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NVIDIA Control Panel won't open
To preface this, I'm entirely unsure if this is an issue with Windows Insider Dev builds specifically, or if there's something else wrong that I haven't been able to find on my own. I'm on Insider build 25290.rs_prerelease.230128-1120.
This has been an issue for maybe a week, I'm not exactly sure how long, since I don't open NVCP all that often. I have an GeForce 940mx, and the driver (which I have reinstalled multiple times at this point) works just fine, as normal, in every way except that NVCP will not open. If I look in Task Manager, I can see that the Nvidia Control Panel process very briefly blips up and then disappears again.
Also, whenever I try to reinstall the driver, after it's complete, when I first try to open NVCP, it does show the software license agreement window where you have to click Agree, but after clicking Agree, that window goes away and the NVCP never comes up.
I've tried quite a few troubleshooting steps at this point, including installing multiple older drivers from a few months ago (a time period when I know NVCP was working), stopping and restarting services, etc. I am using DDU every time to fully uninstall the driver before reinstalling it. I've tried installing it as a clean installation and not, which makes no difference. I feel like I have no troubleshooting options left aside from reinstalling Windows, which I really don't want to do since I just went through that a few months ago and I'm only just now feeling like I've fully settled back in with all my random software and tools that I like having installed.
I'm on Windows 11, and I am on the Insider Dev Channel, which could potentially be what's causing the issue, but I haven't seen any other reports of this issue in the Feedback app or anywhere else online.
The biggest immediate problem this is causing me is that after reinstalling the drivers, all the games i was playing smoothly before starts lagging, as NVCP helps me to set up the settings required to boost the FPS, which I rely on heavily when playing games, and I have no way to set those settings without getting into NVCP.
If anyone has any ideas how to fix this without reinstalling Windows, I will be eternally grateful.
Next insights and workaround:
Seems something is wrong with the path validation / ACLs for executables.
But it's possible to start NVIDIA Control Panel from other locations.
This workaround (/PowerShell command) copies the AppX Package of NVIDIA Control Panel to your Desktop where you can start the executables (specifically "nvcplui").
The command will start nvcplui right after copying.
Get-AppxPackage 'NVIDIACorp.NVIDIAControlPanel' | % { Copy-Item -LiteralPath $_.InstallLocation -Destination $Env:USERPROFILE\Desktop -Recurse -Force; Invoke-Item "$Env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\NVIDIACorp.NVIDIAControlPanel_*\nvcplui.exe" }
10 Replies
d3v4n5hu Gamlling Chanksha_Lohiya akurakuu GabrielMarques92 NeXuS7714
Thanks for the feedback.
Just want to inform you that the underlying issue with Apps (caused by combase.dll), including Nvidia Control Panel (nvcplui), has been fixed with build 25300, in case you haven't upgraded already.
I can also confirm.. it works for me again.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25300 | Windows Insider Blog
- We fixed the underlying issue related to combase.dll, causing crashes with multiple apps using GetKnownFolder APIs after upgrading to Build 25290, including Notepad and Windows Terminal for IME users. This issue is also believed to be the root cause of some Insiders finding that certain actions in File Explorer were taking minutes to complete in these builds.
---
So you can delete now the copied AppX Package of NVIDIA Control Panel from your desktop and use the familiar way to open it.
- I am experiencing the same thing, I have reset the OS but it did not solve the problem.
d3v4n5hu Same problem I am on dev channel too. Tried performing a clean install but nothing worked. Waiting for them to fix this in upcoming update.
Same for me with 25290.
First insights (via Reliability History):
Description
Faulting Application Path: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\NVIDIACorp.NVIDIAControlPanel_8.1.963.0_x64__56jybvy8sckqj\nvcplui.exeProblem signature
Problem Event Name: MoAppCrash
Package Full Name: NVIDIACorp.NVIDIAControlPanel_8.1.963.0_x64__56jybvy8sckqj
Application Name: praid:NVIDIACorp.NVIDIAControlPanel
Application Version: 8.1.940.0
Application Timestamp: 6349407d
Fault Module Name: combase.dll
Fault Module Version: 10.0.25290.1000
Fault Module Timestamp: 7940a621
Exception Code: c0000602
Exception Offset: 00000000000413c9
OS Version: 10.0.25290.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID: 3072
Additional Information 1: fdaf
Additional Information 2: fdaf18f0bd7d1a0254636b89a71f3579
Additional Information 3: 70d1
Additional Information 4: 70d1625c0322467acbb24014b268f72cFiles that help describe the problem
WERInternalMetadata.xmlView a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.Next insights and workaround:
Seems something is wrong with the path validation / ACLs for executables.
But it's possible to start NVIDIA Control Panel from other locations.
This workaround (/PowerShell command) copies the AppX Package of NVIDIA Control Panel to your Desktop where you can start the executables (specifically "nvcplui").
The command will start nvcplui right after copying.
Get-AppxPackage 'NVIDIACorp.NVIDIAControlPanel' | % { Copy-Item -LiteralPath $_.InstallLocation -Destination $Env:USERPROFILE\Desktop -Recurse -Force; Invoke-Item "$Env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\NVIDIACorp.NVIDIAControlPanel_*\nvcplui.exe" }
d3v4n5hu
I have exactly the same problem, I've been trying to figure it out for a few days. The problem is exactly as you described. From myself I will only add that trying to restart the services also does nothing. I tried reinstalling NVCP from the microsoft store but that didn't help either. In the meantime, there were three system updates but none of them solved the problem.
