Multiple Nvidia driver install files?

[kol12]

Hi,

I've noticed an Nvidia Corporation folder consuming 3.3GB drive space. To me it looks like an accumulation of install files from every time I've upgraded the driver. I'm wondering if this might have something to do with not doing clean installations? I upgrade the driver through Nvidia GeForce Experience but I don't do clean installations.

 

[basroil]

Just click the custom install dial, then clean install and it should get rid of everything.

Also make sure to delete c:\nvidia, since all your driver installers are stored there too!

 

[kol12]

Just click the custom install dial, then clean install and it should get rid of everything.

Also make sure to delete c:\nvidia, since all your driver installers are stored there too!

So your saying to do clean installs from now on?

I don't have a c:\nvidia, the files shown above are in c:\program files\nvidia corporation\installer2

Can I delete the whole nvidia corporation folder or just the installer2 folder? I'm guessing this is the new path for the nvidia install files? I remember when it used to c:\nvidia..

These are the other folders within the nvidia corporation folder:

 

[basroil]

Old files are still in C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver unless you force the extractor to some other.

Do NOT just delete files in the program files folder unless you completely uninstalled the driver first!

 

[kol12]

Old files are still in C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver unless you force the extractor to some other.

Do NOT just delete files in the program files folder unless you completely uninstalled the driver first!

Here they're saying to delete the entire contents of the installer2 folder. They're just leftover install packages anyway aren't they?

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/3265so/nvidia_ssd_users_clean_up_after_the_geforce/

 

[basroil]

Here they're saying to delete the entire contents of the installer2 folder. They're just leftover install packages anyway aren't they?

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/3265so/nvidia_ssd_users_clean_up_after_the_geforce/

Again, don't touch ANYTHING in program files until you uninstall the drivers

 

[kol12]

Here they're saying to delete the entire contents of the installer2 folder. They're just leftover install packages anyway aren't they?

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/3265so/nvidia_ssd_users_clean_up_after_the_geforce/

Again, don't touch ANYTHING in program files until you uninstall the drivers

Hmm ok, I'm a little confused. What are all of the folders in the Installer2 folder? Why can't they be deleted while the driver is installed? Why don't I have a c:\nvidia folder?

What steps should I take to reduce/clean the Installer2 folder and how can I prevent it from accumulating again?

 

[basroil]

Hmm ok, I'm a little confused. What are all of the folders in the Installer2 folder? Why can't they be deleted while the driver is installed? Why don't I have a c:\nvidia folder?

What steps should I take to reduce/clean the Installer2 folder and how can I prevent it from accumulating again?

There's nothing to confuse you. DON'T MESS WITH "PROGRAM FILES" UNLESS YOU ARE SURE THAT IT'S NOT NEEDED!!!

When it comes to drivers, it's even more of an issue. If you want to clean the folder, uninstall your driver first to make sure anything remaining is garbage. After you restart, just reinstall the driver and you'll be good to go with zero risk

 

[kol12]

Hmm ok, I'm a little confused. What are all of the folders in the Installer2 folder? Why can't they be deleted while the driver is installed? Why don't I have a c:\nvidia folder?

What steps should I take to reduce/clean the Installer2 folder and how can I prevent it from accumulating again?

There's nothing to confuse you. DON'T MESS WITH "PROGRAM FILES" UNLESS YOU ARE SURE THAT IT'S NOT NEEDED!!!

When it comes to drivers, it's even more of an issue. If you want to clean the folder, uninstall your driver first to make sure anything remaining is garbage. After you restart, just reinstall the driver and you'll be good to go with zero risk

I see what your saying but what if I uninstall the driver and all of the Installer2 folder contents remain? That would rule them out as being files required for the driver to operate wouldn't it? Are you sure these aren't files from all of the previous install packages? There's talk elsewhere that Nvidia is storing all of the old installers and even creating duplicates of them!

Earlier in the post you said not to forget to delete the c:\nvidia folder that stores the driver install files. I don't have a c:\nvidia folder and there's also talk elsewhere that Nvidia doesn't store the packages there anymore but in the c:\program files\nvidia corporation\Installer2 folder instead which is the folder in question.

That's why I'm still confused. Were you aware of this change?

 

[basroil]

I see what your saying but what if I uninstall the driver and all of the Installer2 folder contents remain? That would rule them out as being files required for the driver to operate wouldn't it?

That's the entire point, don't touch anything until you're 100% certain, and the easiest way (other than asking nvidia directly) is to just uninstall.

That's why I'm still confused. Were you aware of this change?

I haven't see that "change" in any of my computers

 

[shoe59]

I recently had the same issue, and I used the guide below to clean install Nvidia driver from scratch. Hope this helps

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2284749/completely-uninstall-amd-nvidia-gpu-drivers.html

 

[kol12]

Would uninstalling the drivers manually affect Geforce Experience from installing them again? Should Geforce Experience pick up that the drivers been uninstalled?

 

[basroil]

Would uninstalling the drivers manually affect Geforce Experience from installing them again? Should Geforce Experience pick up that the drivers been uninstalled?

Don't use geforce experience for driver updates, just download drivers from the nvidia website after they've been out for a week or so (to avoid getting the occasional crappy driver that causes issues)

 

[kol12]

Would uninstalling the drivers manually affect Geforce Experience from installing them again? Should Geforce Experience pick up that the drivers been uninstalled?

Don't use geforce experience for driver updates, just download drivers from the nvidia website after they've been out for a week or so (to avoid getting the occasional crappy driver that causes issues)

What's going to be different after a week or so?

 

[basroil]

What's going to be different after a week or so?

If the driver was really that bad, nvidia will pull the driver and replace it with one that doesn't fry your system. If it's just a little messed up, you'll know from news sites and you can avoid updating until the next driver comes out

 

[kol12]

What's going to be different after a week or so?

If the driver was really that bad, nvidia will pull the driver and replace it with one that doesn't fry your system. If it's just a little messed up, you'll know from news sites and you can avoid updating until the next driver comes out

Right so if they haven't pulled it after a week or so it should be good?

 

[basroil]

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Right so if they haven't pulled it after a week or so it should be good?

Pretty much. No need to update drivers that often though, I generally only do it if there are specific added features (vulkan test support, massive performance improvements for certain things, etc) or games I will be playing.

 

[kol12]

Getting back to the original issue here, will I need to do a thorough uninstall to determine what leftovers/packages can be removed or just simply uninstalling from control panel?

 

[basroil]

Getting back to the original issue here, will I need to do a thorough uninstall to determine what leftovers/packages can be removed or just simply uninstalling from control panel?

Just uninstall and then remove whatever remains in that nvidia folder

 

[kol12]

Getting back to the original issue here, will I need to do a thorough uninstall to determine what leftovers/packages can be removed or just simply uninstalling from control panel?

Just uninstall and then remove whatever remains in that nvidia folder

Ok, I'll see how it goes.

 

[kol12]

I've uninstalled the driver (didn't make a system restore first in case ) I also accidentally uninstalled Geforce Experience thinking it was the driver so probably lost settings/profiles? It looks like pretty much all of the folders in the Installer2 folder remain after uninstalling the driver. Are you certain they're safe to delete? What do you think they are? old installer files?

There's also some folders left in the c:\program files\nvidia corporation folder. Safe to delete? I've attached pics of files remaining.

 

[basroil]

If you uninstalled the driver and geforce experience, anything left over is save to delete. When you reinstall the graphics drivers geforce experience can be installed too, and your settings should be there

 

[kol12]

If you uninstalled the driver and geforce experience, anything left over is save to delete. When you reinstall the graphics drivers geforce experience can be installed too, and your settings should be there

Ok. What do you think the large amount of these folders are? They look like installers.. Would they likely have accumulated from not doing clean installations?

 

[kol12]

Should I cleanup any other locations while I'm at it before installing?

 

[kol12]

I'm getting an error when trying to delete the Nvidia corporation folder saying there's a file in use. What should I do?