Deleting Video Drivers from Command Prompt?

m9105826

New Member
I recently upgraded the video driver using the "Automatically find my driver" function on nVidia's website. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to agree with my 7950GX2. After installation, windows loads, but only the mouse cursor is visible, although I can still interact with the things I can't see. For some reason, no restore point was set by vista before the driver update, so I can't roll back. I know it's the drivers because I did the same exact thing with a separate Vista partition on the same computer and was able to roll it back. What I'm wondering is how can I go through the command prompt (which is the only thing I can get to show up even in safe mode) and delete the corrupt drivers and get my main windows installation back?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    X6800
    Motherboard
    EVGA 680i
    Memory
    3GB Patriot
    Graphics Card(s)
    7950GX2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    20" Samsung Synchmaster
    Screen Resolution
    1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 74GB 10k Raptors Raid 0
    1x 120GB Seagate
    PSU
    750Watt Thermaltake
    Case
    CM Stacker 830
    Keyboard
    Saitek Eclipse Blue
    Mouse
    Razer Copperhead
Can you boot into safe mode? That should allow you to at least see everything. Then you can uninstall the video card in the device manager, and check the "delete driver software" checkbox and it should uninstall the drivers for you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Q9450 @3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Deluxe
    Memory
    8GB Corsair Dominator @ 1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus AH4850
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 2235BW
    Hard Drives
    2x Seagate 750GB
    1x Seagate 160GB (IDE)
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850
    Case
    Cooler Master Cosmos
    Cooling
    Cooler Master V8
    Keyboard
    Logitech WAVE Cordless
Nope, can't even do anything in safe mode except use the command prompt.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    X6800
    Motherboard
    EVGA 680i
    Memory
    3GB Patriot
    Graphics Card(s)
    7950GX2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    20" Samsung Synchmaster
    Screen Resolution
    1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 74GB 10k Raptors Raid 0
    1x 120GB Seagate
    PSU
    750Watt Thermaltake
    Case
    CM Stacker 830
    Keyboard
    Saitek Eclipse Blue
    Mouse
    Razer Copperhead
WOW that's something I've never run into. Safe mode should only be using a basic VGA driver, not the actual video card drivers.

The video drivers would most likely be located in

C:\windows\system32
C:\windows\system32\drivers


However I'm not sure what they will be named, as I'm running an ATi card.

However you mention a separate vista partition that's working? Can you see the non-working partition when booted into the working one? Would make life a lot easier. If not, at the very least you can navigate into those directories and see what the driver names are, then go back into safe mode on the corrupt partition and delete them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Q9450 @3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Deluxe
    Memory
    8GB Corsair Dominator @ 1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus AH4850
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 2235BW
    Hard Drives
    2x Seagate 750GB
    1x Seagate 160GB (IDE)
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850
    Case
    Cooler Master Cosmos
    Cooling
    Cooler Master V8
    Keyboard
    Logitech WAVE Cordless
Have you tried hitting F8 when restarting to see if you can get to the DOS menu where it lets you choose an option that starts with vga capabilities only?

Also, are both ends of the video cable plugged in correctly? Discard that, you said you can see everything when you boot with the other partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
    Motherboard
    EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX260
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Velociraptor 160GB
    Samsung Sata 750GB
    Maxtor External 160GB
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
    Case
    Thermaltake Speedo Advance
    Cooling
    Air Cooled... See CPU
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G7
    Internet Speed
    Comcast 6MB Broadband
    Other Info
    Linksys WRT54G router
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