NVIDIA Drivers - Avoid Problems

How to Avoid NVIDIA Driver Problems​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to do a clean install of NVIDIA graphics drivers for those having problems with the drivers.

Here's How:

1. Download the driver you want to install from your computer manufacturer or from NVIDIA.com.
See also: http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/602-latest-nvidia-forceware-video-drivers-windows-7-a.html
2. The first thing to do is open Windows updates, in the left column click change settings, in the drop down box select check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. The purpose of this is to keep Windows update from automatically installing a driver. We do not want conflicts with drivers.

3. Next go to your "C" dive and there should be a folder named Nvidia.

4. Open the folder and you will find a folder named 'Display Drivers', inside that folder will be all the drivers you have installed designated by number.

5. Delete all of the folders with numbers but Do Not delete the Display Driver Folder itself.

6. Next go to Control Panel (category View) and Uninstall a Program

7. Scroll down to the Nvidia drivers and begin to uninstall them but read the info box below before you start.

   Information

If you have an Nvidia chipset, DO NOT uninstall the chipset driver only the Display drivers. Also, uninstall all of the display type drivers but BE SURE TO UNINSTALL THE GRAPHICS DRIVER LAST.

8. When you uninstall the Graphics driver, Windows will request a reboot, do so. Upon reboot Windows will install a graphics adapter, that is good.

9. Open the new driver you downloaded, agree to terms and select custom install. Under custom install uncheck everything except the Graphics driver, PhysX and GeForce experience, if you want that. Be sure the 'CLEAN INSTALL' box is checked

10. Your set up should look like this.

11. Click next and begin the installation, after which you will reboot. This should give you a clean install of your drivers. You can now re set Windows Update to your preferred setting, as you are through.

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove "NVIDIA Control Panel" from Desktop Context Menu
• How to Add or Remove NVIDIA Taskbar Notification Area Icon in Windows
• Help Diagnose Graphics Card Problems

 

[maxie]

Nice work Steve

 

[essenbe]

Nice work Steve

Thanks very much, Maxie. It's my first and most likely needs some work.

 

[Britton30]

Good job Steve, especially the Windows update part.

 

[Arc]

 

[Computer0304]

Will help for GPU upgrades. Thanks essenbe.

 

[essenbe]

You're quite welcome.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Nice Steve this will help a lot of people with issues of late

 

[essenbe]

Thanks Tommy, I hope it will.

 

[Dude]

Great tutorial Steve. Bookmarked to point users here

 

[Thedoctor44]

Very nice tutorial Essenbe Bookmarked as well.

 

[Boozad]

Great work Steve, bookmarked to help others quickly in future.

 

[essenbe]

Thanks. I hope it helps.

 

[Stephanie]

Thank you great tutorial Essenbe

 

[Layback Bear]

Well done Steve. This should help many.
I notice that Arc is helping a OP in a thread that I think is downloading a driver update but is not installing the driver.
Your tutorial would be great help I do believe.

Bookmarked.

 

[essenbe]

Thanks to both of you. Arc knows about this Tutorial and even asked me to write it, so I assume he has his reasons for whatever he is doing.

 

[Layback Bear]

That's exactly why I didn't post in the thread. Arc knows what he is doing.

 

[Arc]

Not all the times.

Steve taught me how to troubleshoot a display driver related issue over a long time. I made a couple of templates based on those lessons, but those were in a short scope and not totally completed. This tutorial will help all of us to go to all the detailed steps.

Thanks again for all, Steve!

 

[essenbe]

You're quite welcome, Arc. It's how I do mine all the time, but works best for those having driver issues. I use it and don't have driver problems, and use it because I don't want problems.

 

[SteveDz]

Great job but

" If you have an Nvidia chipset, DO NOT uninstall the chipset driver only the Display drivers. Also, uninstall all of the display type drivers but BE SURE TO UNINSTALL THE GRAPHICS DRIVER LAST."

is slightly ambiguous. Which ones are Display drivers compared to the shipset drivers?