Nvidia Control Panel is missing? it usually just shows up when

>>328207

I think you are probably correct in your assumption that "Windows Update" has caused the problem.

If so, then: to solve the problem probably requires the Windows "Professional" version .....

(as you will need to use the pro. "group policies")

..... in order to enable you to reinstall the original driver(s) , AND prevent Win update fouling you up again next time.

Here is a complete guide from "ghacks.net" that explains the procedure in full:

https://www.ghacks.net/2017/06/03/stop-windows-from-installing-drivers-for-specific-devices/

Good luck with it.

>>328321
Windows update won't downdate drivers to a lower version.

You can find the control panel extension in the directory the driver package extracts to (it's nvsomething.cpl), and if you copy it into system32, it'll automatically get added to control panel.

afaik, under windows 10 you need to have at least one nvidia display service running to be able to open the control panel (and to have the icon for in on desktop context menu). im not sure about older drivers or windows versions but on more recent ones thats the way it works (probably something to do with accessing hardware/features under kernelmode in userland, since services can but "regular" processes cant)