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A graphics card is not removed from the display settings on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1 if you unplug the card while the computer is asleep or in hibernation

Article ID: 956756 - View products that this article applies to.

Hotfix Download Available

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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:

You have a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1).
This computer supports hot-plugging of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express graphics cards.
While the computer is asleep (S3) or in hibernation (S4), you hot-unplug a PCI Express graphics card.
You resume the computer from sleep or from hibernation.

In this scenario, when you open the Display settings item in Control Panel, you receive the following error message:

The currently selected graphics display driver can not be used. It was written for a previous version of Windows, and is no longer compatible with this version of Windows.
The system has been started using the default VGA driver.

On the Monitor tab, the unplugged graphics card is still listed. Additionally, if you reinsert the graphics card, the old item for the previously unplugged graphics card remains, and a new item for the same graphics card is added to the list of available graphics cards.

Note This problem does not occur if you unplug the graphics card by using the Safely Remove Device icon in the notification area.

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RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix on a computer that is running Windows Vista, you must have Windows Vista SP1 installed. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

935791

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791/ )

How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack

No prerequisites are required for computers that are running Windows Server 2008.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.