Windows 10: Only able to boot in safe mode; constant blue screens/restarting

First i made a few edits and a addition to my post.

To see what driverversion you have in Device Manager dubbelclick on your Geforce look under driver.

Looks like a good plan. Because i expect that with the geforcecard removed windows not autmatically wants to install the nvdiadrivers.

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Alright, so I'm working on installing updated Realtek, wireless, and Intel LAN drivers now. I was able to boot normally after using DDU, shutting down, and removing the graphics card. I am now in a normal-resolution version of normal windows 10. I used both options you recommended for preventing updates, just to be sure. I changed the settings through my control panel so no new drivers should be installed and I also used show and hide, which confirmed that "There are no hidden updates to show."

So, I guess I'm wondering what this proves? Or what the next steps to troubleshoot are?

EDIT: Intel LAN and Realtek audio drivers were installed successfully. Per your most recent reply, I checked device manager. The only display adapter listed is "Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000". I'm testing the stability by running 1080p streams in a couple tabs and it's been running without any hiccups for a while now.

 

I understand that you under Hide Updates checked the nvdia driver and applied next.

 

Actually, the first time I ran it, I picked the option that said "show hidden updates" and it said there were none to show. Now I'm doing what you recommend, but when I click "Hide Updates," I can't find any Nvidia drivers. They're all different intel/mobo drivers except for a couple that are a definition update for windows defender and a "cumulative update for Windows 10 Version 1607...".

 

I suspect that means that windows does not see the nvdia driver as a problematic driver.
This could eventually point to that your gpucard is faulty/broken.

To be sure that there is a nvdia driver through windows update could you check your downloaded/installed windows update history.
Through settings>security>windows update>history.

 

I attached a screenshot of my update history window. Notice that all the Nvidia drivers are from 12/7/16, when I reset the system. I'm guessing DDU removed those, and due to my removing the Nvidia card, they're not appearing in Windows Update anymore.

Honestly, it's hard for me to imagine what the problem could be other than a failing graphics card; even the way it gradually crashed more and more often (with less and less intensive graphics demands) seems to suggest that. Is there a way to maybe solicit a second opinion to confirm there aren't any other troubleshooting options? (I'd hate to drop the money on a new graphics card and have nothing change.)

 

There are two drivers for your card installed, a adapter wddm drivers and a normal driver.
Could you try to uninstall both of them, with the uninstall option on the same page. (maybe the are already uninstalled by DDU but we need to be sure there are no drivers on your system before installing the new driver).

If this succeeds, then reseat your card and install the latest nvdiadriver you have downloaded.

 

They are already uninstalled (see attachment). So, just to confirm, I turn off the computer; then reconnect the card; turn the computer back on (hopefully in normal mode), then download the graphics driver. Now, since I changed the settings in the control panel, Windows wont automatically try to install a display driver, so I'll download the most recent Nvidia one and install that?

 

Yes thats the plan.
What i would do is download the latest nvdia driver and save it to your hd.
In your case just to be sure disconnect from the internet, (if your on lan disconnect the cable)
Install the driver and cross your fingers.

 

Well, this was unexpected. I turned the computer off and successfully re-seated the card. Then, I turned the system back on (with the monitor HDMI still connected to the motherboard). I turned my monitor back on and there was no signal; so I unplugged the HDMI cord from the mobo HDMI port and connected it to the GPU HDMI port. Still no signal. Now my computer is running, but I'm not getting any display output from either HDMI port.

 

Turn it of and restart. I suspect a setting in your BIOS need to be reset.

 

Edit: Restarted with the HDMI connected to the graphics card and it booted up fine in normal mode, albeit with low resolution. Attempting to install the latest driver now (from my hard drive; per your recommendation, I pre-downloaded it and disconnected my ethernet connection.)

 

It continued to do what it has done in the past. About 10-20 seconds into the installation of the graphics driver, the screen flashed and went to "no signal." I waited until it crashed and restarted, then, somehow, it began installing that windows 10 version 1607 update (must have just sneakily been waiting for a restart. I confirmed the ethernet is unplugged and it's not connected to any wifi). I don't think the update mattered; the whole time while it was installing and after it installed, it was in low resolution mode. (I confirmed via the update history and uninstall updates window that the cumulative 1607 update was the only one that installed.)

Could I maybe try to install the driver again now with that windows update installed? Or would that matter?

 

Yes try it again.

When installing a videocard driver it is normal that the screen turns black and flickers frequently.

Can you try to manually adjust the resolution of your screen . right click on desktop> screen settings>advanced

 

Right, I know that--I've updated graphics drivers plenty of times before. This is different because after the first flicker to black, it goes straight to no signal and stays that way until the computer crashes and restarts. This time, when it restarted, it crashed immediately after the BIOS screen (i.e. went to "no signal"). I'm anticipating that now it will stay at "no signal" until it restarts, shows the BIOS screen, crashes (i.e. goes to no signal). It will then repeat that process roughly 5 times before it goes to a blue screen after the BIOS so I can start in safe mode.

EDIT: No, I can't right click on my desk top because it keeps constantly crashing immediately after the BIOS flashes--I never get to see the Windows intro screen, much less the login screen or desktop. It will crash (i.e. go to no signal), then spend a while chugging before it restarts, I see the BIOS screen, then it crashes immediately after. (It's now finished probably 3-4 cycles of crashing/restarting; I lose count.) Just to be clear, this was the exact same pattern I was having when I started the thread.