Unable to create OpenGL 4.0 context (flags m, profile n)

If you're getting the message Unable to create OpenGL 4.0 context (flags m, profile n) when creating your context (where m and n are numbers) your hardware does not support OpenGL 4.0.

Sadly, this is not something you can fix without upgrading your hardware. As mentioned in the Preface, the minimum graphics hardware you need for an OpenGL 4.0 context is:

• If you own an NVIDIA GPU, it must at least be in the Fermi family of products, starting with the GeForce GTX 400 series.
• If you own an AMD/ATI GPU, it must at least be in the Radeon HD 5000 series.

It is possible to run many of the samples using OpenGL 3.3 by using the code files found in the "OpenGL 3.3" directories of each chapters' source code listings. However, OpenGL 4.0+ core features will not work in OpenGL 3.3.