've been trying to get the latest driver to install for almost two months. I've tried contacting Nvidia several times and I got no response. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm about to smash my Nvidia card with a hammer (Figuratively, of course)

Also my Nvidia control panel is often buggy, sometimes failing to open or stopping responding immediately after it opens. I don't have any viruses, in case that was the next thing you were going to ask.

All of my games run fine, so I don't think it is a problem with the card.

 

you might need drivers with modded ini files like at those laptoptogo websites..

 

First of all, what? (link/explanation?)

And my card should be fully supported and everything. Why would I need a modded driver?

 

Assuming you have 64-bit. Don't know your GPU.

But here it is: v310.70 Windows 8 64bit | NVIDIA Mobile OEM - 31x Series GeForce Driver release - LaptopVideo2Go Forums
And modified inf file: http://laptopvideo2go.com/infs/310series/31070_win8x64/nvwi.inf (right click link and save as)

 

Jaug's links are for modified drivers so if youve never modified a inf file before follow what it says carefully.

alternately you could try the manual walk though in my signature below using driver cleaner and in safe mode.

your screenshot is showing your intergrated graphics so this is why the icons are so big.

youve certainly come to the right place as its a great source of help and advice from the members here.

 

I just downloaded the new 310.70 drivers from Nvidia, maybe this will actually work.

 

will be interesting to get feedback on this one as its the same driver number but now a WHQL

 

I have an M11x R1 myself. I could never get new nVidia drivers to install correctly on it. The only ones that ever successfully installed were the ones from Dell's drivers page. It could have something to do with the manual graphics switching.

I would get the exact same error when trying to install non-Dell drivers. The drivers would only detect the IGP and not the GPU.

 

Well, is there a fix? If not, are there drivers from Dell that would work? (I know a decent bit about computers, but when it comes to drivers, I have no clue)

Also I can't open my nvidia control panel without it stopping responding, and sometimes the control panel will not open at all.

 

Just download the drivers from Dell's website. Had the same problem with an HP laptop I owned until a few months back, the standard AMD drivers for the GPU wouldn't work properly on them, so I downloaded the HP version which worked fine.Like forge said, basically.

I'm guessing the GPUs are slightly modified to suit the manufacturer's needs, therefore it needs different drivers.

 

so did you try my manual walk through i posted earlier. especially now you are saying that the control panel stops working.
you have a confliction somewhere and the only way to clean it all out is in safe mode.

follow the walkthrough in my sig below.