changing drivers in XP

[shifty]

I recently tried to update a video driver on a machine running Windows XP so I uninstalled the driver in the Add/Remove software in the control panel.After uninstalling and rebooting XP detected the video card as new hardware and reinstalled the old driver.There must be a setting somewhere to prevent this.Windows 98 never did this.This is got to be a simple fix.Thanks

[ktkendall]

Go to device manager and double click on the video adapter and the window that comes up will be the properties window, and click on the driver tab then click the box to update driver..

[shifty]

I've always completely removed the old driver before installing a new one.This doesn't remove the old driver.

[ktkendall]

You can do that too, and then use the update driver.Also many updated driver downloads are executables that will remove the old and install the new. One thing you will find though is that XP is way better than the old windows at Drivers and such..

[shifty]

So how do I prevent it from reinstalling the old driver?Thanks

[Davidoo1]

Originally posted by shifty So how do I prevent it from reinstalling the old driver?Thanks

I've had the same problem as shifty. nVidia says you MUST remove the old drivers through the control panel remove window then restart. I do this, then restart to install the new ones, but XP detects the video card and reinstalls the old ones automatically on start-up, so I never get a chance to install the new ones clean. No matter how fast I try to click on the boxes to stop it, I can't.

I think what Shifty is asking is how do you get XP to not load the default driver on the restart so we can install the new version?

[ktkendall]

I have NVIDIA and have always used their self executable file that you download from them that does remove the old and installs the new. I think it does remove the old, reboots and then has the new ones in the right place so that they get installed instead of the old ones..

UPDATE:
I just did my nvidia drivers and just download the file and run the executable, thats how I just did it and it worked fine..
If you insist on manual removal and reboot and can not stop the process upon reboot and new hardware detection then reboot into safe mode, but I pretty much think that since nvidia's file is an executable you have to run it that way. BTW I have GeForce card and just updated mine that way..

[Davidoo1]

But this is what nVidia says on their website under "driver installation tips."

"Driver Installation Hints

Before installing new drivers make sure you uninstall all NVIDIA display drivers from the Windows Control Panel. Browse to the Start Menu > Windows Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and search for "NVIDIA Windows Display Drivers" or "NVIDIA Display Drivers" and select remove."

The link is... http://www.nvidia.com/object/driver_...ion_hints.html

I have tried installing by just running the executable before with mixed results. I think they tell you to uninstall the old ones first for a reason.

[Panama Red]

The link doesn't say to reboot after uninstalling the old drivers. Just do the uninstall, install the new drivers, then reboot. Just make sure as the link says to turn off your AV program before installing the new drivers.

[shifty]

I guess you should make sure your AV doesn't start up with windows.I was installing a new Radeon Catalst driver.I uninstalled the old control panel ok but the video driver reinstalled.I installed the new one over it and ran dxdiag,checked the driver and did the tests.Everything seems ok but there must be a way to uninstall the old one without it reinstalling.

[Davidoo1]

Originally posted by Panama Red The link doesn't say to reboot after uninstalling the old drivers. Just do the uninstall, install the new drivers, then reboot. Just make sure as the link says to turn off your AV program before installing the new drivers.

When you uninstall the drivers from the contol panel, uninstall programs screen, you MUST restart to finish the process. That is the only choice. The message says to complete the uninstall, you must restart.

[Panama Red]

I know that's what it says, but if it's going to reinstall the same drivers, what are you going to do? When I install new vid card drivers for my Radeon cards, I just make sure the ATI control panel is uninstalled, not the driver. I use the Omega drivers and his instructions are just to let the new drivers install over the old. By the way he also has nVidia drivers.

http://www.omegacorner.com/

[Rapier]

http://ranger.s3graphics.com/swlib/3...license=accept

I got a system error. When I rebooted Microsoft pointed me to the above url.


Windows 2000 and XP Drivers
ID Size Date Description
84002w2ks3agplogo.zip 787k 2000 Oct 4 Logo'd: Savage 4 Windows 2000 Version 8.40.02 S3_AGP


I unzipped it what do I do now?
I read in earlier posts that Microsoft reinstalls the original driver.

The unzipped filles didn't seem to have it's own driver installer.
I went to the super driver site but there were so many savage drivers I didn't have a clue.



; S3SAVG4.INF with ICD and S3Gamma and S3Switch2 support for S3
;
; Win2000 installation file (.INF) for the S3 Incorporated display driver
; for the Savage4.
;
; Copyright (c) 1999, 2000 By S3 Incorporated.
;
; RELEASE VERSION: 05.12.01.8011-08.40.02

[Version]
Signature="$CHICAGO$"
Class=Display
ClassGUID={4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Provider=%INF_Provider%
CatalogFile=s3savg4.cat
DriverVer=08/10/2000, 05.12.01.8011

[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect = PCI\VEN_5333&DEV_8A22&SUBSYS_8A225333

;
; Disk and Directory sections
;

[DestinationDirs]
DefaultDestDir = 11
S3SAVAGE4.Miniport = 12 ; drivers
S3SAVAGE4.Display = 11 ; system32
S3SAVAGE4.Icd = 11 ; OpenGL ICD
GAMMAcopy.sys=11
GAMMAcopy.hlp=18
GAMMAcopy.win=10
S3switch2copy.sys=11
S3switch2copy.hlp=18
S3UninstCopy.sys=11

[SourceDisksNames.x86]
1 = %DiskId%,,,""

[SourceDisksFiles]
s3savg4m.sys = 1 ; all files are on Disk 1
s3savg4.dll = 1
s3micd.dll = 1
s3savg4.inf = 1
S3Gamma.dll=1
S3Gamma.cfg=1
S3gamENU.hlp=1
S3gamCHS.hlp=1
S3gamFRA.hlp=1
S3gamDEU.hlp=1
S3gamITA.hlp=1
S3gamJPN.hlp=1
S3gamPTB.hlp=1
S3gamESP.hlp=1
S3gamCHT.hlp=1
S3gamDAN.hlp=1
S3gamFIN.hlp=1
S3gamKOR.hlp=1
S3gamNLD.hlp=1
S3gamNOR.hlp=1
S3gamSVE.hlp=1
S3gamTHA.hlp=1
s3swtch2.dll=1
s3sw2enu.hlp=1
s3sw2jpn.hlp=1
s3sw2fra.hlp=1
s3sw2deu.hlp=1
s3sw2ita.hlp=1
s3sw2esp.hlp=1
s3sw2ptb.hlp=1
s3sw2chs.hlp=1
s3sw2cht.hlp=1
s3sw2dan.hlp=1
s3sw2fin.hlp=1
s3sw2kor.hlp=1
s3sw2nld.hlp=1
s3sw2nor.hlp=1
s3sw2sve.hlp=1
s3sw2tha.hlp=1
s3swtch2.cfg=1
s3sw2ext.cfg=1
s3swtch2.inf=1
s3Uninst.exe=1

;
; Driver information
;

[Manufacturer]
%S3% = S3.Mfg

;
; This section should be modified to reflect the chip strings the
; user will see in the Displays applet when the new driver is being
; installed from the driver diskette.
;
[S3.Mfg]
S3 Inc. Savage4 = S3SAVAGE4, PCI\VEN_5333&DEV_8A22&SUBSYS_8A225333

;
; General installation section
;

[S3SAVAGE4]
DelReg = S3switch2.DelReg,S3GammaClean.DelReg
CopyFiles=S3SAVAGE4.Miniport, S3SAVAGE4.Display, S3SAVAGE4.Icd
CopyFiles=GAMMAcopy.hlp, GAMMAcopy.sys, GAMMAcopy.win
CopyFiles=S3switch2copy.hlp, S3switch2copy.sys, S3UninstCopy.sys
AddReg =S3SAVAGE4.AddRegs, S3GammaNT.AddReg,S3switch2.AddReg

;
; File sections
;

[S3SAVAGE4.Miniport]
s3savg4m.sys ; miniport driver

[S3SAVAGE4.Display]
s3savg4.dll ; Savage4 display driver

[S3SAVAGE4.Icd]
s3micd.dll ; OpenGL ICD driver

[S3SAVAGE4.AddRegs]
HKLM,Software\Microsoft\%WinNTDir%\CurrentVersion\OpenGLdrivers,Savage2,,"s3micd"

[S3SAVAGE4.GeneralConfigData]
MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration=128

[S3GammaClean.DelReg]
;; ---------- Next line to remove possible duplicate shellext ------------
HKLM,"%CURVER%\%1%\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\S3Gamma"

[S3GammaNT.AddReg]
HKLM,"%CURVER%\Uninstall\S3 Gamma",DisplayName,,"%ShortDesc%"
HKLM,"%CURVER%\Uninstall\S3 Gamma","UninstallString",,"s3Uninst.exe -reg 5 'HKLM\Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma'"
HKCR,"CLSID\%GAMMACLSID%",,,"S3 Gamma Property Sheet"
HKCR,"CLSID\%GAMMACLSID%\InProcServer32",,,"S3Gamma.dll"
HKCR,"CLSID\%GAMMACLSID%\InProcServer32",ThreadingModel,,"Apartment"
;; ---------- Next line to remove possible duplicate shellext ------------
HKLM,"%CURVER%\%1%\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\S3 Gamma","",,"%GAMMACLSID%"
HKLM,"%S3GKEY%","Installed",,"1"
HKLM,"%S3GKEY%","Filename",,"S3Gamma.dll"
HKLM,"%S3GKEY%","UtilityName",,"%GAMMANAME%"

;; ---------- Following lines are uninstall information ------------
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","10.DelKey",,"HKLM\%S3GKEY%"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","11.DelKey",,"HKCR\CLSID\%GAMMACLSID%"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","12.DelKey",,"HKLM\%CURVER%\Uninstall\S3 Gamma"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","13.DelKey",,"HKLM\%CURVER%\%1%\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\S3 Gamma"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","14.DelReg",,"HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\S3SAVAGE4\Device0\GammaFor16BppModes"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","15.DelReg",,"HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\S3SAVAGE4\Device0\GammaFor32BppModes"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","20.DelFiles",,"%11%\S3Gamma.dll"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","21.DelFiles",,"%18%\S3Gam*.hlp"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","22.DelFiles",,"%10%\S3Gamma.cfg"
HKLM,"Software\S3\S3Uninst\S3 Gamma","23.DelFiles",,"%17%\S3Gamma.?nf"

;Add this to delete legacy settings
[S3switch2.DelReg]
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%

[S3switch2.AddReg]
HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\S3switch2,DisplayName,,%S3SW2DSC%
HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\S3switch2,UninstallString,,"S3Uninst.exe -reg 5 HKLM\SOFTWARE\S3\S3Uninst\S3Switch2"

HKCR,CLSID\%S3SW2CLS%,"",,"Property Sheet Extension for S3 Display Configuration Utility"
HKCR,CLSID\%S3SW2CLS%\InProcServer32,"",,"S3swtch2.dll"
HKCR,CLSID\%S3SW2CLS%\InProcServer32,ThreadingModel,,"Apartment"

HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\%1%\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\S3switch2,"",,%S3SW2CLS%

HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,,,
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,FileName,,"S3swtch2.DLL"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,UtilityName,,"S3switch2 Utility"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,AlwaysSupportPanelDevice,,"OFF"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,AlwaysSupportTVDevice,,"OFF"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,AlwaysEnablePanelDevice,,"OFF"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,AlwaysEnableTVDevice,,"OFF"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,AllowSimultaneous,,"ON"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,AllowForceTVOn,,"OFF"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,ExpandedTVFmtList,,"OFF"
HKLM,%S3SW2KEY%,RemoveInfoPage,,"OFF"

;----------- Following lines are uninstall information ------------
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,10.DelKey,,HKLM\%S3SW2KEY%
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,11.DelKey,,HKCR\CLSID\%S3SW2CLS%
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,12.DelKey,,HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\S3Swit ch2
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,13.DelKey,,HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\%1%\Display\shel lex\PropertySheetHandlers\S3Switch2
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,20.DelFiles,,%11%\S3Swtch2.dll
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,21.DelFiles,,%11%\S3Swtch2.vxd
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,22.DelFiles,,%18%\S3Sw2*.hlp
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,23.DelFiles,,%11%\S3Swtch2.cfg
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,24.DelFiles,,%11%\S3Sw2ext.cfg
HKLM,%S3UNIKEY%\S3Switch2,25.DelFiles,,%17%\S3Swtch2.?nf

;
; Service Installation
;

[GAMMAcopy.sys]
S3Gamma.dll
S3Uninst.exe

[GAMMAcopy.win]
S3Gamma.cfg

[GAMMAcopy.hlp]
S3gamENU.hlp
S3gamCHS.hlp
S3gamFRA.hlp
S3gamDEU.hlp
S3gamITA.hlp
S3gamJPN.hlp
S3gamPTB.hlp
S3gamESP.hlp
S3gamCHT.hlp
S3gamDAN.hlp
S3gamFIN.hlp
S3gamKOR.hlp
S3gamNLD.hlp
S3gamNOR.hlp
S3gamSVE.hlp
S3gamTHA.hlp

[S3switch2copy.sys]
s3swtch2.dll
s3swtch2.cfg
s3sw2ext.cfg

[S3switch2copy.hlp]
s3sw2enu.hlp
s3sw2jpn.hlp
s3sw2fra.hlp
s3sw2deu.hlp
s3sw2ita.hlp
s3sw2esp.hlp
s3sw2ptb.hlp
s3sw2chs.hlp
s3sw2cht.hlp
s3sw2dan.hlp
s3sw2fin.hlp
s3sw2kor.hlp
s3sw2nld.hlp
s3sw2nor.hlp
s3sw2sve.hlp
s3sw2tha.hlp

[S3UninstCopy.sys]
S3Uninst.exe

[S3SAVAGE4.Services]
AddService = S3SAVAGE4, 0x00000002, S3SAVAGE4_Service_Inst, S3SAVAGE4_EventLog_Inst

[S3SAVAGE4_Service_Inst]
ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
StartType = 1 ; SERVICE_SYSTEM_START
ErrorControl = 0 ; SERVICE_ERROR_IGNORE
LoadOrderGroup = Video
ServiceBinary = %12%\s3savg4m.sys

[S3SAVAGE4_EventLog_Inst]
AddReg = S3SAVAGE4_EventLog_AddReg

[S3SAVAGE4_EventLog_AddReg]
HKR,,EventMessageFile,0x00020000,"%SystemRoot%\System32\IoLogMsg.dll;%SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\s3savg4m.sys"
HKR,,TypesSupported,0x00010001,7

;
; Software Installation
;

[S3SAVAGE4.SoftwareSettings]
AddReg = S3SAVAGE4_SoftwareDeviceSettings
DelReg = S3SAVAGE4_UserPreferences ; user-selected preferences

[S3SAVAGE4_SoftwareDeviceSettings]
HKR,, InstalledDisplayDrivers, %REG_MULTI_SZ%, s3savg4
HKR,, VgaCompatible, %REG_DWORD%, 0
HKR,, CapabilityOverride, %REG_DWORD%, 0

[S3SAVAGE4_UserPreferences]
HKR,, UseDDCInfo
HKR,, NtscTvPositionX
HKR,, NtscTvPositionY
HKR,, Pal6TvPositionX
HKR,, Pal6TvPositionY
HKR,, Pal8TvPositionX
HKR,, Pal8TvPositionY
HKR,, DisplaysActivePreference
HKR,, TvStandardPreference
HKR,, DdcMaxRefresh
HKR,, GammaFor16BppModes
HKR,, GammaFor32BppModes


[Strings]
1 = "Controls Folder"
ShortDesc = "S3 Gamma"
S3 = "S3 Incorporated"
CURVER = "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion"
GAMMACLSID = "{C4FACD43-6676-11d1-AF9C-00AA00C67CA8}"
GAMMANAME = "S3 Gamma"
SCHEMES = "Schemes"
S3GKEY = "SOFTWARE\S3\S3 Gamma"
S3SW2DSC = "S3 Savage4 Family Display Switch2 Utility"
S3SW2KEY = "SOFTWARE\S3\S3Switch2"
S3UNIKEY = "SOFTWARE\S3\S3Uninst"
S3SW2CLS = "{79cd01c2-912d-11d2-88a9-00600837776e}"

;
; Non-Localizable Strings
;

REG_MULTI_SZ = 0x00010000
REG_DWORD = 0x00010001

;
; Localizable Strings
;

DiskId = "S3 Incorporated Installation DISK (VIDEO)"
INF_Provider = "S3 Incorporated"
WinNTDir = "Windows NT"

[andyms18a]

with windows xp you don't remove the old drivers you just run the setup of the new ones the reason is xp has a driver roll back option in case the new drivers are no good

[Rapier]

Originally posted by andyms18a with windows xp you don't remove the old drivers you just run the setup of the new ones the reason is xp has a driver roll back option in case the new drivers are no good

I downloaded the driver and unzipped it.

S3-AGP
The unzipped file did not have an install program.

What can I do to install it?

[ktkendall]

Unzip them and extract all the files to the same folder then use windows device manager>Properties>update driver and point the windows update driver program to the .inf file from the files that U unzipped and extracted. That should do the trick.

[andyms18a]

yep ktkendall is spot on

[CaptTuna]

Could you not start back in safe mode and install the new drivers?

[Rapier]

Originally posted by ktkendall Unzip them and extract all the files to the same folder then use windows device manager>Properties>update driver and point the windows update driver program to the .inf file from the files that U unzipped and extracted. That should do the trick.

I right-clicked the inf file. It showed an an install option so I clicked it. It gurgled for about a minute and stopped without a message. Unless I missed it of course.

I rebooted and looked at the driver properties and the info looked the same although I hadn't written them down.


I tried to "point" but no "new" driver was found.

I can't tell if I made a typo of some kind.

[ktkendall]

You need to go to device manager and highlight the device you want to update and click properties, then go to the driver tab and click update driver. When windows gets to the point of offering you the choice of either letting it search for a better driver or you selecting the location, this is where you want to select the location and then point the update driver wizard the the .inf file it is looking for and it will do the rest..

[Rapier]

Originally posted by ktkendall You need to go to device manager and highlight the device you want to update and click properties, then go to the driver tab and click update driver. When windows gets to the point of offering you the choice of either letting it search for a better driver or you selecting the location, this is where you want to select the location and then point the update driver wizard the the .inf file it is looking for and it will do the rest..

I followed the above but I was only able to point to the folder that contained the inf file. This resulted in it saying no "better" driver was found. Maybe it updated when I did the right click and install.

Anywhows THanks everyone one for your help.
Mike