Another noob trying to install GTX 980M on the HP 8770W

Here I am, another one of these HP 8770W lovers who grew tired of using the old Quadro graphics. A friend gifted me a GTX 980M and I know it's possible to use that GPU on this machine but I just can't make it happen no matter what I try. I will provide as many details as possible and hope someone here can help me get it done.

First, I opened my computer and removed the old Quadro K4000M. I put in the GTX 980M, applied new thermal pads, used the X bracket from the Quadro, applied new thermal paste (Corsair XTM50) and also applied new paste on the CPU. The processor is the i7-3920XM, if that matters.

I already knew that this new GPU isn't officially supported, so in the past I had downloaded some custom drivers. After I re-assembled the computer and turned it on, I tried to install the custom drivers but it didn't work. The NVidia installer just fails and says something about compatible hardware not found. The custom drivers are from this user:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ivers-version-452-06-latest-8-27-2020.833951/
(link is dead at this point but I downloaded it a long time ago in preparation for now)

I also tried to do what that user said but it still didn't work.
I also tried using a program called DDU to purge anything related to the Quadro drivers, in safe mode, and once in normal mode. Then I tried to install the custom drivers again with the instructions from the above user and it still didn't work - still just get error about compatible hardware not found.

I then tried to install official NVidia drivers for the 980M and none of that worked.

I also tried some other guides instructing me to disable test signing and something else, still, the custom drivers would not install, compatible hardware not found message.

I checked Device Manager and nothing shows up. Under 'Display Adapters' there is only one option about
'Standard VGA Adapter' I think there should be something about an unknown device, but nothing else is there.

Keep in mind, that since I have removed the Quadro graphics card, I've been running the PC using the basic integrated graphics... yuck!

I have used a program called GPU-Z from TechPowerUp and most of the information just shows up blank. I think the new GTX 980M is detected somehow somewhere because this program knows how to open a link taking me to a web page with information about the GTX 980M which proves the GPU is detected, but everything else in the program is blank.
It looks like this: https://i.imgur.com/scvoezg.png

At this point I am lost and in need of help, if anyone can provide it.

Other information:

Windows 7 64 bit
16GB DDR3 memory
2TB Micro 1100 SSD
1920x1080 IPS, not Dream Color
Backlit Keyboard
i7-3920XM
BB09 Extended Battery
Old GPU is Quadro K4000M, I still have it if I need it

 

It's most likely down to the incorrect string in the inf file of the driver.
See https://null-src.com/posts/nvidia-notebook-driver-inf-mod/post.php
and try modding one yourself.

 

Thanks for the link, I will look over all of this tonight when I get back from work.

 

So I tried my best to study that guide and it just doesn't make sense for me, way to complicated and intimidating.

The section that looks like [6] Formatting Hardware ID is where I get lost, I just don't understand it, at all.

I also don't see 'Microsoft Basic Display Renderer' in Device Manager, all I have is 'Standard VGA Graphics Adapter'

 

Send me PM with your TeamViewer ID and pass, I will help you.

 

Last night I found another random person online who did that for me and they got it all working. I tried to lock or delete this thread but couldn't find such an option.
Later I will upload the modded drivers we created so others can use it and post the link in another reply.

 

https://www.mediafire.com/file/w999h0f2ehixbes/8770W_GTX_980M_Windows_7_x64_v471.41.7z/file

This is a modified driver for the GTX 980M, version 471.41, it was created and successfully installed a HP 8770W notebook running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit (6.1.7601)
I7-3920XM, 16GB DDR3, 1920x1080 non-DreamColor.

If anyone ever tries to download this and finds it unavailable, please contact me and I will upload it again. Sometimes I re-arrange all my cloud files or sometimes I switch cloud services completely. I will always keep a backup copy offline just in case this file goes missing and someone needs it.

Also - GeForce Experience works great! I can easily record videos from new gen games with medium/high settings.

 

AnthonyBF2, please tell me if your driver for GTX 980M it will work also for Win10? I intend to buy a GPU card GTX 980M for my laptop HP Elitebook 8770w.
If your driver is not for Win 10, can you help me please how to create one for my laptop. It is compatible the cooling system from existing card FirePro M4000?

 

I am sorry for the late response, I don't check here often unless I need to and I don't intend to check back very often until I need something again.
I didn't make the custom driver, I let a friend control my PC through TeamViewer and he did it and as far as I know, it would only work with Windows 7. I also don't know about your cooling system. I assume all 8760W and 8770W have the same heat sink and heat pipe design, but I could be wrong. You should do more research on that.

 

I want to make an important announcement. As of 12/22/2021 I had some issues with GeForce Experience - I solved them but I want to document what I did in case others have the same problem.

When I first installed the GTX 980M on the 8770W, I also installed GeForce Experience version 3.21.0.36 so that I can record gameplay videos. Everything was working fine for several months.
Recently, the NVidia program tried to update itself and failed which resulted in Experience/ShadowPlay no longer working. The driver was still working but not Experience/ShadowPlay.

I did some poking around and figured out that I had to manually downgrade from the new broken application to the older 3.21.0.36 that I was first using AND block updates from being downloaded which would just break everything again.

Step 1:
- I used a free programm called DDU to purge all NVIDIA driver installtions + anything else such as Experience, PhysX, etc.
Step 2:
- I reinstalled the custom GTX 980M driver that I prepared, while disconnected from WIFI/ethernet to block any potential communication to NVIDIA which might download something (and break again).
Step 3:
- Restarted PC to make sure the driver was working, it was working fine.
Step 4:
- I temporarily connected to WIFI and downloaded the older Experience version 3.21.0.36 instead of the newest one which doesn't work. I could not find Experience 3.21.0.36 on the NVIDIA website so I got it from one of those random websites that host such things.
Step 5:
- I turned off the internet again, then installed Experience 3.21.0.36 while offline to prevent any possible communitcation. Install was succesfull.
Step 6:
- I browsed to C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA Corporation and completely locked the "Downloader" folder so that no person or program can modify it. (Right click, properties, security).
Step 7:
- I browsed to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ and edited hosts.file and added the following entries:
#Block GeForce Updates
#127.0.0.1 international-gfe.download.nvidia.com
#127.0.0.1 gfwsl.geforce.com
#127.0.0.1 services.gfe.nvidia.com
Step 8:
- I connected the WIFI again because for some dumb reason NVIDIA requires account login to use Experience/ShadowPlay. I put the settings I wanted and for now everything seems to be working fine again. Drivers are working, ShadowPlay is working, videos are coming out fine.

I will update this page again in the future if anything else happens.

TLDR: If you have the 8770W with 980M using the custom driver I posted above, you have to stay on Experience 3.21.0.36 and do the above steps to block updates which will break the program.

 

Do you still have the driver link to download. Thank you

 

The one I made? It's posted above (page 1) and is still valid. Keep in mind this is only for 8770W with Windows 7.

 

Found it. Thank you

 

I dont understand, how you are unable to install drivers. I am able to install unmodified drivers on every driver update... Just not directly. Only via device manager. Push update driver, .... Have disk. Choose first inf file in video driver folder(after extracting driver anywhere) and it finds bunch of compatible video cards... Choose one you have and you are good to go.


Btw. I dont remember if i have flashed bios after installing 980m(i have changed few video cards... Probably yes.


Win10

 

1) I said - I used a free program called DDU which forcefully removes all drivers and anything related to drivers.
2) I can't help you if you're on Windows 10. I don't know how to do 980M setup on W10 and don't care to learn. I have a boiling hatred for Windows 10 and will never use it again.

This thread was dedicated to solving 980M on Windows 7 then documenting the process and files for others who are using Windows 7 with 980M.

 

HP 8770W

I7 3740QM
GTX 970M
32GB Memory

I used NVClean Install to install my driver.