How to Remove Old Device Drivers from Vista & Windows 7

http://www.7meetsnick.com - One of the most annoying issues with Windows is when your hardware manufacturer fails to provide a proper driver for the operating system. Even when you do find the proper driver, sometimes the manufacturer releases an updated version which you then need to install on top of the older version. As if that's not enough, every version of Windows from the past 10 years or so, including server versions will retain the older driver binaries even if you upgrade or change hardware.

There is a logic behind this behavior. If, for example, you're using a removable USB disk drive, which has once been plugged in, Windows will install the appropriate driver for it. When you eject that drive, Windows retains the drivers so that they will be ready the next time you connect the drive.

With time, your computer will gather an increasing number of unused drivers that not only take space on your hard disk, having been still installed, they might cause problems if they are somehow enabled. In some cases they can also cause hardware conflicts. And to make things worse, when you do want to use the same device after a long period of inactivity, even if you re-install an updated version of the driver, Windows might still use the older version of it.

Variable Name: devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• windows
• seven
• drivers
• device
• manager
• vista
• tips
• tricks
• hacks
• microsoft
• tutorials

[lepzedelin]

I see a world of warcraft Icon :D

[7MeetsNick]

@lepzedelin Yup peranolde server alliance not sure if I

spelled the server right you can't miss it only 2 P's server names anyway. Toon name is nickola or kreman.

[Pontus669]

if i repalce my old grafics card whit a new, should a delete my old drivers before a put in the new card. Or can i just un the new drivers ontop the old ?

[7MeetsNick]

@Pontus669 Yes you have to remove the old drivers first

[uzumakiking]

2:10 - skip the reason why you wanna do this process

3:56 for those who just logged off and back on

thumbs up to help out others

[rkan2]

@Repenter101 U mean chipset drivers? - Chipset drivers include many drivers for audio,video,ide,ahci,ethernet or even wifi..

[Repenter101]

This method can used for uninstalling motherboard drivers, right? I'm looking to upgrade, but I really DO NOT want to reformat my system :/.

[PoliceRPG]

@7MeetsNick i put the new graphics card in and its conflicting with the old how do i remove old

[baconlover2012]

adf[DOT]ly/4kvCs

[JeenieJ]

BTW to speed things up, I just rebooted my pc and logged back into the user I'm working w.

[JeenieJ]

Thanks! this was a great refreshment to something I haven't done in over 3 years (when I first got my pc lol)

[puzzymgnet12]

i forgot to log off, will it not work?

[HaroldAFowls]

@lepzedelin Fuck WoW, I see Sims.

[makYOUsuffer]

@iam2448 damn lol sorry man i just noticed after i sent that it was over 5 months ago LOL1

[makYOUsuffer]

@iam2448 devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices : )