This is a guide on how to thoroughly remove your installed display driver on Windows before performing a clean install of one. This is not typically required and is primarily used when problems arise which may be due to an existing driver install becoming damaged.
Step #1: Download the Latest Display Driver
While this procedure is not intended for merely updating your driver, we recommend that you install the latest driver available unless you have a specific reason for not doing so.
- Go here if you have an Nvidia card, or here if you have an AMD or ATI card.
- Find the latest version of the driver available and download it.
- We strongly recommend placing the driver on your Desktop.
- Do not yet begin the installation procedure - this will be done in Step #5.
Step #2: Install the Latest Version of DDU
Before installing the latest driver version, we will use Display Driver Uninstaller to thoroughly remove the existing driver. This helps to ensure that the procedure will be successful.
- Go here and click on the 'Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) Vxx.x.x.x release' thread.
- Click on the official download link in the first post if
- When the pop-up window appears, choose the Save File option and click OK.
- Choose a directory. If unsure, we recommend placing it on your Desktop.
- When it has finished downloading, right-click on it.
- Choose Extract All... and click on the Extract button to confirm.
- Click the Extract button, then double-click on the new DDU Vxx.x.x.x folder.
- In the new and unzipped folder, double-click on DDU Vxx.x.x.x.exe.
Step #3: Allow DDU to Reboot Into Safe Mode
It is recommended that DDU be permitted to boot the computer into Safe Mode before it begins removing drivers. Please be sure to save your work before proceeding.
- Double-click on Display Driver Uninstaller.exe.
- Click on Options in the top-left corner.
- In the Advanced Options section, tick the Enable Safe Mode dialog box.
- Click the Close button, and then exit out of DDU.
- Double-click on Display Driver Uninstaller.exe again.
- Set the Launch Option to Safe Mode (Recommended).
- Click the Reboot to Safe Mode button.
Step #4: Using DDU to Uninstall Your Driver
While your computer is in Safe Mode, your desktop will not have a wallpaper and the resolution may be different than normal. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
- When you reboot, DDU should open automatically.
- Set the device type to GPU.
- Choose either NVIDIA or AMD as appropriate.
- Click the Clean and restart (Highly recommended) button.
- Wait until the computer has automatically restarted.
Step #5 (Nvidia): Installing Your New Driver
Now that we have removed your previous display driver, it is finally time to begin installing the one we downloaded earlier. This is the final step of the process!
- Find the driver you downloaded earlier.
- Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator.
- Click through the install wizard and make the following selections;
- Choose Custom (Advanced).
- Select Perform a clean installation (if available).
Step #5 (AMD/ATI): Installing Your New Driver
Now that we have removed your previous display driver, it is finally time to begin installing the one we downloaded earlier. This is the final step of the process!
- Find the driver you downloaded earlier.
- Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator.
- Click the Install button.
- Click through the install wizard.