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

 

[derekimo]

Hmm regarding NVidia drivers I have just had a an interesting experience with my new laptop in that Asus support advised me to download drivers for the GTX 860M and after five different drivers all said there was no such device on board.

Now I happened to be able to get onto the Asus support site in Sydney and within an hour my GPU is functional and all because the drivers for the GPU from NVidia and the global Asus support site were not what was needed and the driver had to come through an Asus support site did not know about and not the one that one can Google!!

It turns out that this machine was made in the US and probably a refurbished one and the fellow I spoke to was so knowledgeable it reaffirmed my faith in Asus. Mind you it took three months of trying before the fix could be applied!!

So it seems that NVidia drivers are not the same for any old machine(I mean at least Asus ones)

Laptop drivers are usually modified drivers the OEM's alter to their specs, sometimes the Nvidia or AMD drivers will work but with laptops it is always best to get them from the OEM when available.

That's a good thing to remember in the BSOD threads John.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes I agree Derek what annoyed ne though is the Asus support site bot local (Philippines call centre) and the global one (I am presuming Taiwan) gave me three different drivers yet the Sydney based one had the problem fixed in an hour because I was being directed to the wrong NVidia download site.

So if anyone who has an Asus machine particularly a laptop - is reading this then I would suggest you contact the very nearest one to you and it is I am assuming - support.asus.com just type that into the address bar no need for www. etc and you should come up with what is in my pic and sue the circled feature.

 

[Digifiend]

After step 8....after it installs the graphics adaptor it requests a reboot. Only problem is when computer reboots IT INSTALLS the Nvidia driver I just uninstalled.

Should I skip this reboot and try step 9 immediately ?

If Nvidia installer package worked correctly in 1st place........lot of people having problem using it with all panels black right after using it and right after windows splash screen appears...only way out seems to be letting windows due a repair (which is a roll back in time). Only reason I am trying methodology in this thread which isnt working out for me either. All I want is the updated driver so when pop for the Dell 4K panel......

Same problem here. I'm trying to confirm or eliminate driver issues as a cause for BSODs (it's either that or the graphics card itself, happens when I play games) but Step 8, rebooting the computer, effectively undoes Step 7, uninstallation of the drivers, hence the driver installer (Step 9) is just going to refuse to do anything on the grounds a newer version is already installed.

 

[essenbe]

A Graphics Adapter is necessary and not the Nvidia Driver. But, it does not require a reboot. If you set Windows Update to 'let me decide what to install' It should not install a driver.

 

[gregrocker]

Also, some times Windows Update will have an Nvidia Driver, I believe it will uninstall the C:/Nvidia folder and the current driver will probably be in Windows Updates or wherever Windows installs drivers. I have my Windows update set like the tutorial suggests all the time and will usually not install hardware updates but go find one that is more current. Don't tell Greg.

I don't think it is a good practice to ever advise consumers to turn off Windows Update as they likely will never return to see what all they're missing and 7 is so heavily patched now that you can almost be sure there are patches there that some hardware, software or the OS depend upon. Often these are strangely queued under Optional.

My point of view here is mostly from Clean Reinstall Factory OEM where I would still always go with WIndows Update drivers since I can't remember a single one of it's 1.3+ million users who reported bogus WUD drivers, and that's acknowledging their screw-up rate of one in a million.

With self-builds there's better reason to immediately plug in the chipset and GPU drivers, possibly after seeing what WUD offers since you know in most cases that's the OS speaking.

In either case I always turn off all GPU software in msconfig>Statup and >Services (after Hiding all MS Services) and in Services.msc since it's bloatware can present problems and is not needed.

Just another point of view. You guys work in BSOD which has my greatest respect, and will know how much GPU software is too much. Last I recall on the subject was something Archie said about never using it.

 

[essenbe]

Greg, in the beginning I stated that the tutorial is mainly for people who are already having driver problems. I said turn WU off just for the driver install. The last sentence in the tutorial states to turn WU back to where you like it.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Interestingly enough I have 2 NVidia display driver folders :/
331.82
347.88

 

[gregrocker]

Which one is installed in Device Manager? How's performance?

Recent Nvidia updates are bypassing MS config and will need disabling in services.MSC.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I can't tell there isn't a listing for it would it be in display adapters .....gtx 980 properties ?
But GeForce experience shows 353.30 6/22/15

 

[gregrocker]

It's usually coded in the Display driver version.

It looks like you've gotten a newer one than either of those, Probably from Windows Update.

In any case you can delete those two files from C as they are merely staging files for the driver install.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks both ?
I guess that makes since this is the second 980 I've installed the first was the 980 hybrid which I guess is the 347.88
And the second probably came from the install disk of the asus 980 gold card which was an older driver obviously 331.82

 

[essenbe]

Mike, even when you uninstall drivers, the drivers are left in that folder. That's why you have 2 folders in Display drivers. When you reinstall, delete all of those folders before you install the new drivers. That's really the point of this whole tutorial. Get rid of all the older drivers and only install the ones you need. I never install anything but the Display driver and PhysX. GeForce Experience is causing a lot of people all kinds of problems.

 

[GabrielK]

Hey, im noticing something similar that happened to someone else in this thread where at step 8, my PC installs drivers on its own even when i have WU disabled and no internet connection. I read a few posts but i couldn't find a solution to it. How do i go about disabling that? Also windows does not seem to install any adapter for the card, but when i look in WU i am able to download one manually, should i do that?

 

[essenbe]

It installs a graphics adaptor, which isn't a display driver. That is OK and needed. After installing the Drivers turn Windows Updates back to Automatic.

 

[GabrielK]

Sorry i'm still a bit confused so i'll explain, (i don't want to bring my BSOD issue into this thread since it already has its own thread) when i get to step 8, it installs something (driver or adapter) and instantly tells me to restart my PC without being able to (clean)install the driver (331.65) i was actually about to install. on restart, i get BSOD and my PC won't boot unless i use safemode. In order to be able to boot into normal mode i have to remove what was just installed.

I uploaded a picture of what i have when i finish step 7 and 8.

Above the blue line is the Windows update thing that doesn't get installed right away, should i install it?

Under the blue line is what gets installed right away (adapter?) at step 8, are these the correct files?

 

[essenbe]

If you have changed windows Updates to check for updates but let me decide whether to install them, then go ahead and do the custom install and install only the graphics driver and PhysX. Make sure the 'clean install' box is checked. then reboot, and set Windows Updates back to Automatic.

 

[GabrielK]

When i delete/uninstall all my drivers, and reboot, it immidiately installs those 2 files (Nvidia Graphic driver 344.11 and the 3D one) and asks me to reboot my PC. i clicked on reboot later, and did a clean install with the 331.65 with only driver and physx (although im not sure if physx installed, it already said i had a newer version) and clicked on reboot now. Ofcourse that just leaves me on a black screen after the windows logo and i have to boot into safemode again and uninstall everything.

I'm still confused as to why it installs those files from 344.11, i don't know how to stop it or if they even matter if you do a clean install for the next driver.

I guess i'll wait for Boozad for further info on how to continue.

 

[essenbe]

Will it boot and run OK with the 344.11 Drivers? If so, just leave them there and use them. Did you set Windows Update to check but let me decide what to install? If you go to Windows Update and see the Nvidia drivers there, right click them and select Hide.

 

[GabrielK]

The windows update is set to check but let me decide what to download and install, however i don't see any NVIDIA drivers there, the only thing that was there was the adapter update, which is no longer there after i installed it.

It will unfortuanetley not run with the 344.11 drivers. It seems like i get the same issue no matter what driver i install, so im going to try to get a hold of a new GPU and test it.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try disabling the Nvidia software in services.msc?

The software packages for these drivers are unneeded and can cause issues.