I Updated My Video Card Driver and Now the Computer Won't Start

Your video card may be incompatible with your computer.

If you have recently installed new hardware and your computer stops booting immediately after the installation, then the problem is most likely a compatibility issue between the new hardware and your computer. New hardware such as video cards may be physically incompatible with your system or the recently installed hardware's drivers may be incompatible with your system. For this reason, two courses of action may need to be taken to restore functionality to your computer.

Things You'll Need

• Anti-static wrist strap
• Windows 7

Instructions

Uninstall the Hardware

1. Turn your computer off and disconnect the power and video cables.

2. Put on your anti-static wrist strap and connect the alligator clip end to the computer's chassis. The anti-static wrist strap will prevent damage to your computer when removing the video card. Anti-static wrist straps should be used any time you install or remove hardware from inside your computer.

3. Open your computer's case following the manufacturer's instructions.

4. Unscrew any harness holding the video card in place, then firmly grasp the card and pull straight up to remove it. Once removed, place the card in its original anti-static bag (if you still have it). Then place it in its box to prevent any damage to the video card.

5. Put the case back on your computer and plug the cables back into the computer.

Uninstall the Drivers

1. Turn your computer back on and immediately begin tapping the F8 button until you are presented with a boot menu.

2. Select "System Recovery" from the boot menu that will be displayed using the arrow keys and press "Enter."

3. Click on "System Restore" on the "System Recovery Options" menu.

4. Follow the on-screen prompts and select the most recent "Restore Point." Loading the "Restore Point" will revert your Windows settings to their state prior to installing the video card or other offending hardware.

Tips & Warnings

• Prior to purchasing any new hardware for your computer, ensure that your computer meets the minimum specifications, which should be written on the outside of the box. This can save a lot of time and frustration in attempting to get noncompatible hardware to work with your system.

References

• Microsoft -- What are the System Recovery Options in Windows 7