Computer People: Driver Removal Utility?

[risingson77]

Well, like the title says...is there one? I've looked at Norton and McAfee so far. Basically, I've just built a new PC but I used a HDD from an old one.

If I had a full Windows install disk I would probably just nuke the HDD. :fdevil:


-TIA-

 

[B Campbell]

C:\Windows\system32\drivers

They should all be stored there, base don which version of windows you're using. You'll probably have to go into the registry as well.

Alternately, drivers don't take up too much space, so you could ignore them altogether. They're .sys files, BTW, in case you want to search for them.

 

[Deathhawk]

Be CAREFUL abut selecting the right driver though... If you take out the wrong one it will be hell on your system

 

[risingson77]

It's not the amount of space the drivers eat up on my drive - it's the potential for conflicts and crashes. Perhaps I'm being too sensitive...

 

[Deathhawk]

Then remove the driver using divice manager. If it is not on that list, windows dosn't have it registered, and it is not even being accessed.

There are usually no conflicts... The only one I had was a SBLive misbehaving with a 720K Video card that I was using untill I got my new card... Conflicts are usually minimal in windows... Just as long as your bios is set correctly (leave default settings)

 

[risingson77]

Originally posted by Deathhawk
Then remove the driver using divice manager. If it is not on that list, windows dosn't have it registered, and it is not even being accessed.

There are usually no conflicts... The only one I had was a SBLive misbehaving with a 720K Video card that I was using untill I got my new card... Conflicts are usually minimal in windows... Just as long as your bios is set correctly (leave default settings)

Yeah, I figured that's what I should do. Perhaps I'll get around to it...

Default BIOS setiings? What kinda fun is that?

 

[higgimonster]

you can have like five drivers for your video card (for example) but windows will only load the one specifiedin the device manager. The only way for conflicts is when bad drivers are installed. Otherwise, if it aint broke don't fix it.

(just read the first thread now, here is response to that)
Because you lack the Windows install CD (god knows how you could run a windows system with out haveing to pull that out every month to reinstall), your gonna have a rough time here. Pretty much you should go into the device manager and delete everything. Then reboot. The computer will re-detect all of your new hardware and configure itself correctly with minimal conflicts. Just make sure you know what hardware you have installed and you have drivers for all of it.
good luck

 

[risingson77]

Cool, thanks.

I may just punt for a full copy of XP so I can nuke the HD. I'd just like to remove all traces of the previous computer.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Sage advice, but the computer (and in particular, the video card) are kinda buggy. So I thought a fresh start might be helpful. Then again, dumping WinME would be as useful as anything else I can do to make the computer more stable.

 

[Deathhawk]

This is a Note:

If ever you are updating to a new version of windows:
ALWAYS format your hd before doing the install. If you install over the existing version you will likely have the same problems..