NewsWindows Home Server Users: Avoid Latest ForceWare Drivers
I am staring at a dead Windows Home Server. And, it appears the latest NVIDIA ForceWare drivers (version 178.24) are to blame.
What happens, is that after installing the latest ForceWare drivers, Windows Home Server doesn’t allow users to log in via the Console and Remote Desktop. Yes, a graphics card update that winds up locking users out of their Home Server.
I’ve confirmed this with another user’s WHS box, but regression is still coming in. I do not know if it is isolated to PCI/AGP/PCIe, or not. My system has a GeForce 6200 PCI card.
Note that you can still physically log into the home server (by plugging in a display, keyboard, and mouse), but reverting the update doesn’t appear to fix the issue. The only resolution we’ve found so far, is to do a dreaded Server Reinstall.
For some reason my Intel 865 integrated graphics is starting to seem like old faithful…
[...] release has no mention of a compatibility issue in their release notes, although fellow enthusiast Christopher Price and myself have experienced this [...]
Oh man. I have been experiencing this since October! It hadn’t even occured to me that it could be a graphics driver issue. Wow. Any resolution to this issue?
At this point, the only resolution I can give is to do a Server Reinstall. Then, do not install 178.24 or any version of ForceWare higher than that.
I would suggest using NVIDIA (or LaptopVideo2Go) driver archives to track down an older version.
But, my personal fix is a lot easier… I just removed my GeForce 6200, and went back to my Intel i865 integrated graphics. Actually, I haven’t tested to see if that fixes the problem on its own… you may still need to do a Server Reinstall.
Edit: Some have suggested reverting to older driver versions does indeed work. I’ll check it out and update, hopefully later tonight.
Well, you can forget about an update any time soon. I plugged my Home Server back in, and the PSU exploded on power-up. And, that’s not getting fixed until after Thanksgiving weekend…
Oh man, that’s terrible! Wishing you the best on your system recovery.
I uninstalled the nvidia graphics drivers and was able to log in via Remote Desktop. However, now the connector software can’t see the home server. Man, this is a mess.
[...] Wednesday, I was doing some regressive bug testing for Microsoft on a Windows Home Server (WHS) bug. When I flipped the power switch on my power supply, the power supply exploded… literally. [...]