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GUIDE: How to update your nVidia drivers in Bootcamp

S

sup3r1or

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 24, 2010
205
0
Manchester, UK
So many of you have asked how to update drivers in Windows Xp/Visa/7. YOu all probably noticed that drivers that came with your OSX disc are very old, most likely you are stuck with 19x.xx drivers where as current version is already above 28x.xx.

Also you probably stumbled upon a problem with drivers downloaded from Nvidia.com which give you error when you try to install it. So here I compiled a short guide in how to update your drivers.

1. Driver Nvidia 259.47 ( found better performance with this one) for Windows Vista/7 64 BIT ONLy!!! http://laptopvideo2go.com/nvidia/255series/25947_win7x64.exe

Same driver but for windows Vista/ 7 32 BIt Download here
http://laptopvideo2go.com/nvidia/255series/25947_win7x32.exe

2. After you have downloaded drivers you will noticed that they are packed with 7Zip archive (self extracting), unpack it (just remember the location).

3. Download the modified .INF file 64 bit system
http://laptopvideo2go.com/infs/255series/25947_win7x64/nvbl.inf

32bit System
http://laptopvideo2go.com/infs/255series/25947_win7x32/nvbl.inf

NOTE: Even though they have the same name, 32 and 64 bit .INF files are different do not mix them up.

4. Place the .INF file in the same directory as you extracted the driver package, IT WILL SAY THAT .INF FILE ALREADY EXIST, CLICK YES TO REPLACE IT WITH THE ONE YOU DOWNLOADED!!!

5. Run the setup.exe (if your acc is not admin, then right click and press Run as Administrator), proceed with the installation.

6. Message will popup at some point that it cannot verify publisher blah blah blah, press proceed anyway.

7. Sit back this process will take longer than usual driver installation but it will succeed, dont be scared.

8. Just reboot and you are ready to go:)

P.S also note I wasnt able to find XP drivers so I suggest you move to Win 7 as XP getting less and less support from microsoft, however I think if you can find this drivers on nvidia website for WIndows XP *Just make sure its the same 259.47 drivers, it should work.

I have done it on MBP 13 2010 but this INF files supports ALL apple nvidia based GPUs


Good luck
 
With a proper installation the automatic driver update facility on the NVIDIA web site always works for me. I have done this with a uMBP and with two different MacPros. So this procedure should not really be necessary.
 
It never did for me, everytime I try the drivers frm nvidia.com it tells me that the hardware is not recognised or I do not have their hardware. You dont mind sharing your method? What GPU do u have?
 
My friend is having issues with her 9400 and 9600 GPU's not making her 24" ACD bright enough under Windows7 in bootcamp. Just curious if this forced fix might correct that? Did the OP use this fix because of getting an error during natural updating procedures?
 
My MBP has geforce 320M and original drivers never worked for me. for some reason Nvidia drivers always screwed me up, saying that they cant recognize my GPU so it wont proceed with install. However that guide that I put out really helped to solve all my issues.
 
I was able to download and install the latest NVidia GeForce Verde drivers (V260.89) without need for modifying the nvao.inf installation file.
MacBook Pro 13" 2010 NVidia 320M chipset
Just run the executable and if warned that the driver has not been certified click "Install anyway" and allow the installation to proceed.
It's advisable to first uninstall the previous driver and clear any registry entries using NVidia Driver Sweeper prior to updating.
 
sup3r1or said:
My MBP has geforce 320M and original drivers never worked for me. for some reason Nvidia drivers always screwed me up, saying that they cant recognize my GPU so it wont proceed with install. However that guide that I put out really helped to solve all my issues.
Click to expand...

Probably because the 320M is an Apple exclusive part, so nvidia exclude it from the normal OEM update I guess.
 
FWIW:

I was able to smoothly upgrade to the latest set of WQHL Nvidia drivers (260.99) that I downloaded straight off their website. This, after having a good deal of trouble while trying to install earlier revisions (The installers didn't recognize my system).

Running Bootcamp w/ Windows XP 32 bit on my 2010 MBP i5 w/ 330m.
 
Maclarny said:
FWIW:

I was able to smoothly upgrade to the latest set of WQHL Nvidia drivers (260.99) that I downloaded straight off their website. This, after having a good deal of trouble while trying to install earlier revisions (The installers didn't recognize my system).

Running Bootcamp w/ Windows XP 32 bit on my 2010 MBP i5 w/ 330m.
Click to expand...

cool.

i did the same thing, just download from Nvidia site the latest driver and install. no warnings were displayed during the install.

Like W7 in macbook pro
 
Worked fine downloading and installing right from the Nvidia site for me also. Got the 320m.
 
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