We recently made our office computer better by adding a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, replacing an old RTX 2070 Super. Before, we connected four screens to the 2070: three using DisplayPort (main screen, another screen, and an Oculus Quest) and a regular 1080p TV with an HDMI cable.
But after putting in the new RTX 4070, Windows couldn’t find the HDMI connection, though all DisplayPort screens were fine. This issue might also happen with other RTX 4000 series cards, like the RTX 4060, 4080, and 4090. If you’re facing this too, keep reading to find out how we fixed this weird problem.
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What we did to check the RTX 4070 and HDMI
Trying different HDMI cables
First, we tried another HDMI cable to see if the cable was the problem. Even with a cable we knew worked well, Windows still couldn’t see the TV.
Linked issue: Second Monitor Not Detected After Upgrading to Windows 11
Trying other screens
Then, we connected a different monitor instead of the TV. The goal was to check if the problem was just with the TV or a bigger issue. Sadly, we ran into the same problem: the screen worked until Windows started, then it went black.
Switching ports
We also tried changing the ports for the DisplayPort and HDMI connections. This didn’t help either. The HDMI screen still didn’t show up in Windows, but the DisplayPort screens were fine.
After all these tests, we figured the problem wasn’t the cable, the TV, or the ports. It seemed to be about how the graphics card and Windows worked together once Windows started loading.
Interesting read: Is it bad to have monitors with different refresh rates?
What we noticed during tests
Boot process behavior
An important thing we noticed was about the HDMI screen when the computer started. If only the HDMI screen was plugged in, it showed the motherboard logo and initial screens. This meant the graphics card could send out a basic signal through HDMI.
Related problem: Windows 11 Not Detecting USB-C Monitors, Why?
Black screen when Windows loads
But, when Windows started loading, the HDMI screen went black. This meant the problem was not with the hardware but how the graphics card’s drivers worked with Windows. It looked like the drivers were not setting up the HDMI output right when Windows took over.
This clue helped us think the problem might be fixed with software changes, not by changing or fixing any parts.
Might be useful: How to Tell If It’s Your Monitor or GPU That Is Dying
How we fixed it
Going back to an old driver
First, we went back to an older driver for the RTX 4070, thinking a new update might have caused the issue. Going back to a driver we knew worked fixed the problem, and Windows could see the HDMI screen again.
Here’s how to go back to an older driver:
- Right-click on the Start menu and choose “Device Manager.”
- Find the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 under “Display adapters.”
- Right-click on the RTX 4070 and choose “Properties.”
- Go to the “Driver” tab and click “Roll Back Driver.” If this option is not clickable, it means there’s no old driver to go back to. For me, this option was not clickable because I had already removed the old driver.
- You might be asked why you’re going back. Pick the reason that fits best and continue.
- Restart your computer to make sure the changes work.
Pro tip: Using Onboard Graphics And Graphics Card Simultaneously
Installing the driver in a special way
While going back to an old driver was a quick fix, we wanted the latest updates for our new RTX 4070. So, we tried updating the driver again but chose a custom installation through NVIDIA GeForce Experience. This let us control the setup more. We picked the “clean installation” option, which removes old driver files before putting in the new one. This often fixes issues from leftover files. But remember, this resets all NVIDIA settings and removes any profiles you made.
We also chose not to install the NVIDIA HD Audio driver since we didn’t need it. By keeping the driver setup simple, we tried to avoid any problems.
The result
After the custom driver install and restarting, Windows found the HDMI screen, and all our monitors worked as expected. This fix let us use the latest driver without messing up our screen setup.
Wrapping up
Fixing the HDMI issue with our NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series card took time and both hardware and software checks. We figured out the issue wasn’t the HDMI cable, the screens, or the card’s hardware. It was about the driver and how it worked with Windows.
Going back to an old driver was a quick solution, but the real fix was a clean, custom install of the latest driver. This way, we kept our system updated and made sure everything worked together well.
