The "right way" to update a video card driver

[Caveman]

I've got a 970 GTX on a rig I built about 2.5 years back...

I'm very "particular" about maintaining config control of my machine and I don't just decide to update drivers on a whim. That said, I'm about to roll to another driver.

It's been a long time since I've done this and I want to do it right (clean!)... Some questions:

1) Assumption is that I should set a restore point to revert if something goes wrong, yes?

2) What "driver cleaner" is recommended? At least in the old days 10-15 years ago, one always used a driver cleaner to pick up "residue" from the old driver. Is that still done?

3) What is the proper sequence of events? Assumption (please correct if wrong)

a) Download best driver (will need to research - latest isn't always best, right?)
b) set a restore point
c) Uninstall via Win uninstall
d) use driver cleaner
e) Install new driver

Thanks in advance for responses.

 

[mojothehut]

I'm a big fan of just using this
http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html

Pretty much does everything you need. It reboots to safe mode, then you run it from safe mode. It kicks all the booty of whichever driver you want to remove. Then reboots back to regular windows. install new drivers, win.

 

[Ackmed]

Years ago I would have uninstalled, deleted the files, deleted from the reg, (even use driver cleaner) rebooted to standard VGA and then installed. Today I have just been doing the express installation without doing all that, and have been just fine. Times have changed.

 

[Fardringle]

It used to be best to use a driver cleaner before installing new drivers, but recent Nvidia drivers include an option to do a clean install during the installation process. Just use that option and you'll be fine.

 

[cbn]

It used to be best to use a driver cleaner before installing new drivers, but recent Nvidia drivers include an option to do a clean install during the installation process. Just use that option and you'll be fine.

That is what I've been doing.

So easy.

 

[Caveman]

Thanks. The responses were actually a bit more leaning towards the "it important to remove the residue" than was expected.

Mojothehut, thanks for the link to the driver cleaner if I go down that route.

Others, I guess you are saying nvidia has recognized the need for a cleaner install and has integrated a driver cleaner into their "recent" drivers... How recent?

Where do I uninstall the driver from? Do I go to "installed programs" and start removal from there? What is the proper sequence of events?

 

[amenx]

Havent used a driver cleaner in years, just regular uninstall and no problems whatsoever. However, when I did use a driver cleaner years ago, it did create issues when trying to install a new driver. I would just use regular uninstaller. Whatever remnants are left over are minor and inconsequential. But do not recommend installing over an existing driver, uninstall it first. Reason is, old driver gets moves to Windows DriverStore and over time several GBs of unnecessary junk is accumulated.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Driver cleaners made sense when switching GPUs, but I've never used them for driver updates of the same card. That's worked well for me over the last 20+ years.

 

[Spjut]

IME, driver cleaners can cause more problems than they solve and I've only resorted to them when getting an actual problem.
The belief that driver cleaners are needed today is mostly just a relic from the XP era.

 

[Fardringle]

Thanks. The responses were actually a bit more leaning towards the "it important to remove the residue" than was expected.

Mojothehut, thanks for the link to the driver cleaner if I go down that route.

Others, I guess you are saying nvidia has recognized the need for a cleaner install and has integrated a driver cleaner into their "recent" drivers... How recent?

Where do I uninstall the driver from? Do I go to "installed programs" and start removal from there? What is the proper sequence of events?

Run the installer. Choose the Custom Install option. One of the steps (just before the drivers are actually installed) there is a check box to perform a clean install. Check that box.

I'm not sure exactly when it was added, but it was at least 2-3 years ago.

 

[dogen1]

Run the installer. Choose the Custom Install option. One of the steps (just before the drivers are actually installed) there is a check box to perform a clean install. Check that box.

I'm not sure exactly when it was added, but it was at least 2-3 years ago.

Clean install just means it erases all of your game specific settings.

I haven't used a driver cleaner or even uninstalled drivers(except when getting a new gpu) in probably close to 10 years without any issues.

 

[Ranulf]

The update through installer seems a lot more stable these days on AMD or Nvidia. I usually download the drivers seperately though and install them from that exe then using the internal updater. Last time I tried it through the radeon software a couple of months ago it took forever (20mins) to download and install.

I don't think I even did a clean install when swapping from old AMD card to a new AMD card. I'd likely only do that if swapping brands these days or if having mega problems.

 

[Smoblikat]

I've got a 970 GTX on a rig I built about 2.5 years back...

I'm very "particular" about maintaining config control of my machine and I don't just decide to update drivers on a whim. That said, I'm about to roll to another driver.

It's been a long time since I've done this and I want to do it right (clean!)... Some questions:

1) Assumption is that I should set a restore point to revert if something goes wrong, yes?

2) What "driver cleaner" is recommended? At least in the old days 10-15 years ago, one always used a driver cleaner to pick up "residue" from the old driver. Is that still done?

3) What is the proper sequence of events? Assumption (please correct if wrong)

a) Download best driver (will need to research - latest isn't always best, right?)
b) set a restore point
c) Uninstall via Win uninstall
d) use driver cleaner
e) Install new driver

Thanks in advance for responses.

1.) Never done it, probobly dont need to, nothing will really happen.

2.) Use DDU, formerly called Driver Sweeper.

3.) Not exactly:
3a.) DL your driver of choice
3b.) Reboot and enter safe mode
3c.) Run DDU as administrator
3d.) Reboot and enter windows (Unplug your ethernet if you feel like it, I usually do so windows doesnt try to install any weird drivers from the web)
3e.) Install driver
3f.) ?????
3g.) Profit