replacing a card with a different one without taking off the old drivers

[yasha]

I just recently took out my Creative Labs Live! x-gamer card but did not remove the device under device manager and all the software is still left on my HD. If I replace it with a live (value) card I have, should all the software still work with it without any conflict?

 

[Helznicht]

Depends, did you start up your PC without the card in it?

I think it will be fine either way, but could get flaky if Windoze uninstalled the device on bootup after you removed it.

 

[yasha]

If I just put in the newer card and let windows do what it wants before I can, will the older drivers and software cause actual phsycial damage to the newer card? I'm 99% sure that's impossible but I would like some moral support

 

[Helznicht]

Wont hurt it, but it is bad practice.

Put your old card back in (if you no longer have it, just boot up and do without it)

Go to remove hardware and uninstall it.

Turn off and remove card.

Put in new card, install per plug and play.

Try your software out, if it still works, great!, if not, well dump it and install the crap package that came with the value package

 

[NelsonMuntz]

You should uninstall the old card in the OS and let the OS plug'n'play install the new one. As for the rest of the software that came with the card it should be fine.