How to Fix the “NVIDIA Installer Cannot Continue” Error on Windows

The NVIDIA Installer Cannot Continue error is often the result of incorrect device IDs in the INF file. However, this might not always be the underlying issue, as there are other potential causes for this error. Should you encounter this while installing or updating the driver through the Nvidia application, consider downloading and installing the specific driver directly from the official website as a potential solution. If this approach is unsuccessful, the following methods may be of assistance.

Nvidia driver cannot continue
Nvidia Driver Cannot Continue

1. Install the Drivers Provided by Your Manufacturer

If you’re using a laptop and encounter this issue, it’s possible that the driver isn’t compatible with your device. Manufacturers sometimes release custom drivers tailored specifically for their laptops to ensure optimal performance and to prevent overheating. If you’re on a desktop PC, you can skip to the next method.

  1. Locate your laptop’s model number.
  2. Simultaneously press the Windows key + R.
  3. Type “dxdiag” into the Run window.
    Run Program with DxDiag Command
    Opening DxDiag Windows
  4. Await the program’s launch.
  5. Once opened, note down the “System Model” listed under the General tab.
    DxDiag's General Tab
    Checking Laptop’s System Model
  6. Search for this model number in any browser and append ‘Drivers’ before it.
    Opening Official Support Page of Laptop
    Opening Official Support Page of Laptop

    Ensure you visit the official website and avoid any untrustworthy sites.

    Note: This process varies between manufacturers. Our goal is to install the drivers provided by your manufacturer’s support page. If you encounter difficulties, feel free to post your model number in the comments, and one of our technicians will assist you.

  7. Locate the “Drivers” section within the support page.
  8. If applicable, select your operating system, and then download the official graphics driver.
    Selecting Operating System Before Downloading Official Drivers
    Selecting Operating System
  9. After downloading the driver, install it and restart your computer.
    Downloading Graphics Driver from Product Page
    Downloading Graphics Driver from Product Page

If you encounter any issues with the installation process, consider the following additional steps.

2. Update the Driver Through Device Manager

Try updating the driver from the Device Manager. This simple fix has resolved the issue for many users. Please note that this solution only applies if you’re attempting to update the driver, not install it for the first time.

  1. Select your graphics card on the Nvidia website and download the driver.
  2. Wait for the download to complete.
  3. Right-click the setup file, and select Extract to “<Path>\<Driver Name>”
    Extracting Nvidia Driver
    Extracting Nvidia Driver
  4. Right-click on the Start Menu.
  5. Choose Device Manager.
    Opening Device Manager From Start Menu
    Opening Device Manager From Start Menu
  6. Expand Display Adapters.
  7. Right-click on the Microsoft Display Adapter and select Update Driver.
    Updating Driver Via Device Manager
    Updating Driver Via Device Manager
  8. Select Browse My Computer For Drivers.
  9. Click Browse.
    Browsing For Driver
    Browsing For Driver
  10. Navigate to the directory where the driver was downloaded.
  11. Select the extracted driver folder and click Next to begin installation.
    Selecting Extracted Driver Folder
    Selecting Extracted Driver Folder
  12. Once completed, the driver should be properly installed.

3. Replace Device IDs in the INF File

If an incorrect hardware ID is present in the INF file, this error may occur. The INF file is a setup information file with all the necessary details to install a driver.

  1. Download the driver from the official Nvidia website.
    Downloading Driver For Windows
    Downloading Driver For Windows
  2. Double-click the installer setup and press OK to extract the driver.
    Installing Graphics Driver
    Installing Graphics Driver
  3. Navigate to the directory you selected during installation, or if no directory was specified, use the default:
    C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver\****\Win10_64\International\Display.Driver

    Note: Don’t copy the path as shown since your driver and Windows versions might differ.

  4. Find the INF file that corresponds to your desktop or laptop manufacturer from the list below:
    INF Files According to Manufacturers:
    Acer = nvaci.inf
    Asus = nvami.inf
    Apple = nvaoi.inf
    Compal = nvcti.inf
    Clevo = nvcvi.inf
    Dell = nvdmi.inf
    Fujitsu = nvfmi.inf
    HP = nvbli.inf or nvhmi.inf
    LG = nvloi.inf
    Lenovo = nvlti.inf
    MSI = nvmii.inf
    NEC = nvmii.inf
    Sony = nvszci.inf
    Toshiba Qosmio = nvtdi.inf
    Toshiba = nvtsi.inf
  5. Right-click the INF file and choose Open With…
  6. Select Notepad and press Open.
    Opening INF File With Notepad
    Opening INF File With Notepad
  7. Scroll down to the relevant NVIDIA_Devices section, which will look similar to [NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0…14310].
    Finding Nvidia Devices Section
    Finding Nvidia Devices Section
  8. Add a new line by clicking at the end of the second row of the first line and pressing the Enter key.
  9. Copy the content from the first row of the first line and paste it into the new line.
    Creating A New Line For the Nvidia GPU Code In The INF File
    Creating A New Line For the Nvidia GPU Code In The INF File
  10. Press the Start Menu key, type Device Manager, and open it.
    Opening Device Manager
    Opening Device Manager
  11. Click on the arrow next to Display Adapters to expand it.
  12. Right-click on the Microsoft Display Adapter and select Properties.
    Opening Driver Properties
    Opening Driver Properties
  13. Switch to the Details tab.
  14. In the Property drop-down menu, select Hardware Ids.
  15. Copy the second hardware ID by right-clicking on it.
    Copying Hardware Ids For Microsoft Display Adapter
    Copying Hardware Ids For Microsoft Display Adapter
  16. Return to Notepad and paste the copied ID in the new line’s second row.
    Pasting Copied Hardware Id In The INF File
    Pasting Copied Hardware Id In The INF File
  17. Replace the placeholder device code with the actual GPU ID number.
    Copying GPU ID Number
    Copying GPU ID Number
  18. Now alter the new line’s section number to follow sequentially from the previous one; in this case it would become 363.
    Changing Section Number
    Changing Section Number
  19. After modifying the GPU ID, scroll to the [Strings] section.
    Copying Modified GPU Id
    Copying Modified GPU Id
  20. At the end of the [Strings] section, create a new line and paste the modified GPU code.
  21. Next, type in your GPU’s name, following the pattern seen in previously listed entries.
    Pasting GPU Id With The Graphics Card Name
    Pasting GPU Id With The Graphics Card Name
  22. Save the changes by pressing Ctrl + S or select File then Save.
    Saving Changes In INF File
    Saving Changes In INF File
  23. Go to the bottom of the directory where the INF files are and double-click the setup to install the driver.
    Running Driver Setup
    Running Driver Setup
  24. If the issue persists, proceed to the next method.

4. Rename NVIDIA Graphics Folder

In some instances, renaming the Nvidia folder in the system drive may resolve the issue. Renaming a folder disrupts the associated services since their path is altered as well.

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the system drive.
  2. Go to Program Files, right-click NVIDIA Corporation, and select Rename.
    Renaming Nvidia Folder
    Renaming Nvidia Folder
  3. Rename the folder to an identifiable name related to Nvidia for easier recognition.
  4. Run the driver setup again and verify if the error is resolved.

5. Perform a Complete Reinstall of Nvidia Software and Driver

If none of the above methods solve the issue, it may be necessary to completely uninstall the Nvidia driver and all associated software, including registry entries. This can be done using the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) application, which enables the complete removal of drivers from the system.

  1. Download the Display Driver Uninstaller.
    Click to Extract DDU Folder
    Click to Extract DDU Folder
  2. Right-click on the downloaded ZIP folder and choose Extract to DDU. (We recommend using WinRAR for the extraction process.)Note: Ensure you follow the instructions from the DDU application for the best results.
  3. Navigate to the DDU folder and double-click on the Display Driver Uninstaller.exe to open it.
  4. A pop-up window will appear, click Extract.
    Extracting DDU Application
    Extracting DDU Application
  5. After the extraction is complete, open the folder and run the DDU application.
  6. DDU may recommend using Safe Mode to uninstall the driver for a cleaner removal, but this is optional.
  7. In DDU, select the Device Type (GPU) and the Device (your graphics card).
  8. Choose either Clean & Restart to remove the driver and reboot, or Clean and Do Not Restart if you’re not ready to reboot.
    Clean Uninstallation Of Graphics Driver
    Clean Uninstallation Of Graphics Driver
  9. Finally, visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the most recent driver.
    Downloading Latest Graphics Driver For Windows
    Downloading Latest Graphics Driver For Windows

    Note: Laptops users should download their drivers from the laptop manufacturer’s website to ensure compatibility.

If all the methods outlined above still do not resolve the error, consider performing a system restore to revert your computer to a prior working state, or reset your Windows while retaining your personal data. Afterwards, download and install the driver from the Nvidia official website again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hamza Mohammad Anwar


Hamza Mohammad Anwar is an intermediate JavaScript web developer with a focus on developing high-performance applications using MERN technologies. His skill set includes expertise in ReactJS, MongoDB, Express NodeJS, and other related technologies. Hamza is also a Google IT Certified professional, which highlights his competence in IT support. As an avid problem-solver, he recreates errors on his computer to troubleshoot and find solutions to various technical issues.