how do i update my video card drivers?

[thejackal1]

I need to update them because the last time I did was when I got it about two years ago. How do I go on updating them. I heard that you have to delete some crucial files and I dont want to screw up my computer by deleting some crucial files. Please explain in full detail how to update them. Thanks.

 

[thejackal1]

anyone know how to?

 

[jiffylube1024]

There's usually a few ways of doing it. Some people actually recommend uninstalling your old drivers before, and painstakingly cleaning old files out of the BIOS, but it's usually unnecessary (I've never done this and I haven't had any problems yet).

Anyways, here's how you do it:

1. Download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. Get new beta version if it's an ATI Radeon. For ANY GeForce card (GF2, GF2 MX, GF3, GF4 ,etc...) the 28.32 drivers are the newest certified ones ( go to www.nvidia.com ); for ATI just get the latest beta versions (they work the best). The best place to find the newest ATI drivers is www.rage3d.com ).

2.) The driver will come in one of two forms: a compressed file with lots of files in it or a self-running installer program. For the self-running one, simply double clicking on the icon will open the installer. You will then proceed to follow the directions in the installer.

Most new drivers are a set of files which you have to tell your computer to intstall. Here's how you do that:

The file will be compressed in either a .zip format or a self-running executable. Either way unzip them to a file, such as "C:\driver".


Now, right click on your desktop (the actual desktop picture or whatever). A menu will come up. Go to "Properties". A large popup window will come up. Click on the "Settings" tab. In the Settings window click the "Advanced" button. A new popup window will come up. Click the "Adapter" tab. Now, click on the "Properties" button. Yet another window will come up. Click on the "Driver" tab. Click the "Update Driver" button.

The new driver installation window will come up. You will choose "install from a list or specific location (advanced). Click "next". Under "include this location in the search" choose the location you unzipped the file to (using the "Browse" button), in this case "C:\driver" or whatever directory you unzipped the file to. Click "next"

A list will now come up and you will choose your card and click "next". You then follow the instructions to install your card.


That should do it. Although it may look complicated, it's actually quite easy, and you might not even have to go through the trouble of going to your display properties.

Hope this helps.