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.

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.

   

4. Await the program’s launch.
5. Once opened, note down the “System Model” listed under the General tab.

   

6. Search for this model number in any browser and append ‘Drivers’ before it.

   

   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.

   

9. After downloading the driver, install it and restart your computer.

   

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>”

   

4. Right-click on the Start Menu.
5. Choose Device Manager.

   

6. Expand Display Adapters.
7. Right-click on the Microsoft Display Adapter and select Update Driver.

   

8. Select Browse My Computer For Drivers.
9. Click Browse.

   

10. Navigate to the directory where the driver was downloaded.
11. Select the extracted driver folder and click Next to begin installation.

    

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.

   

2. Double-click the installer setup and press OK to extract the 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.

   

7. Scroll down to the relevant NVIDIA_Devices section, which will look similar to [NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0…14310].

   

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.

   

10. Press the Start Menu key, type Device Manager, and open it.

    

11. Click on the arrow next to Display Adapters to expand it.
12. Right-click on the Microsoft Display Adapter and select 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.

    

16. Return to Notepad and paste the copied ID in the new line’s second row.

    

17. Replace the placeholder device code with the actual 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.

    

19. After modifying the GPU ID, scroll to the [Strings] section.

    

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.

    

22. Save the changes by pressing Ctrl + S or select File then Save.

    

23. Go to the bottom of the directory where the INF files are and double-click the setup to install the driver.

    

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.

   

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.

   

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.

   

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.

   

9. Finally, visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the most recent driver.

   

   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.