Why might a Video Card Driver not install, causing an incompatibility warning?

Article by Adam Harte-Maxwell, CSWE updated July 24, 2019

Microsoft has announced a new video card driver structure for all hardware manufacturers: “DCHU (Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support Apps, Universal API compliance) “.

What does this mean for SOLIDWORKS?

Towards the end of 2018, hardware manufacturers began shipping new systems with the new video card driver structure. Systems older than 2018 (or systems shipped with legacy driver models) may continue to use the legacy driver model moving forward with no changes required. Older hardware is able to use the DCHU driver version ONLY if a “clean” Windows installation occurs.

The OS cannot use both versions interchangeably. Whatever type was installed first will be the driver type going forward:

  • You cannot install a DCHU driver on a legacy driver system.
  • You cannot install a legacy driver on a DCHU driver system.

There are no advantages in performance or features to either driver structure. Customers should use the same type that their systems are supplied with and should not try to change it. This issue has been documented on our Knowledge Base as Solution S-076466 (requires a SOLIDWORKS Subscription Service Portal account login for access).

Video card driver

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Adam Harte-Maxwell, CSWE

National Technical Support Manager at Javelin Technologies; manages team of almost 20 support technicians who provide post-sales technical support, training, and consulting relating to SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD design packages, PDM file management, SIMULATION stress analysis, ELECTRICAL and PCB design, COMPOSER and VISUALIZE, and more, to our customers. First exposure to SOLIDWORKS was the 98Plus version in my prior life as a mechanical designer prior to January 2005 when I joined Javelin.