Do I have to FORMAT my HARDDRIVE?!?!?!?!

[rmthompson]

8O 8O :?:

Ok So I was reading through a couple of forums, and someone mentioned that if you were switching from an Nvidia card, that you should start with a CLEAN Windows install? Meaning formatting the harddrive?!?!

What the HECK would that have to do with running the card? I mean, if I delete every trace of the Nvidia card, and then install the new one, why won't that work?

I have a GEFORCE 5200FX right now and my new X800GTO is arriving today, but I am not going to open it if I have to REINSTALL Windows to use it... I use my computer for more than just gaming, and it would be too much of a pain in the arse.

Please tell me I don't have to, or there is a workaround or something...

😳 :?: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[FeareX]

Hey,

I never heard of formatting your HD if you put in a new vid card.

A friend of my went from nvidia (6200) to ati (9800pro) and never experienced any problems.

So i dont see any problems of putting your x800gto into your pc.

FeareX

 

[vulefu]

I didnt have any problems ever with switching betwene ati and nvidia with drivers leaved on hard disc.

 

[Pain]

I copied this from another forum, so where it talks about downloading the nvidia drivers, substitute ATI drivers, obviously.

--------------------------
1. Download and install Driver Cleaner. Do not run the program when installed. http://www.drivercleaner.net/
2. Download your Nvidia Drivers. Do not install
3. Go to Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs
4. Uninstall "Nvidia Display Drivers" or the similar option. Remove Display Drivers only.
5. Windows will now ask you to restarts. Do not restart
6. Run Driver Cleaner. Uninstall all remaining Nvidia display drivers.
7. Restart your PC.
8. Once Windows reloads, do not click on the "Found New Hardware" wizard that appears.
9. Install the drivers you previously downloaded.
10. Restart. Play game. Have fun.

 

[Datman]

If you have any problems with the official Ati drivers (ccc), use the omega drivers for Ati. Or find an older driver in the 5.1? series without catylist control centre

http://www.omegadrivers.net/

Formating is only a last resort when all else fails.

 

[Banusflakes]

Or find an older driver in the 5.1? series without catylist control centre

If you choose the "low bandwidth" option on the ATI download page you can dl the latest driver separately from the catalyst control center. CCC is retaahded.

 

[rmthompson]

If you have any problems with the official Ati drivers (ccc), use the omega drivers for Ati. Or find an older driver in the 5.1? series without catylist control centre

http://www.omegadrivers.net/

Formating is only a last resort when all else fails.

I've never had any trouble with ANY of the drivers, although, I just use the ones I downloaded of of the Nvidia website. I did one time use BETA drivers someone reccomended to me, and while they increased performace, in this case a lot it seems, I did experience crashses when play City of Heroes.

I mean I want to have the newest, but I don't want to get too crazy with it. I don't know if I should overclock the X800GTO. I get it today, so I will probably let it go a week and see how it runs, since I ALSO just upgraded to a new Power Supply... which is great!!!

Anywho - so the concensus is I shouldn't have to reformat unless I am having SERIOUS trouble. I should use the driver cleaner to make sure I have REALLY deleted EVERYTHING from Nvidia.

 

[Datman]

The only problem with that is you don't have the control centre that you used to have with the older drivers, you still need to adjust some settings. I tried it .

 

[Datman]

The omega drivers are there to try if the ati ones give any trouble. I've read a few people having some troubles when changing graphics manufactures have found that the omega set worked for them.

Uninstall the nVidia drivers first, then shut your computer down.
Change cards over and reboot
Maybe reinstall the motherboard agp gart drivers first? - anyone sure if this makes a diff
Then install the Ati drivers on the disc and hydravision, makes a difference, I ran without this and it looked blocky out of native resolution.

 

[rmthompson]

The omega drivers are there to try if the ati ones give any trouble. I've read a few people having some troubles when changing graphics manufactures have found that the omega set worked for them.

Uninstall the nVidia drivers first, then shut your computer down.
Change cards over and reboot
Maybe reinstall the motherboard agp gart drivers first? - anyone sure if this makes a diff
Then install the Ati drivers on the disc and hydravision, makes a difference, I ran without this and it looked blocky out of native resolution.

what's HYDRAVISION?

Should i use the drivers on the DISK or the newest ones from the website?

 

[Datman]

http://www.ati.com/products/hydravision/features.html
http://www2.ati.com/manuals/HydraVision32.pdf

These will help explain better.
You install this when you select custom install and tick the box.

Try the disc that comes with the card first.
Then the latest if needed, I don't like catylist control centre. Most people don't because it slows the system down for no benifit.

 

[Whizzard9992]

I've upgraded a few systems going ATI-nVidia or nVidia-ATI.

Usually you're fine if you just follow this rule: Uninstall the video card drivers BEFORE you remove the card you're replacing.


I've never needed a fresh install, but never, and I mean NEVER install one set of drivers on top of the other: you're just asking for trouble.

 

[bourgeoisdude]

I've upgraded a few systems going ATI-nVidia or nVidia-ATI.

Usually you're fine if you just follow this rule: Uninstall the video card drivers BEFORE you remove the card you're replacing.


I've never needed a fresh install, but never, and I mean NEVER install one set of drivers on top of the other: you're just asking for trouble.

Whizzard is right on. Remove the NVIDIA driver FROM ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS (NOT DEVICE MANAGER) and shut down (do not restart) the pc. Put in the ATi card in the nvidia's place and you'll be fine.

 

[rmthompson]

I've upgraded a few systems going ATI-nVidia or nVidia-ATI.

Usually you're fine if you just follow this rule: Uninstall the video card drivers BEFORE you remove the card you're replacing.


I've never needed a fresh install, but never, and I mean NEVER install one set of drivers on top of the other: you're just asking for trouble.

Whizzard is right on. Remove the NVIDIA driver FROM ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS (NOT DEVICE MANAGER) and shut down (do not restart) the pc. Put in the ATi card in the nvidia's place and you'll be fine.

ahh ok so remove the program Forceware from add remove programs? thats it? Should i ALSO do it in device manager? Or is the add/remove enough?

 

[excentric_13073]

The add/remove should be enough. WHat you mentioned is pretty much the same thing; redundant. If you want, you could search under C: for the Nvidia extraction folder, sometimes they extract to a folder and leave the extracted files after the installation.

 

[Action_Man]

Do I have to FORMAT my HARDDRIVE?!?!?!?!

Well it'd be a lot more helpful then formatting someone elses. 😛

 

[bourgeoisdude]

OMG, why did I find that post so funny? Yeah, I actually wear a shirt that says "Sarcasm--Just one of the many services I have to offer"--I guess that's why my humor is so dry 😱