How to Install a New Display Driver

The most current drivers will improve your display.

Installing new drivers, including display drivers, is a critical part of keeping your computer up to date. Before removing the old display drivers, you should download the new drivers you intend to install. Display drivers can typically be downloaded from the video card manufacturer's website free of charge. Be sure to download the drivers specific to your video card model and to the version of Windows that your computer is running.

Things You'll Need

• Internet connection

Instructions

1. Open the Start menu and click "Control Panel."

2. Click "Classic View" on the left sidebar of the Control Panel if the icons are not already displayed in Classic View.

3. Double-click "System" and click "Device Manager" from the left side of the "System" window.

4. Double-click on "Display Adapters" to view your display adapter.

5. Right-click on your display adapter and click "Properties." Click on the "Driver" tab in the properties window. The top line will display the make and model of your display adapter. "Driver Provider" "Driver Version" are also listed.

6. Go to the manufacturer's website in your web browser and click on the link labeled "Drivers and Downloads" or "Support." Enter your model number into the search box to display the drivers for your display adapter. Click the download link beside the drivers for your operating system to download the drivers. Make sure to save them in an easy to remember location, such as your desktop.

7. Return to your display adapter's "Properties" window and click "Uninstall," located in the "Drivers" tab. Click "OK" in the warning box to complete the uninstall. Close the "Properties" window and the "Device Manager." Once your display adapters are uninstalled, the computer will revert to the Microsoft default display adapters, which may make the screen resolution appear larger than normal.

8. Return to the "Control Panel" window and click "Add New Hardware."

9. Click "Next" on the first screen of the "Add New Hardware" window and select the option labeled "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list." Click "Next" to begin the new hardware search. If your display adapter is found, select it and click "Next." If it is not found, select "Display Adapters" when prompted and click "Next."

10. Click "Have Disk" and select the file or files you downloaded from the display manufacturer.

11. Click "Next" to complete the installation.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not restart your computer after the drivers are uninstalled, unless you decide not to update your drivers. Once restarted, the computer will reinstall the original drivers.

References

• Windows Vista Update: Windows Vista Add Hardware
• The Elder Geek Vista: Add Hardware Wizard
• PC Tips Box: Uninstall a Driver in Windows Vista

Resources

• NVIDIA: Download Drivers
• AMD: Graphics Drivers and Software