Do you deep clean the old video driver before installing the new one?

qubit · Jun 10, 2009

I don't bother. I've installed loads of video drivers over each other, including mixing ATI and nvidia without uninstalling first and seldom run into any problems.

What do you do?

EDIT: For those that are having problems or just wanna really clear out every trace of their old driver first, you may want to try my Deep Driver Detox Routine.

h3llb3nd4 · Jun 10, 2009

I alway go with people's suggestions, uninstalling old Drivers first

JATownes · Jun 10, 2009

Driver Sweeper FTW. Everytime. Never had a problem, but why would I ask for trouble??

W1zzard · Jun 10, 2009

i never uninstall and never have problems

INSTG8R · Jun 10, 2009

Once in awhile I will run Drivercleaner, most of time I just use the uninstaller and put in the new one.

FordGT90Concept · Jun 10, 2009

The only time I don't uninstall before installing a new driver is when it is currently using the Microsoft default (e.g. vga.dll for video adapters).

Uninstall, restart, install, restart, tweak.

Darknova · Jun 10, 2009

I only deep clean if I get problems after uninstalling and installing the latest driver.

etrigan420 · Jun 10, 2009

Darknova said:
I only deep clean if I get problems after uninstalling and installing the latest driver.

This...

DarkEgo · Jun 10, 2009

I voted "What is a Video Driver." But seriously i ushaly just uninstall then install the new driver. I only deep clean if i run into problems.

r9 · Jun 10, 2009

I`m lazy so I don`t uninstall prior new driver installation and I don`t have any problems.
On one windows installation I have used 8500GT 9600GSO HD4830 and HD4850 and P7N platinum P31 neo-f P35pro and P43 neo -f.

qubit · Jun 10, 2009

DarkEgo said:
I voted "What is a Video Driver." But seriously i ushaly just uninstall then install the new driver. I only deep clean if i run into problems.

That's the joke vote, you're not supposed to pick that one - that's like admitting you're an AOL user! :eek:

Kovoet · Jun 10, 2009

Just a habit and always do it.

A Cheese Danish · Jun 10, 2009

I voted Yes, only because I do it the majority of the time. But if I don't really care, I just install new ones without removing the old ones

Evo85 · Jun 10, 2009

Generally, no I do not. The exception is if I go from ATI to Nvidia or vice versa.

trickson · Jun 10, 2009

Driver sweeper FTW !

Nosada · Jun 10, 2009

I used to do this, until I realised it was giving me trouble with crossfire. Since I've started installing newer drivers over the old ones, no problems whatsoever.

qubit · Jun 10, 2009

Nosada said:
I used to do this, until I realised it was giving me trouble with crossfire. Since I've started installing newer drivers over the old ones, no problems whatsoever.

That's interesting, uninstalling is supposed to be the "safest" way to do it. Thanks for your input.

ASRockIQ · Jun 10, 2009

install newer ones. no need to uninstall the old ones. unless you switch to a different Company like from nVidia to ATI.

Blacklash · Jun 10, 2009

For ATi I just install new drivers over the old.

For nVidia I remove them in safe mode, then install the new ones in the same.

If I switch between nVidia and ATi I definitely remove old drivers.

I don't "deep clean" with third party programs.

For Windows 7 I remove their WDM driver, install the standard VGA driver, then the appropriate graphics card driver.

mlee49 · Jun 10, 2009

I just upgrade to the latest version, no problems with this method.

AsRock · Jun 10, 2009

I uninstall boot safe mode delete every thing i can find ATI\NV reboot and intstall. Only do it as it can save from possible issue's. And after all no harm can be done and only can be seen as a positive.

qubit · Jun 11, 2009

Ok, so far the blue team is in the lead with 19 No's to 12 red Yes's.

Can the reds catch up?!

Mussels · Jun 11, 2009

nope.
I dont even uninstall the old ones.

IMO its running half assed cleaners that cause most driver issues anyway. - if a cleaner removes a file but misses a registry entry, new drivers might not realise that its half there and half not, and screw things up. its NOT a situation where nothing can go wrong.

qubit · Jun 11, 2009

Mussels said:
nope.
I dont even uninstall the old ones.

IMO its running half assed cleaners that cause most driver issues anyway. - if a cleaner removes a file but misses a registry entry, new drivers might not realise that its half there and half not, and screw things up. its NOT a situation where nothing can go wrong.

Yeah, that's a good point. Sounds like recipe for disaster that could require a reformat and OS reload, resulting in lots of: :cry:

by our hapless user.

Jeffredo · Jun 11, 2009

Mussels said:
nope.
I dont even uninstall the old ones.

IMO its running half assed cleaners that cause most driver issues anyway. - if a cleaner removes a file but misses a registry entry, new drivers might not realise that its half there and half not, and screw things up. its NOT a situation where nothing can go wrong.

That makes no sense. The drivers don't "realize" anything. They have a set install protocol and install the files and registry entries they're instructed to. If the files or entries exist, they overwrite them. If they don't exist they install/write them. That's it. That's why cleaning probably doesn't help. The driver installation has to do what its instructed to do, whether its installing on a clean slate or overwriting existing files or entries. But a safe mode cleaning certainly isn't going to hurt.

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Do you deep clean the old video driver before installing the new one?

Do you deep clean the old video driver before installing the new one?

YES

NO

What's a video driver??

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