nVidia Optimus with GT 555M - dGPU Won't Activate

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.2
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 1, 64 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2820QM CPU @ 2.30GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7
Processor Count: 8
RAM: 8106 Mb
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M, -1024 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 456835 MB, Free - 293310 MB; D: Total - 476937 MB, Free - 476830 MB;
Motherboard: Dell Inc., 0XN71K
Antivirus: None

No matter which driver I seem to install for my graphics card, no applications at all will be activated by the dGPU, the 555M. Even if I set the global default option to be the dedicated gpu, it still does not activate. The only time the GPU activity indicator lights up is when I open/close the nvidia control panel and when I change settings.

I have asked about this problem on the nVidia forums, and even the mods there seem to be ignoring my main problem and attributing it to specific games (like Skyrim). I am desperate for any help. I'll do whatever is reasonably something you all think would help fix the problem. I appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Ethan Roseman

 

What exactly do you mean by "will be activated"? What applications does the graphics card "activate" and what do you mean by that?

 

No applications will activate the dGPU is what I meant. I have the indicator icon on the taskbar so I can see when applications are using the 555M, but this never happens. It used to, but some time in the last couple of months, this stopped working.

And the card is not being used with any applications at all. It's as if the new driver software permanently broke optimus.

 

Bump - anyone?