Problem/issue of nVidia GTX660M on GE60 0ND-298 with Windows 8.1

Question

Hi folks,
I am newbie here, so please forgive me,
if my post is too long and ugly.
I have "almost" the same problem as the user called "Ghost", but in my case there
are few differences. I am too user of MSI GE60-0ND notebook, but the version is 298CZ (MSI GE60 0ND-298CZ).
some short info about me:
I am sort of experienced in PC maintenance, driver repairs, and software installing and setting up.
I had successfully and correctly helped at least  ca. 35+ people (including few relatives and friends)
with some problems regarding their desktop PCs or notebooks,
mainly they needed from me to solve some specific problem - some reinstall or
correct install/set up of the OS and drivers and etc. or other software programs they need to use in everyday life.
I had correctly updated/reflashed BIOS or firmware on more than 25 PCs (on ca. 4-5 PCs in last 4 months).
but I am not very skilled in PC HW reparation and assembly.
The problem I had is possibly simple (or not), but until now I couldn't find the working solution written
on the MSi Forum/thread or anywhere on the internet.
I have everything up to date, including Windows OS (8.1), drivers, BIOS and EC/FW from MSI
(as you can see from specs taken from Speccy 1.25, DxDiag, nVidia control panel and other software).
Well (or not?), the problem is that high demanding apps, like modern games or some CAD software/benchmarks i had recently
tested shown that my notebook is only using
the Intel HD4000 Graphics (in all situations even when it shouldn't) and not the dedicated high-performance
nVidia GTX660M graphic.
I even used the nVidia Inspector 1.7.2 from the thread of Ghost's problem with the same nb/graphic card.
I played HL2 Ep Two and One, Garrys Mod 14.022 (latest), IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 with Ultrapack 2.1 + SAS1946 updates
(with tweaked settings to use high-quality perfection/perfect settings)
to test and look if the dedicated graphics card is working or not. In all cases it shown that the nVidia GTX 660M
didn't even heat up some grade or load up the textures, and it appeared as non active against the HD4000 that run like wild.
In some of the above mentioned games it wasn't sufficient and the games crashed and/or closed suddenly-
that happened in Garrys Mod 14,
something same happened in that modded IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 - but with it it crashed by saying that
"il2fb.exe has stopped working".
To tell you more, before when i had plain windows 8, it didn't happened even once
(for the IL-2 Sturmovik was and is still set in the compatibility mode for Win XP SP3 - so everything should work),
in the case of HL2 Ep. Two it happened almost same as in Garrys mod 14.x . The game simply shut down and quit,
and closed without saying anything.
By playing those games, i saw in the taskbar only the icon of Intel HD graphics 4000 looking as active. 
The icon of nVidia in the taskbar panel stayed there or sometimes it completely disappeared,
and that indicates that pc was using only the Intel HD4000.
I tried to check for all updates, uninstall and reinstall Intel VGA HD4000 driver with latest official from Intel support,
and also after it by uninstall and reinstall of nVidia GTX660M driver with latest stable driver from nVidia page
with hope that the new drivers would do the thing and repair the errors/issues.
Until now I tried to solve my problem by myself,
but as nothing helped to solve the issue with dedicated nVidia card i had to visit this forum.
The current state of my pc to sum the facts together - to see what could be wrong there:
PC/Name-type: MSI GE60 0ND-298CZ (late summer 2013)
OS: Windows 8.1 (64-bit)
Tech specs: CPU - Intel Quad Core i7-3630QM Ivy Bridge 22nm,
RAM- 8GB DDR3/1600 MHz, HDD- 750GB (7200 rpm),
1. VGA (on chip)- Intel HD4000, 2. VGA- GTX 660M (2GB DDR5)
Motherboard: MS-16GA (HM76, rev. 1.0)
MB-BIOS version: E16GAIMS.514 (12/3/2013, installed 29.11.2013)
EC Firmware version: 16GAEMS1.506 (installed 30.11.2013)
Intel HD Graphics 4000 driver: v10.18.10.3412
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M driver: 334.89 (9.18.13.3489)
nVidia VGA BIOS Version:   80.07.27.00.05
Other drivers version
(which may cause the in-activity/problems of GTX 660M card)
- Intel Control Center v1.2.1.1008 **
- Intel Management Engine Components (ME) v8.1.0.1281 **
- Intel Management Engine Interface (MEI) v9.0.0.1287 **
- Intel SDK for OpenCL-CPU Only Runtime Package v2.0.0.37149
- NVIDIA PhysX System Software v9.13.1220
(** I have found some info that outdated (buggy) Intel ME and MEI drivers, could be the cause why the PC
uses only on board HD Graphics 4000 and can't switch to dedicated GTX 660 M when some app needs it,
could this be the thing or not?
I am really not sure, if it is cause why my PC is sticking on use of only HD4000 VGA.
Should i update the ME or MEI driver to latest stable as mentioned*** or not?
(*** on win-raid com in thread about latest Intel Management Engine Drivers-Firmware and Tools)
I am aware that a careless update of Intel ME or MEI can brick your PC or installed OS and make it unstable,
that is why i don't want to do that thing,
i want do some other way how to solve the correct vga switching issue.
Could you please help me, to detect where is the cause of the problem
and then to help me to solve it somehow ??
Please tell me also, if you need some other info
(i can send the DxDiag report if needed or something similar).
I know that my problem looks same way as had the user called "Ghost",
but in my case the details are a bit different and specific.
I will wait patiently for your advices.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Thank you, for that little advice.
Sorry i didnt answered sooner, was kinda busy last weeks.
I will specify the problem more - explain my investigation about the issue.
But I have GE60 0ND, and i somewhere read (on this forum but in other thread/topic)
that on GE 60 0ND the power button doesnt change its color from blue, either it actually uses Intel HD4000 or nVidia GPU GTX660 M.
If i am not wrong in that, i hope so / i can say that on my lap the power button never changed its color to some other.
It was and still is blue.
What i found from Speccy or from Nvidiainspector soft v1.9.7.2 was that my nVidia is generally
never used - even in games which were more demanding and were set in nVidia control panel to use nVidia GPU only
and NOT the HD4000.
But i think there is also there some other, far deeper and worser problem.
In last few days I was checking the possible issues with current Intel chipset driver (Intel INF driver - currently v9.3.1025) and also with Intel Mangement Engine drivers (currently ME Components driver 8.1.1281 and ME Interface driver 9.0.1287).
To tell you more, the problem with GPU drivers started shortly after i updated the Win8 to 8.1, but other confusing symptom is that shortly after the pc boots up in to OS environment,
the screen flicker one time and then the nVidia's control panel icon in taskbar will dissapear.
That happens around one to five times in halfhour or hour, after the laptop was turned on. I am very confused, from it, because it looks like the pc is unstable or the Windows Explorer is crashing. After the holfhour it stops doing it, but some time ago i tried to fix it by comletely uninstalling and then reinstalling both of VGAs (HD4000 and nVidia GTX660M) with latest stable and official drivers - but it didnt solved the issue.
Also the icons on the desktop and in taskbar dissapear for a second and then reappear.
I tried to figure it out many times, but found that it wasnt Windows Explorer error. What is this problem?
Is it in INF chispet driver and ME/MEI driver or it is caused by some other corrupted driver?
I even wrote some notes about what I found out.
So there are my findings. The ME and MEI driver are responsible
for deciding the use of and handling interaction between the system's low- and high- performance/importance and on motherboard installed components.
If they are wrong or incompatible it causes some errors or that some of the used component will be not used because of the error.
Also same role, but sorta a bit different has the INF chipset driver, which is sorta above the ME and MEI driver and governs over them and over use of the other
CPU and MB components and periipheral devices, like USB2-3 controllers, Cardreader, charging function etc.
So my question is, i have found on  Intel support Chipset INF driver for 7 series - the v9.4.1027 (November 2013), about which i read
that is also suitable for 7 series express chipsets like HM76/77 (my is 76)- should i try to install these drivers ?
Same, i had a hard work to find more current ME and MEI driver for notebook with Intel's 7 series express chipset
which should solve my problem. I found on Lenovo support webpage ME driver v9.0.1310 (components driver) and MEI driver v9.0.1287(interface),
they are both in one installer.
I read about that installer in description and found out that,
that drivers are useful on any lap with the 7 series chipset.
Just the Lenovo added note that those drivers and higher are usable on some other newly adde types of notebooks.
The provider of the driver was Intel.
I carefully read also some other info, and just few days ago i read also
if someone want/really neeeds to update
Intel INF chipset driver and after it the ME/MEI driver - one should unistall all drivers that are managed by that INF and ME/MEI drivers.
That means both VGA drivers (CPU GPU and dedicated GPU), Cardreader driver, LAN and WLAN drivers,
audio driver, all intel drivers - like Rapid storage, SCM driver and so, and manually uninstall the ME Interface driver through Device Manager too.
My other question is, could someone of you help with this by telling me some other information/advice i possibly completely overlooked.
Currently, my PC is working poorly - not slow, but the blicking of the icons on desktop and taskbar shortly after the system's start up
is totally horrible and the nVidia GPU GTX660M is unable to work (by crashing the Nvidia control panel).
I feel now really lost on this GE60 laptop altough i have good experience how to set PC or notebook.
I never faced this kind of problem - i would be happy if i knew the way how to fix it for once/definitely and use the fullpotential of that notebook.
Every advice or your experience will be very welcomed.
Thanks