Proper way to remove/update video drivers

[Lery]

Hello everyone. Currently this is how I update my ATI drivers when there is an update. Is this still in today's day and age, still necessary?

1) Remove driver using add/remove programs
2) Reboot into safe mode
3) Use driver sweeper to remove left over ATI driver files
4) Reboot into regular mode
5) Install updated driver

 

[Brink]

Hello Lery,

I have had no problems with just running the new driver installation file to automatically install over and update the older version without having to uninstall the older version.

Either way works, but if one is having any problems installing the driver or prefers a clean slate, then doing what you posted would be a good way to do so.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[TCG]

Hello Lery,

I have had no problems with just running the new driver installation file to automatically install over and update the older version without having to uninstall the older version.

Either way works, but if one is having any problems installing the driver, then doing what you posted would be a good way to do so.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Agreed. I usually will just go to the ati/amd website and download the newest version, then just run the install over the top of what is there.

 

[Sardonicus]

ATI/AMD gives you the option of installing or uninstalling, at least with the CCC interface. I'm sure they've tweaked the uninstaller over the years to do a pretty thorough removal.

I usually uninstall the old version and then install the new version.
But, I too would have no problem with installing the new version over the older one.

 

[Lery]

Thank you for the replies. Next time I will remember this. Unfortunately Driver Sweeper really decided to mess up the uninstall of drivers for ATI. If you use that to uninstall drivers, then try to install SP1 your screwed.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (Page 1) / Driver Sweeper / Phyxion.net Forums

Unfortunately for me, none of the workarounds seem to work, so it looks like I will need to reload my OS. Sort of overdue.

 

[Sardonicus]

Did you try system restore?

 

[Lery]

Did you try system restore?

No, I'm sure I could, but I can use a system rebuild anyway. I might try system restore for grins and giggles just to see if it works.

 

[Brink]

Please let us know how it goes if you decide to.

 

[Lery]

Please let us know how it goes if you decide to.

Just checked my system restore points, and I just have one. That would not be a good one to go back to.

 

[Brink]

Oh, that's to bad. Hopefully the reinstall will go smoothly and quickly.

 

[dsperber]

Just checked my system restore points, and I just have one. That would not be a good one to go back to.

System restore points are not always the answer to recovering in the situations in which you've really done some bad harm to your system. They're good for "simple problems", in my opinion, but I don't really trust the results. Doesn't seem to either add or delete everything I would have expected.

Much more super-100% dependable is "system image". Take these at least once a week if not more often, and you'll never be SOL.

Make one right after you complete your Win7 install with all the 3rd-party software and customization tweaks, and you can always start from this image if you really had to "start over". It's a lot easier to start from this point, than from ground zero, assuming no major hardware changes since the image was made.

If you want to retain multiple system images on disk (e.g. one above, when you're freshly installed, others on a daily or weekly basis, etc.) you have to either pick different target drives or manually rename the parent directory yourself. Win7 only supports one "official" system image folder of the "official name" on a given hard drive.

But.. "system image", is your lifesaver. Can't take them often enough, if you have the space.

 

[Phone Man]

Here is a link to AMD on updating your driver. See #3 for updating the driver.

20870InstallGuideforATIHardware&Drivers

As you found out Driver Sweeper is NOT a good idea and should not be needed.

Jim