Is there a definitive way to get rid of Nvidia video drivers in XP?

[Jerry944T]

I need help. I did a fresh install of XP. Motherboard is Asus A7n8x. The video gard is a Gainward 4200 Golden Sample. Loaded all my programs and then my games. Everything ran perfectly including UT demo 2003. Naturally I had to use the latest and greatest drivers and upgraded
. Now nothing graphically intensive works. UT locks up immediatey. 3DMard 2003 locks up immediately. I have tried to uninstall the drivers and the card but XP always picks up the drivers from somewhere and the result is the same. Lock up!! I would like to get rid of all Nvidia graphics drivers and just let the card reinstall from the original drivers that came with the card. Since there are Nvidia drivers everywhere on the system since the motherboard has a Nvidia chipset I don't know where to start.
If anyone has the patience to walk me through the process it would be most appreciated.
TIA,
Jerry

 

[BoomAM]

Format the HD, and start again. lol
Seriously though. Even with a Driver cleaner, theres no substitute for a fresh installation of windows.
If you dont, even with a driver cleaner, theres probably a 90% chance that you will get a problem that is caused by remains of the old nVidia drivers.
The above only applys if you are upgrading to a different make of card(ATI, Matrox, SIS, ect

However, as you are running a nVidia card anyway, there shouldnt be any problems.
Go to the Official nVidia Website, and download the latest drivers off there. Then, the driver install program that comes with them, will force windows to use the updated drivers.

I think, when you go to update the drivers, select the advanced mode, select "i will pick the drivers to install option", then it should give you a list of the drivers available. Click on "have disk", to select the source of the new drivers.

 

[Mem]

I agree reformat is the best possible option ,however you may want to give Driver cleaner a shot first (nothing to lose except a reformat).

Full details are in the readme file once you`ve downloaded and unziped it.

 

[Jerry944T]

I am tired or reformatting guys. Don't know why I can't get a stable video driver. as I stated the drivers that came with the card were just fine but it's hard to resist new drivers. Will try the driver removal program and reinstall from the original disk. Oh yes, sometimes when i get a lockup i do get a blue screen informing me that my device driver is in an endless loop. Any other suggestions appreciated or has any one else seen this error message?
Thanks for the suggestions. Please keep them coming.
Jerry

 

[BoberFett]

Does XP still use the INF directory? Delete the NVAGP.INF file or whatever it's called these days from the windows\inf directory, delete any NV*.DLL or NV*.VXD files and then try loading the older drivers.

 

[Jerry944T]

BoberFett, The problem with that is that the board uses all kinds of Nvidia drivers since it's based on their chipset. It uses Nvidea sound drivers and Nvidia network drivers for the incorporated NIC card. I would be deleting drivers that are needed for the board's operation and that would confuse the issue.

 

[Ciber]

Cant you just use detonator destroyer?

 

[Jerry944T]

Ciber, thanks.. looked up "Detonator Destroyer" and it only supports up to Win ME. Says XP support eventually. If anyone has used this in XP I'd appreciate a heads up.