Problem with Removing Video Driver to Install New One

[micahfrance]

I am trying to update the driver for my video card (Windows XP SP2,
Radeon X300/X550). I'm instructed to uninstall the old driver before
installing the new one. When I uninstall the old one, I'm instructed
to restart the computer. When I restart the computer it says "Found
New Hardware" and automatically reinstalls the old driver. I can
never do a clean uninstall which I prevents my driver from updating
correctly and then causes lots of errors.

All of the information I've found on this says "Just cancel the Found
New Hardware prompt" but my prompt has no cancel button or even an "X"
to click, it just does it automatically. If I could cancel it, I
would. I've tried starting in safe mode and with only the most basic
graphics support, but nothing seems to keep the system from doing the
automatic "Found New Hardware" update.

Does anyone have any ideas how to stop the "Found New Hardware" check
from running so that I can cleanly uninstall the video driver?

 

[Rich Barry]

Next time try booting up into Safe Mode. Tap F8 on startup until you get
a Menu.
Select Safe Mode. When XP loads up try installing the new driver.

 

[Brian A.]

I am trying to update the driver for my video card (Windows XP SP2,
Radeon X300/X550). I'm instructed to uninstall the old driver before
installing the new one. When I uninstall the old one, I'm instructed
to restart the computer. When I restart the computer it says "Found
New Hardware" and automatically reinstalls the old driver. I can
never do a clean uninstall which I prevents my driver from updating
correctly and then causes lots of errors.

All of the information I've found on this says "Just cancel the Found
New Hardware prompt" but my prompt has no cancel button or even an "X"
to click, it just does it automatically. If I could cancel it, I
would. I've tried starting in safe mode and with only the most basic
graphics support, but nothing seems to keep the system from doing the
automatic "Found New Hardware" update.

Does anyone have any ideas how to stop the "Found New Hardware" check
from running so that I can cleanly uninstall the video driver?

Have you tried to just update the driver without uninstalling it? If not:
Right click MyComputer.
Click "Properties" in the popup menu.
Click the Hardware tab > Device Manager button > + next to Display Adapters.
Right click on your video devicein the list.
Click "Update driver" in the popup list.
Select "No, not this time" > click Next.
Select " Install from a list or specific location" > click Next.
Select "Don't search, I will choose the driver to install" > click Next.
Click the "Have disk" button.
Click the "Browse" button and navigate to the directory/folder you noted that has the
..inf file.

Open the subfolder the .inf file is in (if it's in a subfolder) and double click the
..inf file.
Click Ok and follow the prompts to finish installing the updated driver.
When complete reboot if required.



--

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

 

[z1z1z1]

Next time try booting up into Safe Mode. Tap F8 on startup until
you get
a Menu.
Select Safe Mode. When XP loads up try installing the new driver.

If your old driver is one of the Catalyst ones, there is a removal
utility available at:

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894
&task=knowledge&questionID=1447

If you can't get it there, try:

http://www.tastycomputers.com/_private/downloads/ati/cat-uninstaller.exe

Once you remove it this way, I don't think that it is there to be re-
installed anymore.

 

[micahfrance]

Have you tried to just update the driver without uninstalling it?

Thanks for your input Brian. I have tried installing the new driver
without uninstalling it (both through the add/remove programs tool and
the process you described), but the video card then performs
unreliably. It is possible that the problems are unrelated to the
uninstall problem, but it seems to be the most likely culprit. I've
even tried different versions of newer drivers to see if it made a
difference but they all performed poorly and crashed often.

 

[micahfrance]

If your old driver is one of the Catalyst ones

I don't have the Catalyst suite as part of the original video driver.
I have tried installing the new driver both with and without Catalyst,
but it didn't make a difference.

If you can't get it there, try:>
http://www.tastycomputers.com/_private/downloads/ati/cat-uninstaller.exe

I haven't seen this tool. Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a shot
and let you know how it goes.

 

[micahfrance]

Next time try booting up into Safe Mode. Tap F8 on startup until you get
a Menu.

I tried starting up in safe mode and that did seem to keep the driver
from completely installing (it now required a reboot to complete),
however when I tried to install the new driver the installer software
said that I didn't have DirectX 8. I actually have DirectX 9, but I
suspect that in safe mode it isn't running. Is there anyway to
activate DirectX while in safe mode so that the installer can run?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Brian A.]

Thanks for your input Brian. I have tried installing the new driver
without uninstalling it (both through the add/remove programs tool and
the process you described), but the video card then performs
unreliably. It is possible that the problems are unrelated to the
uninstall problem, but it seems to be the most likely culprit. I've
even tried different versions of newer drivers to see if it made a
difference but they all performed poorly and crashed often.

Another thought is to Uninstall the device and do not reboot right away if given
the choice to reboot later, then Install the device using the new files and
rebooting.

--

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

 

[V Green]

I tried starting up in safe mode and that did seem to keep the driver
from completely installing (it now required a reboot to complete),
however when I tried to install the new driver the installer software
said that I didn't have DirectX 8. I actually have DirectX 9, but I
suspect that in safe mode it isn't running. Is there anyway to
activate DirectX while in safe mode so that the installer can run?

Thanks for your help.

Ugh. You have a real mess on your hands.

Your only hope now is one of the uninstaller/cleaner tools mentioned
in an earlier post. ATI used to have one on their site.

 

[micahfrance]

Just as a follow-up for anyone who may have the same problem who sees
this thread. I purchased DriverCleaner.NET and followed its
instructions. I was able to FINALLY get the auto install function to
stop after using DriverCleaner twice. I imagine you could get the
same result by modifying the registry somehow, but spending the $10 on
DriverCleaner seems easier. I've still got video card problems, but
now they are all new problems. I suppose that's progress.