cant stop driver installation at boot...

[EvilSquirrel]

i use windows xp pro, whenever i install new catalyst drivers i uninstall the old ones, then reboot, but at startup windows auto detects the card again and installs drivers for it too, but i'm unable to cancel it, then it asks me to restart and i have to just install the new cat drivers anyways after windows does its thing, is there any way to disable the auto install drivers thing just while i wanna install these? i've done this on my cousins computer and he has win xp home, and it lets me cancel the installation at startup, dunno why mine doesnt, is that part of win xp pro er something? also, is it a bad thing to install the cat drivers after windows installs some already and asks for a restart?

 

[EULA]

have you tried safe mode yet?

 

[MTDEW]

Try this.

Unplug your internet connection.
Uninstall current driver using add/remove.
Boot to safe mode.
Run Driver Cleaner from GURU3d or delete all the driver files manually if you're a freak like that.
Boot normally.
Install new driver.
Plug internet back in and reboot!

 

[CJP]

I use the free firewall ZoneAlarm for this. The program that does the unwanted automatic install of drivers is "Run a DLL as an App." In ZoneAlarm I flag it to ask permission to connect to the internet so when my pc boots after uninstalling my Catalysts I just deny permission for Run a DLL as an app and it doesn't load those drivers. Unplugging your internet connection would do the same though.

 

[EvilSquirrel]

thanks for the info, but i'm also curious, does it affect it at all or make it not work properly if you just install the catalyst drivers anyways? after windows does its thing?

 

[Nikamichi]

Completely disable automatic updates/and or restart XP in safe mode.

Uninstall all video drivers/software, proceed to use...

Driver Cleaner

Restart and install new drivers.
(If the New Hardware Found Wizard pops up, close it/ignore it while installing your new drivers)