Windows hardware installation manager overrides my Nvidia Geforce 9400 GT install

See here to set device manager to display hidden and non-present (i.e. disconnected) devices and tell me if you see the integrated and/or addon graphics cards and if they are ghost devices or not.

ok i found the display adapters they are Intel(R) 82945G Express chipset family. i went to the properties for this adapter and it said they are not connected but i dont know how that is possible since they are integrated into the motherboard

Integrated Graphics Issue
When you're using your addon board you don't really want the integrated adaptor to be connected anyway (tho would be nice you can get it to work when needed!)
Check:
> Remove the addon card and reboot. (the integrated adaptor might be automatically disabled when the addon card is sensed on powerup)
> Go through all BIOS settings again, carefully. make sure you didn't miss it
> If not detected after addon is removed and not disable in BIOS, probably hardware failure

Addon Card Issues
Well if both cards were enabled at install would explain your problem.. Could you provide me the link to the nVidia driver file you are installing? i'll take a closer look

/* edit */
I mean to say.. since only the addon card is connected at boot up your install problem isn't due to both being enabled

ok i set the device manager up to show hidden files. it showed my old graphics adapter Intel(R) 82945G Express Chipset Family. i went to the properties for this adapter and in the device status box it said
Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)

To fix this problem, reconnect this hardware device to the computer.

Click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter for this device.
I dont know how it is disconnected because it is actually integrated into the motherboard

ok i found the adapter in the bios after i removed the nvidia video card but it wont let me disable it

i dont have the option to disable it

interesting.. well boot up when the sound card is removed. See if the integrated adapter appears in DevMgr (by default! i.e. Do NOT set View Hidden Devices)

If you see it in DevMgr (and your graphics works) then the BIOS is automatically disabling it when it detects the addon card. Which is great for the one question but still doesn't explain your original problem

/* edit */
Corected: I mean / fixed to say to try testing when addon card is removed.

the original display adapters by intel are working properly now that the nvidia card is removed

Well, then we now your integrated adapter works fine and is enabled/disabled by your BIOS automatically which is OK. So we're back to original problem.

1) Pls give me the link to driver download file you downloaded and trying to install
2) Vista provides a method to see a log of DevMgr events when it does an install (which might provide some clues to what's going on).
3) Plus if nVidia uses MS Installer i believe can trace installer events also ..

but i gotta spend time looking into the "how to do the tracing" as it's been awhile and need to make sure i am remembering it right

the nvidia card came with an install cd complete with drivers and its own installer so i didnt need to download the drivers so i cant provide you with a link. it doesnt install the drivers because the microsoft hardware wizard trys to install them but i cant find the wizard opened anywhere to turn it off so the installer on the cd will install without giving me the error message saying another hardware installation program is running close other installation program before continuing.

Ah-ha! In that case, the first order of business is go to the nVidia web site and locate the latest driver suitable for your computer make/model and Vista. Could well be nVidia already has a newer driver on their site that fixes the problem found on the CD version of the driver

ok i downloaded the latest driver heres the link http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/197.45/197.45_desktop_winxp_32bit_english_whql.exe

OK. Well go try to install them first and tell me if it works any better

ok the setup is the same and it still does the same thing

Rats. OK.. i'll take a look further but probably no more info till tomorrow.. will post back when i hopefully know something new

the nvidia video card must be inserted for the program to recognize the display adapter but if the card is installed the windows hardware installation wizard takes over but it doesnt open so that i can close it. it just opens and the installer provided with the video card detects that it is open so it wont install the drivers

Oh. i just had a thought....

1) Reoot your machine with addon card inserted. When the Hardware Wizard opens, hit CANCEL
2) Then look in Control Panel->Programs and Features. Look to make sure there is not any nVidia programs loaded! If there are, uninstall them
3) Now try installing nVidia download file

/* edit */
If you see multiple nVidia program entries, tell me what you see before you uninstall any one of them

the hardware wizard doesnt actually open it just says its open so i am not able to close it
if i were able to close the hardware wizard the installation program for the nvidia card should install the drivers. i think that the hardware wizard saying its open is the only thing blocking the installation of the drivers

Ummm.. that's weird on 2 levels
> If indeed (and what i describe should be your case) once your computer starts up, Windows should see the addon card hardware. When it can't find any driver for it i'd expect it to start hardware install wizard on each startup. So is very strange if you're saying you never see it start? (even before you ever try to install? or is Windows automatically trying to install any video stuff?)

2. Still follow my advice about lookin in Programs and Features. If you see nVidia entries uninstall it. (i'm actually guessing the nVidia app from your integrated card is still there! Only the integrated driver and the integrated device are disabled. I'm guessing the old app is still there)

Am double posting as i know you're reading this now

so want to make sure you see it (vs. editing my last post)

You might also see multiple entries in Programs and Features: for example for Control Center and another for the driver. If so, uninstall Control Control Center first. then uninstall the driver if u see it in Programs and Features