How to Totally Remove Corrupt ATI Video Drivers
Removing corrupt ATI video drivers can be a bit tricky. ATI provides an installation manager that simplifies the process of uninstalling drivers. Unfortunately, corruption may force you to uninstall the corrupt drivers without the installation manager's assistance. The ATI installation manager tends to leave behind fragmented files and registry entries. Because these files may contain the corrupt fragment, removing them after running the ATI uninstall manager will help ensure that you have totally removed the corrupt ATI video drivers.
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Instructions
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Uninstall Current Drivers
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1
Click the "Start" button on the taskbar. Select "Control Panel" from the Start menu, then select "Programs and Features" from the window that opens.
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2
Double-click on "ATI Catalyst Install Manager" or right-click and select "Change" from the menu that pops up (called the context menu). If "ATI Catalyst Install Manager" does not appear, skip to Step 5.
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3
Click "Next" in the InstallShield Wizard that opens. Select "Express Uninstall ALL ATI Software" and click "Next." Follow any directions specific to the computer. Restart the computer when prompted.
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4
Return to the "Control Panel" and "Programs and Features" and check that "ATI Catalyst Install Manager" is gone.
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5
If the ATI video drivers are too corrupt for the installation manager to function as described in previous steps, you must uninstall the drivers manually. Right-click on "Computer" on the desktop or in Windows Explorer, and select "Manage" from the context menu. Click "Device Manager" under "System tools." Expand the "Display Adapters" list, right-click on the listed video device, and select "Properties" from the context menu. Select the "Driver" tab and click the "Uninstall" button. Click the check box in the window that pops up and click "OK."
Clean Up After Reinstalling
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6
Click the "Start" menu and select "run." Type "regedit" (without quotation marks) and select "OK." Select "File," then "Export." Save the registry data to a known location and give the file a name.
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7
Download a program such as "TweakNow RegCleaner" or "Driver Sweeper" to clear the registry of any corrupt ATI driver entries that may remain on the computer (see Resources for links). Install the program according to its instructions.
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8
Reboot the computer. While the computer is starting, tap "F8" repeatedly to load the advanced boot options. Select "Safe Mode" by scrolling up or down with the arrow keys. Press "Enter" to start Windows in Safe Mode.
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9
Run the downloaded registry cleaning program. Downloaded program icons generally install to the desktop, so look there to run the cleaning programs.
Open "TweakNow RegCleaner" and select "Home" if it is not selected. Click the "Analyze" icon under the "Windows Cleaner" tab. Click the "Fix and Clean" icon and wait for both scans to show "Fix and Clean process completed successfully," then close the program by clicking the "X" in the upper right corner.
Open "Driver Sweeper" and update if prompted. Select "ATI--Display" from the list of check boxes. Click "Analyse" and wait for the scan to finish. Click "Clean" and wait for the program to finish. Close the program.
If there is any error or unnecessary registry modification, you can revert to the previous registry file by accessing "regedit" and importing the file you saved in Step 1.
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10
Restart the computer.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Set a system restore point before making alterations to the video drivers. If something goes wrong, you can revert to the system restore point and try again.
User ratings and comments can help with choosing a registry and driver management software.
Altering system files manually or with a program can be destructive to the computer. Make sure you understand the implications of each file modification before proceeding.
References
Resources
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