How do I install Nvidia drivers?

[ShawnD1]

I had to format and reinstall Windows so now I have to get the latest Nvidia drivers. The problem is that Windows XP is being a prick and won't let me install them! I'll just say the methods I've tried then say the result. The Windows assigned Nvidia drivers are dated 7/28/2003. The drivers on the Nvidia site are dated August 13, 20003 which is 8/13/2003.

method:
Run the driver installer from the Nvidia site.
result:
Computer restarts. Windows never changes the drivers. Windows keeps its crappy 7/28/2003 drivers.

method:
Click 'update driver' in hardware manager then manualy find the driver in the C:\Nvidia folder.
result:
Computer restarts. Windows never changes drivers.

method:
Uninstall Windows assigned drivers.
result:
Computer restarts. Windows assigned drivers somehow come back (WTF?).

method:
Uninstall hardware then see if something happens.
result:
Computer restarts. Windows adds hardware automaticly. Windows uses its crappy drivers again.



Seriously how do I install these drivers If Windows won't let me?

[originel]

i'm assuming you're older driver's are also nvidia?

if so nvidia puts an add/remove option for the drivers...you might try removing them, restarting, then installing the new drivers

[ArcticFox]

originel is right - many a problem can be fixed by uninstalling and reinstalling drivers. Do that first, then come back if theirs any problems.

[ShawnD1]

I've already tried uninstalling and reinstalling drivers. No matter what happens, the windows drivers are used.

[F/A-18 MechDood]

Are you using broadband internet? If so, unplug the LAN cable or shut off the modem. Uninstall all video card drivers, then try installing the ones you want. I ran into this in the past trying to install old video card drivers. XP would keep installing the drivers and wouldn't let me install the ones that I wanted to install.

[the jester]

taking a wildshot as I don't really have too much XP experience

log in as administrator and try upgrading the drivers

apologies if this is what you've been doing

[Scott Tiger]

I've seen ATi drivers do this too. It's like XP caches the drivers or something.

I went looking on Google for "driver cache" (I'm at work so it was a quick search) and came across this:

http://www.techtutorials.com/tutoria...xpreboot.shtml

This probably wouldn't be my first approach to getting this worked out but I thought I'd post it anyway. I don't know how desperate you are to get this working.

[JohnE.]

Try this: Driver Cleaner. It's able to delete XP's driver cache of nVidia/ATI drivers.

I've used this to fix an nVidia nForce2 chipset installation problem and an ATI display driver problem on 2 different machines... worked great both times.

[Scott Tiger]

Thanks JohnE.

Definitely worth a book mark!

[ArcticFox]

Cool link JohnE. (That's short for Johnny, or am I being stupid? )