Brink, just one thing that I have never been able to work out on my own!: If I have an (ATI) graphics card and driver, and I uninstall this graphics device from Device Manager, will I get a black screen, or a Vista default driver?
Thanks so much!
Uninstall Device and Device Driver
- 31 Jul 2008 #1
Uninstall Device and Device DriverHow to Uninstall a Device and Device Driver in Vista and Windows 7
Published by
31 Jul 2008Uninstall Device and Device Driver
How to Uninstall a Device and Device Driver in Vista and Windows 7
InformationThis will show you how to uninstall a device, a device driver, or both in Vista and Windows 7.
You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps
OPTION ONE
Through Programs and Features
NOTE: This will only uninstall the device driver software and not the device itself from Device Manager. You would use this option if you wanted to install another device driver version afterwards for the device.
1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View-Vista) or (Icons View-Windows 7).
2. Click on the the Programs and Features icon.
2. Look to see if the device driver is listed. (See screenshot below step 3)
A) If it is, then right click on the listed device and click Uninstall, then Yes to confirm.3. Close the Programs and Features window.
NOTE: Sometimes, you will get a notice to restart the computer to finish uninstalling the driver. If you do, then click on Yes to restart the computer when prompted.
B) If not, then use OPTION TWO below.
4. If a generic driver for the device is included in Windows, then Windows will automatically install this generic driver for the device if the device is still connected.
OPTION TWO
Through Device Manager
NOTE: This will allow you to uninstall just the device, or both the device and device driver.
1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View-Vista) or (Icons View-Windows 7).2. Click on the Device Manager icon.That's it,
3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).
4. Click on the + sign next to the device you want to uninstall to expand it. (see screenshot below step 5)
5. Right click on the listed device and click on Properties.
NOTE: You can also click on Uninstall and go to step 8 instead.
6. Click on the Driver tab. (see screenshot below step 7)
7. Click on the Uninstall button.
8. To Uninstall Only the Device
NOTE: This will only uninstall the device and leave the device driver still installed for the device.
A) Uncheck the Delete the driver software for this device box. (see screenshot below step 9)9. To Uninstall Both the Device and Device Driver
NOTE: If you do not have this option, then only the device will be uninstalled. Go to step 10.
B) Click on OK.
NOTE: Sometimes, you may be prompted to restart the computer to finish uninstalling the driver. If you do, then click on Yes to restart the computer.
B) Go to step 10.
NOTE: This will uninstall both the device and device driver software installed for the device.
A) Check the Delete the driver software for this device box.
NOTE: If you do not have this option, then only the device will be uninstalled. Go to step 10.
B) Click on OK.
NOTE: Sometimes, you may be prompted to restart the computer to finish uninstalling the driver. If you do, then click on Yes to restart the computer.10. Device Manager will now no longer have the device listed. (see screenshot below)
11. Close Device Manager. (see screenshot below step 5)
12. If a generic driver for the device is included in Windows, then Windows will automatically install this generic driver for the device if the device is still connected.
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to make Ghost Devices and Drivers Visible in Device Manager
- How to See the Hidden Devices in Device Manager in Vista
- How to Roll Back a Device Driver in Vista Device Manager
- How to Enable Hidden Audio Devices in Vista
- How to Uninstall or Change a Program in Vista
- How to Create a Safely Remove Hardware Shortcut in Vista
- How to Install a Device Driver in Vista Device Manager
Published by
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007Location: Texas, USAPosts: 30,531ArrayTutorial Tools
Applies to
All Vista Versions 64 Bit & 32 Bit
- 24 Sep 2010 #1My System Specs
Re: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
- 24 Sep 2010 #2
Administrator 
Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,531 64-bit Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows 8 Enterprise Local Time: 06:58 AM
My System SpecsRe: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
Hello Niemiro,
If you uninstall the device (graphics card) in Device Manager, it will just auto detect it again at restart and reinstall it using the latest driver you have installed.
If you uninstall the device and driver, then it will still auto detect and reinstall it, but it will use the default drivers that came with Vista.
Hope this helps,
Shawn
- 24 Sep 2010 #3My System Specs
Re: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
It does help a lot! Thank you so much for taking the time to educate me!
Originally Posted by Brink 
- 24 Sep 2010 #4
Administrator
Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,531 64-bit Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows 8 Enterprise Local Time: 06:58 AM
My System SpecsRe: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
You're most welcome Niemiro.
- 23 Feb 2012 #5My System Specs
Re: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
Thanks for the info,
but How do I prevent Vista from automatically installing the generic driver after I uninstall my driver?
I have a sigmatel audio device on a Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop.
I tried:
1. deleting the Dell/Driver/Audio folder
2. Uninstalling the Sigmatel driver from add/remove programs
3. Uninstalling the driver from device manager.
Everytime I rebooted, vista installed the generic driver and I need a complete uninstall so that I would be able to Install a certain version of sigmatel that has input monitoring.
- 23 Feb 2012 #6
Administrator
Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,531 64-bit Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows 8 Enterprise Local Time: 06:58 AM
My System SpecsRe: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
Hello Moonmadness, and welcome to Vista Forums.
You could set your Windows Update settings to Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. You would have to manually selected and install Windows Updates that you want afterwards every 2nd Tuesday of the month, but you will no longer have drivers automatically installed from Windows Updates anymore.
Windows Update - Windows Automatic Updating
Hope this helps,
Shawn
- 24 Feb 2012 #7My System Specs
Re: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for your reply,
Eventually I managed to do what I needed by installing the SigmaTel driver right after uninstalling the vista native driver, that is, without rebooting in between, so Vista didn't get the chance to reinstall it automatically.
This is even easier than what you suggested :-)
but thanks!
- 24 Feb 2012 #8
Administrator
Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,531 64-bit Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows 8 Enterprise Local Time: 06:58 AM
My System SpecsRe: Uninstall Device and Device Driver
That's great news Moonmadness. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.
Uninstall Device and Device Driver problems?
| Similar Threads | ||||
| Tutorial | Tutorial Starter | Category | Comments | Last Post |
| "Disable" or "Uninstall" a device in Device Manager? | Blithe | Vista General | 4 | 29 Jun 2009 |
| Using Powershell to uninstall device from device manager in Window | Arun Kumar | PowerShell | 1 | 15 Apr 2009 |
| Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted | yalpsiD | Drivers | 2 | 13 Jan 2009 |
| Windows Mobile Device Center randomly fails to recognize device | cleverusername | Vista General | 2 | 10 Nov 2007 |
| After you install a device or update a driver for a device, help!! | Papz | Vista General | 5 | 11 Mar 2007 |
