Nvidia Graphics Driver 432.00 uninstall help

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Need some advice pls.

Currently on Windows 10 Pro x64 ver 1909.  My system is built by Maingear and I have installed the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) – MSI board.

I have never updated the drivers, but Window 10 has changed them when version updating from 1709 to 1803 to 1903 (no change to 1909). Never opened GeForce Experience.

The NVIDIA control panel shows my drivers as Standard (not DCH), version 432.00. I thought it time to consider a driver package update via the Nvidia site.

Even though everything is working fine and Device Manager shows all OK, I noted in the Windows Add/Remove program that after the Windows update to 1903, there is no longer a separate entry for the NVIDIA Graphic Driver, but only for 3D Vision Controller, GeForce Experience, and PhysX System.

Without a Graphic Driver entry to uninstall, how do I remove the existing graphic driver?

Will  an updated Nvidia Driver package be able to remove the exisiting drivers via their Clean Install option?  Or does it also need the uninstall package?

Did Windows hide the uninstall file somewhere?

 

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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The nVidia install package should offer the option to clean uninstall the existing drivers/programs. Can’t remember if you have to click custom install because i always do.

Never Say Never

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Yes you have to select the Clean Install Option, but I dont know how Nvidia implements that Option (eg: if it simply utilizes what normally would be the windows Uninstall process it would also be unable to locate that file).

Do you know how it works?  Is it an independent uninstaller process?

I am trying to avoid a faulty process that leaves me with broken driver and no video screen. And since 432.00 is a Windows special install I have no backup to fall back on.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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I’ve never seen the normal windows uninstaller during the install/update using the nVidia program, but I have never had an issue. YMMV so maybe a restore point or drive image before going forward might be a good idea.

Never Say Never

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You said that you have never opened GeForce Experience so if it was me, I would open it and check for drivers. By the way, you have to make an account with NVIDIA to use GeForce.

Before doing anything, make a restore point or back up your drive. Once you have registered with NVIDIA, check for drivers and when it finds new ones, start the download. After the download, choose “Custom Install”. Then look for the box that say’s “Clean Install” and check it before starting the install. It will take a while because it will uninstall previous versions before installing the current driver.

NOTE: It will update GeForce first before looking for newer drivers.

Once done, you will see this in Programs & Features (probably a newer version though since I haven’t gotten the latest one yet):

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does 🙂
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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Tex265

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Thanks, I had entries like those before the Windows update to 1903.  Windows changed the Nvidia package to 432.00 and the:

Nvidia Graphics Driver xxx.xx entry went missing.

All has worked well since that happened and I have read others have the same issue, its that missing uninstall link that concerns me.

Is there anything magical about obtaining the drivers thru Geforce Experience vs directly from Nvidia website?  Also would like to stick with Standard vs DCH driver packages which I read are the ones GE delivers.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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[cyberSAR]

I’m thinking something with the drivers. I had the entry to uninstall drivers on v391.25. I updated to one of the later versions last week to test something and that entry went missing (just checked).

I just did a clean install of 391.25 and it installed properly and now shows up again in add remove programs. I don’t install geforce experience , hd audio or phys x so can’t speak to that.

Stand by and I’ll install the latest standard driver and let you know how it goes 🙂

Never Say Never

• This reply was modified 2 years, 12 months ago by cyberSAR.

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cyberSAR wrote:

I just did a clean install of 391.25 and it installed properly and now shows up again in add remove programs.

However could it be that since it was an install of the same driver version that it performed an overlay install vs being able to actually delete the install and then clean install from scratch?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Tex265 wrote:

Is there anything magical about obtaining the drivers thru Geforce Experience vs directly from Nvidia website?  Also would like to stick with Standard vs DCH driver packages which I read are the ones GE delivers.

The difference in obtaining the driver from NVIDIA itself is that you would need to uninstall the previous driver as far as I know.

Personally, I was never a big fan of GeForce but I started using it again a few years ago because it’s just so dang easy to update with. I have MS set to not download drivers so I have never run into the problem you are experiencing.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does 🙂
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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CADesertRat wrote:

I have MS set to not download drivers so I have never run into the problem you are experiencing.

I had my set that way also, but it was during the Feature Update to 1903 that MS installs whatever drivers it wants to many things.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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CADesertRat wrote:

The difference in obtaining the driver from NVIDIA itself is that you would need to uninstall the previous driver as far as I know.

Actually you can also select “clean install” when installing a driver package selected from the Nvidia website.

Just still concerned if the “clean install” process can actually work without having that Graphics Driver entry to utilize in the Add/Remove Control Panel.  Does “clean install” come with its own separate removal process?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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OK, Just updated using the standard Nvidia package with a clean install to v446.14 and everything is working well and the driver package is now listed in programs and features. HTH

Never Say Never

2 users thanked author for this post.

Tex265, Elly

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Thanks for all the work.  But if I understand correctly, you had already brought back the previous graphics card Add/Remove Control Panel entry via a Clean Install (or Overlay?) of the same previous driver.

Thus, this new driver Clean Install would have had access to that Add/Remove Control Panel entry – if that is what Clean Install uses to remove to previous driver.

Still wonder if it would have been removed if that Graphics Driver entry was not present in the Add/Remove Control Panel.

Also unfortunately that 432.00 Graphics Driver I am discussing is not offered on the Nvidia site or anywhere I can find so I can’t try your reinstall idea.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Tex265 wrote:

Also unfortunately that 432.00 Graphics Driver I am discussing is not offered on the Nvidia site or anywhere I can find so I can’t try your reinstall idea.

The 446 driver is available:

Is this your NVIDIA card?

You can also find older drivers on NVIDIA’s site.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does 🙂
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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Took a little time but I uninstalled and deleted all the nvidia drivers. Went online and windows downloaded and installed 432.00 on its own. It didn’t show up in add remove programs. I then installed 446.14 with clean install option checked and noted for driver package it stated “none”. Went forward with the installation and 446.14 shows in control panel.

I then check devmgr and both the 432.00 and 446.14 showed as available, so the clean install did not remove the driver. I uninstalled 446 and on reboot windows reinstalled 432. I then uninstalled 432 from devmgr and ticked the box also delete driver. 432 doesn’t show up anymore. I then reinstalled 446 and I’m back to work 🙂

So to make it short if you want to get rid of 432 do it in devmgr with internet disconnected. Install your new driver and reconnect.

Never Say Never

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Tex265

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cyberSAR wrote:

Took a little time but I uninstalled and deleted all the nvidia drivers. Went online and windows downloaded and installed 432.00 on its own. It didn’t show up in add remove programs

Wow cyberSAR your efforts on this issue are Unbelievable!  Thank You!

Keying in on your results:

It has been reported that 432.00 has been available via Windows Update only – this confirms that.

cyberSAR wrote:

so the clean install did not remove the driver. I uninstalled 446 and on reboot windows reinstalled 432. I then uninstalled 432 from devmgr and ticked the box also delete driver.

devmgr = Device Manager   In my Device Manager under Sound, Video and Game Controllers I do not show an entry for the 432.00 Graphics Driver. I do show 2 entries: Nvidia High Definition Audio and Nvidia Virtual Audio Device.

Both do allow to “Uninstall Device”.  What entries did you have?   What did you Uninstall?  Where did you see the box to also delete driver?

I assume you first downloaded from Nvidia the 446.14 driver package onto Computer

Then disconnected from internet

Then Uninstalled (what exactly?) from Device Manager

What happened to your Computer Video screen after you uninstalled the devmgr entries?  Did it go blank?  Revert to Windows Default resolution?

Did you re-start computer after above, or directly proceed with installing the 446.14 driver package?

Then re-start?

Does all seem OK?

PS: I do note that Nvidia does not support using Device Manager to uninstall Drivers and MS agrees “…Device Manager may not remove associated files or applications”.

 

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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[cyberSAR]

I don’t install the audio drivers because I use speakers and don’t need them. They will install by default if not deselected during install.

I downloaded the driver package I wanted (Standard 446.14) from here https://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

Disconnect internet and uninstall everything nVidia from add/remove programs and reboot

In Device Manager expand out Display Adapters to show your nVidia adapter. Right-click and choose uninstall and tick the box “Delete the driver software for this device” Uninstall and reboot.

Once back up you should be using the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter and it’ll look terrible 🙂 You can check in devmgr to make sure that’s what you have if you like.

Optional – At this point you could right-click the ms display adapter and choose update driver > Choose browse computer for driver > Let me pick from a list. You should only see Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. If you see any nvidia then you do have more nvidia drivers and you’d have to repeat the above until all are removed to your satisfaction.

Install the driver package you downloaded earlier choosing the options you like. I checked clean install but it really isn’t needed.

After a reboot you should be good to go. I disable the container service and some other things but that’s just me.

HTH Don’t forget to backup or create a restore point just in case!

Edit to add: I’ve never used it but you could check out Display Driver Uninstaller
https://www.wagnardsoft.com/ Read through some of the comments and forum for more info/issues.

Never Say Never

• This reply was modified 2 years, 12 months ago by cyberSAR.

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Tex265

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Per my first post, I also have 3 entries in my Control Panel Add/Remove:

3D Vision Controller

GeForce Experience

PhysX System

Did you have these?  Did you Remove those also?  Did they by chance ask if you wanted to also remove the graphics driver (even tho it is not listed)?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Yes I uninstalled anything nVidia from control panel 1st. I never install those but I did while playing around with this earlier. Didn’t reinstall with my final installation.

Also, after uninstalling while playing with this I deleted all nvidia folders from Program Files and Program Filesx86. You could also have an nvidia folder in the root of C: if you allow the installer to unzip there.

Never Say Never

3 users thanked author for this post.

Microfix, Tex265, Elly

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Note: Also check C:\ProgramData (which by default is hidden) as there are sometimes a couple of nvidia folders remaining, it’s safe to remove these and their contents on elevated privs after uninstallation.

Keeping IT Lean, Clean and Mean!

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Yes, also in appdata folders.

Never Say Never

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Block Windows from installing drivers. Always download divers from Manufactures sites.

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Well I do have Windows set to block drivers but once I went online with the basic display driver installed, and before I set group policy to allow drivers, it updated to 432 with no action on my part. Yet when I started this it had never updated my older nVidia drivers to 432. Go figure!

Never Say Never

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