ATI Radeon Driver uninstall ... not in add/remove programs

[Randomizer]

Hi all. Just got a new ATI Radeon video card to replace a 4870. I thought I was using ATI Video drivers but I don't seem to have anything to uninstall (before the upgrade). Nothing ATI shows up in Revo, CCleaner or within add/remove programs. Would this mean I have been using Windows video drivers? How can I tell for sure?

 

[stormy13]

This is what should be in Programs and Features if you have installed any of the ATI/AMD drivers since Windows 7 came out,



What does it show for your card in Device Manager? If it shows the card's name and followed by "Microsoft (WDDM)", then you have been using the default Windows driver.

 

[Randomizer]

Not there. Nothing related either. I see only ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series as a display adapter within device manager. Does this mean I've been using the windows drivers? If so - should these be uninstalled to install a new 5xxx series card?

 

[stormy13]

When you select Properties for the card in Device Manager and click on the driver tab, who does it show as the driver provider? maybe even a screen shot of what it shows, and then I can see which driver version if it is from ATI/AMD you have.

 

[Randomizer]

ATI Technologies Inc.

 

[Randomizer]

Driver Provider: ATI Technologies Inc
Driver Date: 4/19/2011
Driver Version: 8.850.0.0
Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

 

[Randomizer]

screenshot

 

[Randomizer]

and

 

[stormy13]

Catalyst 11.5,

Previous ATI Catalyst

Didn't happen to update it through Windows Update did you? If so and that is the only way that you have updated the drivers for it, that would be why you're not seeing any entries in Programs and Features to uninstall it.

With not having the Catalyst Install Manager (CIM) showing in Programs and Features and to uninstall the current driver (and get it back to the default Windows driver), you're going to have to uninstall through Device Manager and also select to uninstall the software with it, restarting after each time and letting Windows detect and install the last until it shows up as the driver being the default Windows driver; then uninstall one last time, power down and switch cards. Once detected by Windows then install the latest from the link I posted previously.

 

[Randomizer]

I may have inadvertently allowed WU to get to this driver. I'll work through your suggestion. Thank you.
One addition question though - what am I uninstalling one last time once I am seeing the default Windows driver?

 

[Randomizer]

What is the 'Previous ATI Catalyst' link? I have already downloaded the current ATI drivers / software for the new HD5670 card from here: ATI Radeon

 

[dsperber]

I may have inadvertently allowed WU to get to this driver.

One addition question though - what am I uninstalling one last time once I am seeing the default Windows driver?

I don't think you're running the Windows video driver. You're clearly running the ATI driver, even if it got applied through your Win7 installation and/or Windows Update.

Normally the downloaded ATI driver package (either complete "suite" or "separates" for driver and then Catalyst Control Center, which is how I do it to keep what I install to a minimum) will also install that ATI Catalyst Install Manager, which is how you would then do an uninstall.

That surely seems like the only reason you don't have the ATI Catalyst Install Manager showing in your Control Panel -> uninstall a program.


Anyway, I would think you can delete everything for your existing ATI video driver using Driver Sweeper. Obviously it is intended to delete any last bits and pieces left over from uninstalling using the Install Manager, but I believe it should get rid of everything for you. Follow the several steps, including re-boot into Safe Mode, and when you finally come back up in normal mode you WILL be running with the default Microsoft video drivers.

Then you should be able to run the official ATI Catalyst driver install. And you WILL then end up with that Catalyst Install Manager to use in the future, if you need to.