Clarification on driver Un-install process! It's all different!?

[alexman941]

Hello,

I have read (Toms hardware articles http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-2032150/installing-graphics-card.html and forum posts) and watched numerous videos on the process of un-installing Nvidia drivers before installing a new GPU. However they all suggest different things!

I have an Intel dp35dp motherboard and a Nvidia Quadro FX 1700 GPU. I am upgrading to an MSI GTX 950 OC 2GB.

1. I understand I need to un-install ALL the old drivers (I have 3D vision, Graphics Driver and NView) of which I need to uninstall the graphics driver last?

2. Then I understand the screen will go black as my computer will now be running off the integrated graphics on the motherboard (Does mine have that?)

3. Then I need to restart the computer to finish this off.

4. Do I need to trawl through the computer finding ANY trace of Nvidia files and continue deleting them?

5. Then I physically take out old GPU

6. Physically put in new GPU

7. Go to Nvidia website and download the newest drivers from there.

Then am I good to go? (If not what else needs to be done?) Please feel free to have some input!

Hopefully this helps many others and settles this issue once and for all.

Thanks guys and gals!

 

[brispuss]

Download DDU.

Install DDU.

Download current video card drivers for the new video card.

Uninstall current video card drivers via the system Control Panel or via the video card driver uninstall (if available).

(Re)Boot into Safe Mode.

Run DDU and select Nvidia drivers to uninstall.

Computer may then be rebooted (either automatically, or do so manually). Ensure computer is now rebooted in Normal Mode.

Shut down computer.

Remove video cable from current video card.

Remove current video card from computer.

Install new video card.

Connect video cable to new video card.

Start/boot computer.

May get message about drivers missing for video card, just use default basic drivers to complete computer boot.

Install/run new video card driver.

Computer may have to be rebooted (automatically) for new video card drivers to take effect.

Done.

 

[alexman941]

Download DDU.

Install DDU.

Download current video card drivers for the new video card.

Uninstall current video card drivers via the system Control Panel or via the video card driver uninstall (if available).

(Re)Boot into Safe Mode.

Run DDU and select Nvidia drivers to uninstall.

Computer may then be rebooted (either automatically, or do so manually). Ensure computer is now rebooted in Normal Mode.

Shut down computer.

Remove video cable from current video card.

Remove current video card from computer.

Install new video card.

Connect video cable to new video card.

Start/boot computer.

May get message about drivers missing for video card, just use default basic drivers to complete computer boot.

Install/run new video card driver.

Computer may have to be rebooted (automatically) for new video card drivers to take effect.

Done.

Thanks for the reply, is that the fool proof way of performing said task? I just don't want any problems when I install the new card!

How do I reboot into Safe mode?

Also I am downloading the new drivers off this page - http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

That is correct isn't it?

Finally does DDU un-install every trace of the old drivers? If so how do I prevent it from downloading the new driver I have downloaded?

Thanks in advance!

 

[brispuss]

This procedure is usually the best way to ensure that there are no issues with old and new video drivers being in conflict which might lead to other system problems.

Safe Mode boot procedure -

Click on Start

Type in msconfig in box at bottom and press enter

Select Boot tab

Select Safe boot check box

Click Apply

Click OK

Then click Restart on following message box that appears

Computer will then restart in Safe Mode

After running DDU and restarting (automatically), Normal boot mode should be re-enabled; if not and computer boots again into Safe Mode, then run the msconfig procedure again, but this time UN-check the Safe boot option > Apply > OK > Restart.

That Nvidia link is basically correct for downloading the latest video card drivers. Just be careful that the correct video card version and the correct operating system is selected.

DDU removes all traces of old drivers, it doesn't (or shouldn't) download new video drivers. New video drivers are downloaded manually by yourself.

 

[alexman941]

This procedure is usually the best way to ensure that there are no issues with old and new video drivers being in conflict which might lead to other system problems.

Safe Mode boot procedure -

Click on Start

Type in msconfig in box at bottom and press enter

Select Boot tab

Select Safe boot check box

Click Apply

Click OK

Then click Restart on following message box that appears

Computer will then restart if Safe Mode

After running DDU and restarting (automatically), Normal boot mode should be re-enabled; if not and computer boots again into Safe Mode, then run the msconfig procedure again, but this time UN-check the Safe boot option > Apply > OK > Restart.

That Nvidia link is basically correct for downloading the latest video card drivers. Just be careful that the correct video card version and the correct operating system is selected.

DDU removes all traces of old drivers, it doesn't (or shouldn't) download new video drivers. New video drivers are downloaded manually by yourself.

Perfect, is there anything in particular I need to know when using DDU? For example picking the right option clean and restart or clean and shutdown?

I have noticed some people mention not needing to uninstall old drivers if you are remaining with Nvidia, I guess this is just less clinical than the way you are suggesting?

(Also do you suggest I run DDU then download the new driver, as this will make sure it does not delete the new drive I have downloaded?)

Thanks again!

 

[brispuss]

When running DDU, select the Clean and Restart option (this is the recommended procedure). The computer should then restart in Normal Mode. Again, if by chance the computer is still in Safe Mode then run the msconfig procedure to get the computer to reboot into Normal Mode.

Always advisable to thoroughly remove old drivers to ensure that there will not be a conflict with new drivers. Overwriting old drivers with new drivers may not always work properly (for whatever reason), so this may leave some old driver files which may conflict with new driver files.

Doesn't really matter if DDU or new video drivers are downloaded first, as long as both are downloaded before starting the driver removal procedure using DDU.

 

[alexman941]

Thanks, I will let you know how I get on!

 

[alexman941]

When running DDU, select the Clean and Restart option (this is the recommended procedure). The computer should then restart in Normal Mode. Again, if by chance the computer is still in Safe Mode then run the msconfig procedure to get the computer to reboot into Normal Mode.

Always advisable to thoroughly remove old drivers to ensure that there will not be a conflict with new drivers. Overwriting old drivers with new drivers may not always work properly (for whatever reason), so this may leave some old driver files which may conflict with new driver files.

Doesn't really matter if DDU or new video drivers are downloaded first, as long as both are downloaded before starting the driver removal procedure using DDU.

I haven't performed this yet as my new card has not arrived however, I have noticed my motherboard does not have integrated graphics, does this mean I should not uninstall all graphics drivers until the new card is in? Otherwise surely I will have a black screen?

Or should I do it all with Nvidia experience?

 

[brispuss]

Uninstalling video card drivers now before the new card arrives could be done. The system will then (probably) ask to install drivers after reboot, but the default Windows drivers (nothing to do with any integrated graphics) could be installed in the meantime. However, the video resolution will be much lower and limited, but the computer could still be used for basic tasks.

It is suggested that the video system be left as they are until the new video card arrives. Then perform the full uninstallation and installation of new video card drivers. This means that the computer can be used with high video resolution in the meantime which is better than using the computer at low video resolution if video drivers were uninstalled earlier.