[BUG] GPU process crashes instantly on GTX 1650 Max-Q, Windows 11 Home

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

OS: Windows 11 Home
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design
Driver: 596.36 (Studio, April 28 2026)
Claude version: 1.8089.1

Error:
GPU process exited unexpectedly: exit_code=-2147483645
GPU process isn't usable. Goodbye.

Tried: --disable-gpu, --use-angle=swiftshader, --use-gl=swiftshader
All flags either crash with same GPU error or throw "GPU access not allowed" from app code.

What Should Happen?

Claude Desktop should launch and display the main window successfully.

Error Messages/Logs

[ERROR:content\browser\gpu\gpu_process_host.cc:996] GPU process exited unexpectedly: exit_code=-2147483645
[FATAL:content\browser\gpu\gpu_data_manager_impl_private.cc:417] GPU process isn't usable. Goodbye.

Error repeats 6 times before fatal crash.
Also tried --use-angle=swiftshader --use-gl=swiftshader flags, same error.
Tried --disable-gpu flag, app then throws: "GPU access not allowed. Reason: GPU access is disabled through commandline switch"

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude Desktop v1.8089.1 on Windows 11 Home
2. Launch the app normally
3. App logo flashes once in taskbar then closes instantly
4. No window ever appears

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude Desktop v1.8089.1

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design
Driver: 596.36 Studio (April 28, 2026) - also tried 32.0.15.9649
Windows 11 Home (no Hyper-V support)
Tried clean reinstall, multiple driver versions, and all GPU flags - none worked.