Vista - Uninstall Device and Device Driver

**Brink**

How to Uninstall a Device and Device Driver in Vista and Windows 7

Information

This 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.
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.

3. Close the Programs and Features window.

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.

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)
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.

9. To Uninstall Both the Device and Device Driver
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.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**niemiro** · 09-24-2010

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!

**Brink** · 09-24-2010

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

**niemiro** · 09-24-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

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

It does help a lot! Thank you so much for taking the time to educate me!

**Brink** · 09-24-2010

You're most welcome Niemiro.

**Moonmadness** · 02-23-2012

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.

**Brink** · 02-23-2012

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

**Moonmadness** · 02-24-2012

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!

**Brink** · 02-24-2012

That's great news Moonmadness. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

09-24-2010
niemiro Vista Home Premium x86 SP2 3,369 posts	Re: Uninstall Device and Device Driver 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!
My System Specs

09-24-2010
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: 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
My System Specs

09-24-2010
niemiro Vista Home Premium x86 SP2 3,369 posts	Re: Uninstall Device and Device Driver Quote: Originally Posted by Brink 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 It does help a lot! Thank you so much for taking the time to educate me!
My System Specs

09-24-2010
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: Uninstall Device and Device Driver You're most welcome Niemiro.
My System Specs

02-23-2012
Moonmadness Vista home 32bit 2 posts	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.
My System Specs

02-24-2012
Moonmadness Vista home 32bit 2 posts	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!
My System Specs

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