Graphics drivers crash new Win 10 clean install, Asus P8H67-M EVO

Addlepate · 09 Dec 2023

Hello all,

Looking for a bit of help or pointers about a graphics driver problem which is repeatedly crashing a new clean install of Windows 10.

I've inherited a ten year old desktop with an Asus P8H67-M EVO motherboard (i5 2400, Sandy Bridge chipset) that I'm trying to get up and running. Windows wasn't happy when I got it so I rescued the files off it and did a clean install of Windows 10.

All seems good and the installation seems to behave as it should, but I can't get it to run anything but the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter - I think it should be Intel HD3000 graphics. So far I've tried:

Windows Update and installing latest chipset drivers - no difference, no driver found.

Device manager: right click adapter and select 'update driver' > automatic - when I first tried this Windows told me the latest drivers were already installed, but something else I've done has changed this as it now starts to install the driver then I get a black screen and the PC freezes.

Device manager: highlight adapter then select Actions > add legacy hardware, select Intel > Intel HD graphics or Intel HD3000 graphics - appears to start installig the driver then I get a black screen and the PC freezes.

Download graphics driver manually then device manager > update driver > browse for drivers: Windows tells me the latest drivers are already installed.

Download graphics driver manually then install manually: doesn't appear to do anything.

When the PC freezes the only way to get it back up is to force shut down then boot back into trouble shooting and revert to the system restore point I created after I installed Windows.

It's probably worth noting that the Intel site denies all knowledge of Windows 10 drivers for this hardware / HD3000, but they did produce a driver, various versions of which are in the MS Update catalogue. It's these I've tried to install manually or point device manager to without success.

The only thing I can think to try now is running Display Driver Uninstaller to clear up any clutter I might have left with the various attempts, then trying again, but essentially I'm going around the same loops without success.

There are lots of reports online of various problems and crashes with Intel HD graphics and Windows 10, but I'm not finding anything that's exactly this behaviour or solves this behaviour. Any pointers or thoughts gratefully received!

Thanks,

Catnip · 09 Dec 2023

Well, it seems to me that you have pretty much exhausted your options for getting the graphics running. It IS possible to install drivers for older editions of Windows on Win 10, but it can be problematic and is likely not working for you.

Without sounding obtuse, may I offer a suggestion? Instead of using the problematic Intel graphics, which are actually no longer supported on that CPU and Windows version, why not buy a discrete graphics card? Better performance, no driver hassles, etc. An Nvidia RTX 3060 can be had for about $350 to $500 CAD, and even less in the States.

Just a suggestion, but I think a discrete graphics card will solve your problem.

dalchina · 09 Dec 2023

There are drivers up to Win 8.1 64 bits and others here:
P8H67-M EVO - Support

You may be able to find one that works.

Otherwise, you could try a reasonably reputable driver updater tool:
SDI
Snappy Driver Updater (free).

I'd only suggest one of these where you can't find a driver by normal means.

Create a System Restore point before installing, so you can readily remove it.

Note: sometimes old PCs will run older major builds of Win 10, rather than more recent ones.

Addlepate · 16 Dec 2023

Hi guys, apologies for the delay replying - it's been a busy week and I haven't had a chance to think about this. Thanks for your thoughts.

Well, it seems to me that you have pretty much exhausted your options for getting the graphics running. It IS possible to install drivers for older editions of Windows on Win 10, but it can be problematic and is likely not working for you.

I'm feeling that way, but was hoping someone would spot something I'd missed. I'm also not sure I'm installing the drivers from the MS update catalogue correctly; I've tried via device manager etc. but there isn't an obvious setup.exe so I've tried (for example) installing the .inf file. I've avoided Win 7, Win 8 etc. drivers so far - I thought if I couldn't get the Win 10 drivers from the MS update catalogue to work, a driver for an older OS probably wouldn't.

Without sounding obtuse, may I offer a suggestion? Instead of using the problematic Intel graphics, which are actually no longer supported on that CPU and Windows version, why not buy a discrete graphics card? Better performance, no driver hassles, etc. An Nvidia RTX 3060 can be had for about $350 to $500 CAD, and even less in the States. Just a suggestion, but I think a discrete graphics card will solve your problem.

Yes, I'd thought that, but the idea was that it had come along from another family member at at pretty much no cost so my partner could use it to play around with RAW editing - I had an identical spec PC, bought at the same time, so I knew it would do the job.

We're into diminishing returns and quite a lot of time going into it, though, so I might think about a basic graphics card or alternatively, if I've got to shell out, it might just be less hassle to get a new machine - in fact from a time point of view it might be less hassle anyway. I'd like to be sure I've exhausted the options first though.

There are drivers up to Win 8.1 64 bits and others here ... You may be able to find one that works. Otherwise, you could try a reasonably reputable driver updater tool: SDI Snappy Driver Updater (free). I'd only suggest one of these where you can't find a driver by normal means.

Thanks, I had tried the Asus site but not found anything - maybe because it's out of support. I'll see if I can think of anything else without going off piste, then maybe try that (or another) third party driver updater.

Need to get back to it and do some more thinking, I think.