After uninstalling in safe mode, you can try installing an older driver version. After installation try booting into windows 7 normally.
Here is a website with a list of -
Old Version of N-Vidia ForceWare
I wish I could find the drivers listed on nVidia website. I don't like linking to second hand websites.
P.S. - Hiding windows update items will not keep windows from installing drivers that have already been installed previously.
The only way to stop Windows from automatically installing hardware is to satisfy all hardware with compatible drivers or tell windows to Disable hardware within Device Manager. After all automatically installing drivers is part of plug and play features within the operating system.