The correct way to install new drivers?

"Hamish" wrote in message
...
PRIVATE1964 wrote:
If you right-click on the display adaptor and choose update driver,
then select manual install, there is no option to 'pick from list'

There is that option if you do it from device manager.

I usually uninstall the old drivers through add and remove, then when
Windows restarts I cancel it before it installs anything. Then
install the new drivers.

I think that is how I have done it. I have been using same version
for a while, but every now and then I might test a new version.

I do the same, but before rebooting I use detonator RIP, then reboot,
cancel
on reboot and then run the exe.

I have to stress that I cannot cancel anything on re-boot, there is no
installation wizard. I just get the pop-up in the taskbar saying new
hardware found.....your hardware installed succesfully.

Cheers

Hamish

--
Go Strugglers

In this life there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one
wants. The other is getting it.

"Lance Ballantyne" wrote in message
. com...
ya the problem with windows Xp is that if drivers are missing it will
download drivers from thw indows update site and install those, all in the
background, without warning and without you knowing its doing it. i
recommend using a program i found at www.drivercleaner.net and follow the
instructions in the readme, you will have no problems with Xp installing
old
drivers again.

Don't think it's downloading them, as it's instantaneous - my broadband
isn't that quick!
The program looks like it might do the job though - but the readme gave
enough clues as to where the driver is coming from - C:/Windows/driver
cache/i386/driver.cab - and sure enough a search finds plenty of NV.sys &
NV.dll files there, so I reckon if they were deleted it would do the trick.
BTW I think the reason there is no ability to change the FX5900 to a
standard VGA card in device manager is because it is detected by Windows as
'unknown device' at first, and it is only after installing drivers that it
goes up the list into the 'display adaptor' section - maybe?

"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
No , 'fraid not

Yes there is. You are using Windows XP Home right? I think the pro version
does
it differently.

Go to device manager, click on display adapters, right click on your video
card
and then properties. Then click on driver tab and there is a button there
to
update drivers.

When I click on update drivers I am given the option to "install from a
list or
specified location" or "install automatically"
I'm XP Pro, and when I do get the two choices as you detail, but when I
choose 'install from a list...' I get no list of devices, it is a blank
box - the only option available is the 'have disk' button.
This behaviour is peculiar to my FX5900, I could use the normal procedures
on all my prior Nvidia cards.

"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
I don't have the opportunity, it does'nt come up with a wizard, it
automatically installs the drivers.

You have to be quick and stop windows from installing drivers.
You do this by clicking on the icon in the task bar when it finds new
hardware
and then cancel it.
I did'nt know you could do that, thanks, I will try it.

"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
ya the problem with windows Xp is that if drivers are missing it will
download drivers from thw indows update site and install those, all in
the
background, without warning and without you knowing its doing it.

I shut that crap off right after I installed windows. I don't need Windows
looking for drivers on it's own I think I am a little bit more capable of
knowing what my system needs.

That crap also slows down the system slightly everytime it does it checks
to
see what you need. Shutting it off and doing it manually is best IMO.

I agree I also have auto-update etc disabled for the same reasons.

I'm XP Pro, and when I do get the two choices as you detail, but when I
choose 'install from a list...' I get no list of devices, it is a blank

I've seen that before on a copy of Windows Pro. I think it has something to do
with the extra security for the pro version, but I'm not sure.

I agree I also have auto-update etc disabled for the same reasons.

Whatever happened to the good old day's when you needed a driver you installed
it yourself?

Now everything is automatic like media player, windows, etc. which just makes
it easier to have the wrong drivers installed and also gives microsoft and the
other companies a way to spy on us or to create a way into our systems by
hackers.

I've asked the exact same questions before after noticing that XP doesn't
follow the same procedure as other OS's. In the end, I actually find that
the least problematic way to install new drivers is to simply install the
new ones right on top of the old ones. This method has given me the least
problems over the last couple years compared to all the different
"uninstall" procedures that are suggested.

Personally, I'd recommend trying a straight install (via the "update
drivers" button, not the "exe" file) right on top of the old ones.

Larry

"GTS" wrote in message
...
In 98 and ME I used to delete the Nvidia drivers, reboot, install PCI VGA
drivers, reboot, and then install the new Nvidia ones.
In WinXP Pro I can't do this, as XP always installs Nvidia drivers after
re-booting - "New hardware found, Nvida FX5900, your hardware is now
installed". It is using some 2003 drivers, v51.16.
Yes I have tried safe mode, plus VGA mode - same thing, as soon as PC
reboots into normal mode those pesky drivers reappear. Even used
regcleaner
to delelete all Nvidia entries, but after reboot Nvidia Global is back
again.
If you right-click on the display adaptor and choose update driver, then
select manual install, there is no option to 'pick from list' to install a
standard VGA driver, only the 'have disk' button.
So with all the recent drivers I have just used the update driver option,
and installed the new drivers over the top. Everything works fine, but
would
be interested to know if other XP Pro users use diferent methods?
TIA

I too have auto-update disabled, i even have the service turned off yet
windows still auto updated to old drivers after i uninstalled trying to
install the newest drivers. how do i disable it, preventing windows from
autoupdating the drivers before i get a chance to install new ones?

"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
ya the problem with windows Xp is that if drivers are missing it will
download drivers from thw indows update site and install those, all in
the
background, without warning and without you knowing its doing it.

I shut that crap off right after I installed windows. I don't need Windows
looking for drivers on it's own I think I am a little bit more capable of
knowing what my system needs.

That crap also slows down the system slightly everytime it does it checks
to
see what you need. Shutting it off and doing it manually is best IMO.

Don't think it's downloading them, as it's instantaneous - my broadband
isn't that quick!
The program looks like it might do the job though - but the readme gave
enough clues as to where the driver is coming from - C:/Windows/driver
cache/i386/driver.cab - and sure enough a search finds plenty of NV.sys &
NV.dll files there, so I reckon if they were deleted it would do the
trick.
BTW I think the reason there is no ability to change the FX5900 to a
standard VGA card in device manager is because it is detected by Windows
as
'unknown device' at first, and it is only after installing drivers that it
goes up the list into the 'display adaptor' section - maybe?


I do not know the exact C:\Windows\ folder setup that XP Pro uses, but my
copy of XP Home yielded some very interesting sub folders that the OS
stashes NV files of various types. Just performed a search of the OS folder
looking for NV*.* to find any strange places that they may be.

There are the obvious locations of;
Windows\inf
Windows\System32

Then there are the "secondary" locations of;
Windows\System32\dllcache
Windows\System32\drivers

Then we arrive at the esoteric locations;
Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386
I would have thought that this location would have been for storing MS
Windows Update information. I have NEVER used WinUpdate for upgrading my
drivers. Makes me curious as to where these files came from. FYI, there are
6 files in there, so I do not believe that it would be a "re-install backup"
location.

The real kicker is this folder;
Windows\system32\ReinstallBackups\0011\DriverFiles
Sounds rather suspicious to me :-)

With this info in hand, I might recommend the following sequence;
Go to http://www.gibinsoft.net/gipoutils/ and click on the "File Utilities"
link on the left side of the page. Choose to download the "GiPo@MoveOnBoot"
utility and then install. This is a pretty cool little tool that will let
you delete files, through a selection when you right click on the file, that
are currently in use the next time you boot up your PC. Be careful, as any
files deleted with this tool are NOT removed and placed in your recycle bin!
They are gone for good.

Check to see if your C:\ drive has an NVidia folder on it. Depending on how
you last installed drivers, this may be there. This is the "original
location" for the installation of your current drivers. This is the first
place that your PC would look for drivers. This folder is safe to delete, so
make it so.

Delete your NVidia drivers using Control Panel, do not reboot (yet).

Run Detonator R.I.P. to clean up the Registry and (hopefully) remove all
remaining NV files. Do not reboot yet.

Perform a search of your Operating System partition for any remaining NV
files. If the gods be willing, any that you find will already be "tagged"
for deletion on reboot. But we are going to be a bit paranoid here, and
select any that are found by right clicking on them and selecting to delete
on the next boot, using the previously installed GiPo@MoveOnBoot utility. I
have never yet (knock on wood) had any conflict between a programs uninstall
or MSWindows Add/Remove utility and the GiPo program.

Now you can reboot your system. (Note that if you are REALLY paranoid about
your PC possibly downloading "unknown" drivers from some where on the
internet, just disconnect your PC from your modem/ADSL/Cable/whatever before
powering back up.)

Your PC will (should?) have no choice but to install the basic VGA drivers
to run your monitor, IF all of the NVidia files are gone. You should now be
able to install your new driver package without any problems.

Good Luck
Bob