Questions for Windows XP experts out there

[Brandon2000]

Could not find any answers to this question. I am having problems updating the Windows XP video drivers with my old Ti 200 nvidia video card. I am sick of the auto update feature that Windows XP comes with. The following is my problem.

1. Uninstall the Video Drivers under add or remove programs
2. Restart the computer
3. Before I even install the Nivida 41.09 (the most stable drivers for my system), XP installs the old nvidia drivers right away by saying it found new hardware and the screen flashes, etc....

Are there any ways to stop the auto install feature that XP starts with? Thx for any comments or suggestions

 

[Canterwood]

Have you tried using Driver Cleaner to clear out the old files?

Its worth a try.

 

[Brandon2000]

Will try to read up on the driver cleaner, thx. But would anyone know if there is a way to stop windows from installing it's own drivers automatically, thx again.

 

[Navid]

Have you tried safe mode?

 

[Brandon2000]

I must be a super newb, didn't know I can install drivers in Safe Mode

 

[Navid]

When I restart, XP SP2 tells me that it has found new hardware and asks me if I want to install drivers. I cancel out of that window. Another one pops up. I cancel out of that one too. Then, it leaves it alone. So, I can install the driver that I have downloaded.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it. But, I have set auto-update to only notify me (about windows updates) and not to download or install.

 

[Bucksnort]

If you have sp2 installed go to system properties, hardware tab, clik on windows update button and select never install drivers from windows update.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Bucksnort
If you have sp2 installed go to system properties, hardware tab, clik on windows update button and select never install drivers from windows update.

 

[Night201]

I wouldn't use the new drivers. I recommend using an older driver set from their archive, like version 28.12 or something like that.

 

[Brandon2000]

Finally found the solution after 1 day and a half of messing with different possibilities and lots of ghosting...

Hopefully this helps with people in the future. I went with the 41.09 drivers and they have been very stable, tried some older (29.00 series) and newer drivers, but got the occasional blue screen of death regarding nv4.* error. Here is my process, hope it helps

1. Upgrade to SP2 (I had my computer ghosted at SP1)
2. After computer reboots, goto my computer, click manage, services, and plug and play, change start up from automatic to disable
3. Hit the windows key and f together for a search for "nvidia" under c://windows/inf (have to change view to all instead of just hidden files).
4. Delete all files that's related to nvidia (I had 6 of them, nv3, nv4, etc..)
5. Uninstall drivers under controll panel in add or remove programs
6. reboot machine
7. when computer restarts, go back to manage services and change plug and play start up from disable to auto
8. install the 41.09 drivers
9. reboot
10. computer will boot up but drivers are not loaded, but thank god the windows will ask for what drivers would you like to install, point it to c://nvidia/windowsxp/41.09
11. Driver will install and Voila!!!

Hope it helps, if you have questions, please PM me... Man, have not done stuff like this for a long time...

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Brandon2000
Could not find any answers to this question. I am having problems updating the Windows XP video drivers with my old Ti 200 nvidia video card. I am sick of the auto update feature that Windows XP comes with. The following is my problem.

1. Uninstall the Video Drivers under add or remove programs
2. Restart the computer
3. Before I even install the Nivida 41.09 (the most stable drivers for my system), XP installs the old nvidia drivers right away by saying it found new hardware and the screen flashes, etc....

Are there any ways to stop the auto install feature that XP starts with? Thx for any comments or suggestions

I don't understand why this is even an issue. To install new drivers, simply download the new drivers and then double-click on the setup file to install them. Did that not work?

 

[Brandon2000]

When you change drivers, you should not just overwrite one set with the other. Whilst that works with other types of drivers and it can work sometimes with v/card drivers, it is best to use Add an Remove Progs from the Control Panel to remove previous drivers first. XP professes to remove driver entries from the registry and with all the many driver exchanges I have carried out I have found nothing to the contrary

Sometimes nVidia alters the root files of its drivers and if you overwrite these you will get a conflict and of course problems.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Brandon2000
When you change drivers, you should not just overwrite one set with the other. Whilst that works with other types of drivers and it can work sometimes with v/card drivers, it is best to use Add an Remove Progs from the Control Panel to remove previous drivers first. XP professes to remove driver entries from the registry and with all the many driver exchanges I have carried out I have found nothing to the contrary

Nor have I, so why would one do this? You can easily see what drivers are in use by looking at the device in Device Manager.

Sometimes nVidia alters the root files of its drivers and if you overwrite these you will get a conflict and of course problems.

The installer program should handle this. Does nVidia post anything to the contrary? Bear in mind that we're talking about uninstalling an aftermarket driver, allowing a Windows driver to install, and then using nVidia's installer to take things from there.