During the first launch, the Options screen will appear where you can choose to remove graphics driver related software such as GeForce Experience, PhysX, 3DTV Play, or the AMD/Nvidia/Intel Control Panel. If that’s not possible, run the program and clean, reboot, then repeat the process again (clean and reboot).

It is also highly recommended to run DDU from Safe Mode. Therefore, DDU should be used with care with backups to hand where possible. A big difference between DDU and the other options here is it will remove files, folders, and registry entries belonging to the video/audio drivers. Along the way, DDU has also gained the ability to remove audio drivers from Realtek and Creative Soundblaster. In recent years DDU has become a highly recommended tool for removing old or corrupt display drivers from the likes of AMD, Nvidia, and Intel. Make sure to run programs or Command Prompts as an administrator where possible. As Windows hides these devices by default, we show you 8 ways to find and remove old and unused device drivers from your system. This can lengthen boot time and potentially cause future driver conflicts so it makes sense to remove what is no longer required. Some applications also don’t remove software drivers when you uninstall the software.Įven if the hardware or software is no longer available, Windows still looks for it on boot.

Over time this can leave driver entries on the system for devices that have long since been removed. The driver that was installed when the new hardware was connected does not get uninstalled when the hardware is removed.

When the device is first connected to the computer, Windows will detect it and either install the device driver automatically or you install it yourself from CD or the internet.Īfter that, it’s not a problem while the device remains connected but can potentially become a problem if you disconnect it. This includes Graphics cards, CPUs, USB devices, disk drives, network adapters, and just about anything else. Almost every piece of hardware attached to your Windows computer will show up in Device Manager as an installed device.

Driver uninstall tool windows 7