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Changing Video Drivers


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Guest Janetb
Posted

When I swithched from 2KPro to XP, the video card driver automatically

installed by XP does not support D3D which I need for my 3d program. I have a

downloaded .exe file for an xp-suited driver which does support D3d. How do I

switch them? Can I run the .exe for installing the new driver while the other

one is installed? Is there a video card dialogue box where I can chose from

installed drivers?

 

Thanks,

Janet

--

Thanks for the help!

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Guest Malke
Posted

Re: Changing Video Drivers

 

Janetb wrote:

> When I swithched from 2KPro to XP, the video card driver automatically

> installed by XP does not support D3D which I need for my 3d program. I have a

> downloaded .exe file for an xp-suited driver which does support D3d. How do I

> switch them? Can I run the .exe for installing the new driver while the other

> one is installed? Is there a video card dialogue box where I can chose from

> installed drivers?

 

Usually there are installation instructions on the video card mftr.'s

website (such as ATI or Nvidia). If there are no instructions, the safe

thing to do is uninstall the video drivers from Control Panel, reboot

the machine, and then install the new drivers.

 

 

Malke

--

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

"Don't Panic!"

MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Guest Detlev Dreyer
Posted

Re: Changing Video Drivers

 

"Janetb" <Janetb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> When I swithched from 2KPro to XP, the video card driver automatically

> installed by XP does not support D3D which I need for my 3d program. I have a

> downloaded .exe file for an xp-suited driver which does support D3d. How do I

> switch them? Can I run the .exe for installing the new driver while the other

> one is installed?

 

Yes, this works in most cases. Some video driver installations require

to turn any anti-virus software off (temporarily) prior to install. Note

that downloaded video drivers are always third-party, so nobody can know

all of them. Usually, the install instructions can be found at the

manufacturer's download site.

> Is there a video card dialogue box where I can chose from

> installed drivers?

 

Not really. However, you may revert to the previous driver. See also

"HOW TO: Use the Driver Roll Back Feature to Restore a Previous Version

of a Device Driver in Windows XP"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306546/en-us

 

--

d-d

Guest Janetb
Posted

RE: Changing Video Drivers

 

To Malke and Detlev:

 

1. When you install a driver, does it automatically replace the old one? If

so, that would be a safe and easy way to try the new one, given that Roll

Back Driver feature.

2. If I start by uninstalling the present driver, as Malke suggests, will

the monitor be able to function at all?? Uninstalling it from the Control

Panel says "(Advanced)" and starts with a warning.....

3. So should I just run the .exe for the new driver? Without uninstalling

the present one?

 

Thanks for the help!

Janet

Guest Mike Cawood, HND BIT
Posted

Re: Changing Video Drivers

 

"Janetb" <Janetb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F2479187-C698-4DAB-8347-5DD9F5B26C82@microsoft.com...

> When I swithched from 2KPro to XP, the video card driver automatically

> installed by XP does not support D3D which I need for my 3d program. I

> have a

> downloaded .exe file for an xp-suited driver which does support D3d. How

> do I

> switch them? Can I run the .exe for installing the new driver while the

> other

> one is installed? Is there a video card dialogue box where I can chose

> from

> installed drivers?

>

> Thanks,

> Janet

> --

> Thanks for the help!

 

The obvious thing is to uninstall the old driver via Add-Remove Programs,

reboot & then install the new one.

Most video card manufacturers tell you to uninstall before installing a new

version.

You can't have two drivers installed & switch between them, Windows doesn't

work like that.

Regards Mike.

Guest Janetb
Posted

Re: Changing Video Drivers

 

My Matrox Millenium G450 Dual Head does not appear in the CP's Add-Remove

Programs list.

 

If I could find it and remove it, how will my display work?? Don't you need

a video card driver?

 

"Mike Cawood, HND BIT" wrote:

>> The obvious thing is to uninstall the old driver via Add-Remove Programs,

> reboot & then install the new one.

>

Guest Detlev Dreyer
Posted

Re: Changing Video Drivers

 

"Janetb" <Janetb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> To Malke and Detlev:

>

> 1. When you install a driver, does it automatically replace the old one?

 

Usually, yes. If the driver doesn't match the hardware and if the driver

installation fails, this is not the case of course.

> If so, that would be a safe and easy way to try the new one, given that

> Roll Back Driver feature.

 

Well, I remember a video driver update (NVidia in this case) winding up

with a Blue Screen right after reboot. That's not funny and therefore,

there is no safe driver installation in general.

> 2. If I start by uninstalling the present driver, as Malke suggests, will

> the monitor be able to function at all?

 

Yes, however running at low resolution since using the standard VGA driver

which may or may not be the case at present anyway.

> 3. So should I just run the .exe for the new driver? Without uninstalling

> the present one?

 

Although I second Malke's advice (safe thing), I do not recommend this

in general because you cannot revert to the previous driver as mentioned

unless you have the original installation media. However, since you're

running the standard VGA driver anyway (I guess), there is no difference.

 

--

d-d

Guest Malke
Posted

Re: Changing Video Drivers

 

Janetb wrote:

> To Malke and Detlev:

>

> 1. When you install a driver, does it automatically replace the old one? If

> so, that would be a safe and easy way to try the new one, given that Roll

> Back Driver feature.

> 2. If I start by uninstalling the present driver, as Malke suggests, will

> the monitor be able to function at all?? Uninstalling it from the Control

> Panel says "(Advanced)" and starts with a warning.....

> 3. So should I just run the .exe for the new driver? Without uninstalling

> the present one?

 

When you uninstall the old driver, Windows will revert to the built-in

basic VGA driver so yes, you will still have your display. The answer to

your first question is - it depends. Look on the page where you got the

drivers for installation instructions as previously suggested. The

normal way to install a new driver is to uninstall first and then

install the new one as I already told you.

 

 

Malke

--

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

"Don't Panic!"

MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Guest Brian A.
Posted

Re: Changing Video Drivers

 

"Janetb" <Janetb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:BAF1B568-5F0B-45DE-87ED-98A078043841@microsoft.com...

> My Matrox Millenium G450 Dual Head does not appear in the CP's Add-Remove

> Programs list.

>

> If I could find it and remove it, how will my display work?? Don't you need

> a video card driver?

>

> "Mike Cawood, HND BIT" wrote:

>>> The obvious thing is to uninstall the old driver via Add-Remove Programs,

>> reboot & then install the new one.

>>

 

You uninstall the device drivers in Device Manager > Display Adapters.

 

--

 

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

 

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


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