Video Driver/Graphics Card Issues

[FoxStang]

So yesterday my computer begins not starting properly after installing a directx update, goes into startup recovery mode where it restores to last known "good" setup, no luck. Something here is really messed up, wouldn't even boot into Linux nor boot linux from disc (was going to try to copy important files, I have a dual boot setup). I reinstalled w7 which fixed things until I went to reinstall my video drivers (Nvidia 8800M GTS, this is a notebook). Each time I install the video driver (tried several different drivers, new and old), it will make it past the splash screen, but then be a blank black screen and won't do anything else. After manually restarting it will once again go into recovery mode where it will restore before the driver install, which now works fine.

Any ideas? I'm thinking my graphics card went bad or perhaps registry errors, not sure though. Any advice would be great.

EDIT: Did a full reformat and reinstall, still won't let me install the drivers or recognize the video card in the device manager.