Beware of AMD Catalyst Un-install Utility

[beginner99]

I'm talking about the tool on

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/Pages/catalyst-uninstall-utility.aspx

Running this tool lead to a BSOD and afterwards booting into windows 7 was not possible anymore due to a BSOD when starting windows.

As always safe mode to the rescue. I re-ran the utility there and it completed. However I still got a BSOD when starting Win 7 in normal mode. I then decided to install new driver in safe mode which logically thinking was prone to fail because it was safe mode. However the installer did ask to create a directory but then failed to collect appropriate hardware info and could not continue.
After this I tried to boot again and it worked? My guess is the directory the installer created but unsure.

Anyway I recommend to avoid this utility or at least create a full system backup prior to using it!

Another thing worth mentioning is that I can downgrade to catalyst 13.4. Instant BSOD. (cgminer does not work on my pc and supposedly others ahve issues with catalyist 13.9).

 

[SPBHM]

I also had problems with this tool last year, but I was running Windows 8, and there is no easy F8 - Safe mode with it, so I had to let windows use a system restore point and it worked well...

 

[Grooveriding]

I also had problems with this tool last year, but I was running Windows 8, and there is no easy F8 - Safe mode with it, so I had to let windows use a system restore point and it worked well...

settings/change pc settings/general/advanced startup/troubleshooting/startup settings

selected in that order and you get to a screen that lets you choose the standard safe mode settings by using your F# keys. More convoluted but it's there.

Also OP, why are you using some old utility without an update since January rather than just going into the control panel and uninstalling the drivers with Add/Remove Programs ?...

 

[SPBHM]

settings/change pc settings/general/advanced startup/troubleshooting/startup settings

selected in that order and you get to a screen that lets you choose the standard safe mode settings by using your F# keys. More convoluted but it's there.

Also OP, why are you using some old utility without an update since January rather than just going into the control panel and uninstalling the drivers with Add/Remove Programs ?...

if I understand correctly your instructions are only useful if your Windows is actually booting correctly,
I was stuck before having any option for safe mode, it would just bsod and restart, and so I was presented with the restore option, which was annoying, considering "F8" saved my day multiple times since windows 9x.

 

[chimaxi83]

Also OP, why are you using some old utility without an update since January rather than just going into the control panel and uninstalling the drivers with Add/Remove Programs ?...

This ^^ but at the same time, I've used this utility about 10 times and have never had an issue. I use it because it saves me the time of deleting random folders and registry entries when I want a completely clean install.

 

[MeldarthX]

I use this with the engineer laptops at work....I uninstall first; then run it. Not run it to kill the drivers I think that's where the mistake came from.

I tend to do this to try and fix the mess Creo2 is; but that's the CAD software we're using right now.....*its a freaking nightmare*

 

[beginner99]

Also OP, why are you using some old utility without an update since January rather than just going into the control panel and uninstalling the drivers with Add/Remove Programs ?...

Because I had issues with cgminer (doesnt work with litecoin) and a recommended fix was to remove everything with said tool and reinstall.

 

[KingFatty]

I just recently used the utility successfully, but I was running Windows 8, not Windows 7. Worked fine for me, cleared out all the old AMD software.

 

[96Firebird]

I tend to do this to try and fix the mess Creo2 is; but that's the CAD software we're using right now.....*its a freaking nightmare*

Ah, the old Pro/E. Get SolidWorks, its awesome! I use it daily, much better than Pro/E, I'd say better than Inventor as well.

 

[MeldarthX]

Ah, the old Pro/E. Get SolidWorks, its awesome! I use it daily, much better than Pro/E, I'd say better than Inventor as well.

Well if they don't fix Creo2; trust me I will be going that route and getting out of the contract we are in; but until things are complicated still.......ah the fun stuff.

I've been pretty much doing their support job; only bonus is the support manager that's in charge of our case is cute....

 

[railven]

if I understand correctly your instructions are only useful if your Windows is actually booting correctly,
I was stuck before having any option for safe mode, it would just bsod and restart, and so I was presented with the restore option, which was annoying, considering "F8" saved my day multiple times since windows 9x.

Nah, it's still there. I don't know why MS buried it under all it's stupid automated options. Last weekend in attempts to update my drive controller I made my Windows partition unaccesible (even to Safe Mode.)

You still got to sit through the automated Self Repair process, but then you click Advance, and you'll see the normal F8 prompts.

@OP:
Considering I botched my computer and had to reinstall a few drivers, and just a few weeks ago I was testing 13.6b2 versus 13.8b1/13.8b2, I can't say I've had your issues. There is possibly something in your system specifically that is conflicting. I think I went through the uninstall/install process 10+ times in the last month.