Updating NVidia Drivers

[VitaminR]

I'm trying to update my old NVidia drivers and get the message "Cannot delete file nvdmcpl.dll" and it cancels the installation. Can I just delete this file myself, or do I need to keep it? Also, what's the best site to update drivers for NVidia anyway? I was just using my Unreal Tournament 2k3 disc. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Mem]

Normally you have two ways of doing it, install over the top of the old drivers or remove the old ones first by going to Control Panel then select install/remove programs icon and select uninstall for Nvidia software which will remove them,then you will need to reboot.

Nvidia.com is a good place for official Nvidia drivers or Guru3D .

Btw if you`re using 98/ME you can try Detonator destroyer program (from Guru3D above)which will remove all traces of the old Nvidia drivers,I believe they are releasing a new version soon that will work with 2k/XP.

 

[TheWart]

Download them from Nvidia.com or the site mentioned above. You could probably get away with installing the newer version on top of the older. But if you can it is always best to uninstall via Add/Remove Programs then reboot when prompted.

 

[BFG10K]

Normally you have two ways of doing it, install over the top of the old drivers or remove the old ones first by going to Control Panel then select install/remove programs icon and select uninstall for Nvidia software which will remove them,then you will need to reboot.

No, there is only one way - the latter.

Installing new drivers over the top of old ones is just asking for trouble and I suspect that's what's happened in this case.

Can I just delete this file myself, or do I need to keep it?

No, don't delete anything. Run the uninstaller from the control panel and that'll delete anything it needs to.

I was just using my Unreal Tournament 2k3 disc

Don't use any programs to update your drivers. Go to nVidia's website, download the drivers and install them yourself.

 

[Mem]

Installing new drivers over the top of old ones is just asking for trouble and I suspect that's what's happened in this case.

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I guess all those times I`ve done it from 12.xx to 30.82 with absolutely no problems was wrong ,yes the best way is to remove them first but not always necessary with Nvidia drivers unless you like trying all the beta ones in which case it`s good idea to do so.

So the bottom line is, the safest way to remove them is from Control Panel,but you can get away with installing them over the top most times but there`s more risk involved.