Integrated graphics in laptop cannot support OpenGL 3.3, but 540m can, but HOW?

[acesouthall]

I have just started using shaders in University and I need my laptop to be compatible with OpenGL 3.3, the issue I have is that the integrated Intel HD3000 graphics card doesn't support OpenGL 3.3.

The other card a nVidia 540m supports UPTO 4.0, but I cannot seem to get my laptop to use just that.

I have a Dell XPS L502x, i52430M, 8GB RAM, GT540M 2GB.

Within the nVidia control panel in the 3D settings I have set Visual Studio devenv.exe to use the 540m when its run but when I compile my code I get a blank screen yet when I run it on my desktop I see what I should see

 

[PP Mguire]

HD 3000 is capable of OpenGL 3.X support but the drivers do not support it.

If you have the option, go in your bios and see if you can just use the dedicated card.