sad sad noob question

MBCOBRA68 · 04-20-07, 08:47 AM

I know this is computer 101 but:

I have an AMD 4200+ x2 , 1GB pc4800ddr (ordered another 1GB)with a 7800GTX.
1.) How do I tell what my current video driver is?
2.) what is the process for updating a driver? Does it just write over the old driver like a patch?
thanks in advance

fredbass · 04-20-07, 08:54 AM

I always delete my current driver and anything associated with it b4 I install a new one. (have the new one already downloaded first)

Right click your desktop and go into properties to find your display properties. From there, find your video card in the advanced settings and go into its properties to see current driver.

Quillan · 04-20-07, 08:58 AM

1) There's a couple of ways to do it, but I'll leave it to someone else to explain. I'm on the computer at work, which has a crappy integrated graphics chip and I don't recall exactly how to find it on the nVidia drivers.

2) You can do it this way, but it's generally safer to uninstall the old ones first, reboot the computer, then install the new ones. It prevents possible driver conflicts between the old version and the new.

jdski · 04-20-07, 09:08 AM

It's usually recommended to uninstall your current driver before updating to a new one. I haven't allways done this myself and have been able to seemingly update my driver without uninstalling without problems.

To find your driver right click "my computer", select "properties", click the "hardware" tab, select "device manager", find "display adapters" and expand the tree by clicking on the + next to it. Select the first one in the list if there's more then one and right click on it. Select "properties". Select the "driver tab". It will now show the driver version. However, this might not match to what you need to know. So you might then click on "driver details". Down the bottom it will show the file details. This may be the actuall driver version you have.

GnarPow · 04-20-07, 09:14 AM

If you have a Nvidia card its easy... just go to the bottom right of your windows in the system tray and R-Click the Nvidia Control panel... then open up the Display bar (mine says Laptop Display, i dont know what yours will say) and it will say the driver right on the first screen

if it doesnt say it on the first screen, open up a little panel on the left side, if it isnt already open(should be) , and just click your card name at the top

MBCOBRA68 · 04-20-07, 09:28 AM

Thanks a lot guys! I will check on that ASAP. To all you Nvidia card users--are you using 93.71 or is there one out there that will work better for SH4?

nfitzsimmons · 04-20-07, 09:45 AM

When I update my nVidia drivers, I do the following:

Set my video properties to VGA 800x600.
Run the nVidia uninstall program to remove the current drivers/tools.
Reboot the machine.
Run Driver Cleaner Pro to remove the remaining bits & pieces.
Available here: http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745
Reboot again.
Install the new drivers.
Reboot as required.

At the moment I don't remember vhich nVidia drivers I'm running; I'm at the office.

Hope this helps.

JSF · 04-20-07, 11:18 AM

After installing new card go to Add/Remove program and delete old drivers. System will promt reboot...do it. After reboot place driver CD in cr-rom and install new drivers. Reboot again.

You will have to right clik on desk top slect properties and reset former desktop settings. Then....you're good to go.

Tobus · 04-20-07, 01:06 PM

To elaborate on your first question:

go to start, run, then type the command 'dxdiag'.
DirectX now runs a diagnostic of all your stuff and its drivers, divided by tabs. You can select each tab to view the apparatus, its status and the currently used driver.

04-20-07, 08:47 AM	#1
MBCOBRA68 Swabbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 6 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	sad sad noob question I know this is computer 101 but: I have an AMD 4200+ x2 , 1GB pc4800ddr (ordered another 1GB)with a 7800GTX. 1.) How do I tell what my current video driver is? 2.) what is the process for updating a driver? Does it just write over the old driver like a patch? thanks in advance

04-20-07, 08:54 AM	#2
fredbass Ace of the Deep Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Port Richey, Fl, USA Posts: 1,066 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I always delete my current driver and anything associated with it b4 I install a new one. (have the new one already downloaded first) Right click your desktop and go into properties to find your display properties. From there, find your video card in the advanced settings and go into its properties to see current driver. __________________

04-20-07, 08:58 AM	#3
Quillan Samurai Navy Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 579 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	1) There's a couple of ways to do it, but I'll leave it to someone else to explain. I'm on the computer at work, which has a crappy integrated graphics chip and I don't recall exactly how to find it on the nVidia drivers. 2) You can do it this way, but it's generally safer to uninstall the old ones first, reboot the computer, then install the new ones. It prevents possible driver conflicts between the old version and the new. __________________ We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

04-20-07, 09:08 AM	#4
jdski Gunner Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 95 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	It's usually recommended to uninstall your current driver before updating to a new one. I haven't allways done this myself and have been able to seemingly update my driver without uninstalling without problems. To find your driver right click "my computer", select "properties", click the "hardware" tab, select "device manager", find "display adapters" and expand the tree by clicking on the + next to it. Select the first one in the list if there's more then one and right click on it. Select "properties". Select the "driver tab". It will now show the driver version. However, this might not match to what you need to know. So you might then click on "driver details". Down the bottom it will show the file details. This may be the actuall driver version you have.

04-20-07, 09:14 AM	#5
GnarPow Gunner Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 96 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you have a Nvidia card its easy... just go to the bottom right of your windows in the system tray and R-Click the Nvidia Control panel... then open up the Display bar (mine says Laptop Display, i dont know what yours will say) and it will say the driver right on the first screen if it doesnt say it on the first screen, open up a little panel on the left side, if it isnt already open(should be) , and just click your card name at the top

04-20-07, 09:28 AM	#6
MBCOBRA68 Swabbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 6 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks a lot guys! I will check on that ASAP. To all you Nvidia card users--are you using 93.71 or is there one out there that will work better for SH4?

04-20-07, 09:45 AM	#7
nfitzsimmons Planesman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 180 Downloads: 118 Uploads: 0	When I update my nVidia drivers, I do the following: Set my video properties to VGA 800x600. Run the nVidia uninstall program to remove the current drivers/tools. Reboot the machine. Run Driver Cleaner Pro to remove the remaining bits & pieces. Available here: http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745 Reboot again. Install the new drivers. Reboot as required. At the moment I don't remember vhich nVidia drivers I'm running; I'm at the office. Hope this helps.

04-20-07, 11:18 AM	#8
JSF Engineer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 208 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	After installing new card go to Add/Remove program and delete old drivers. System will promt reboot...do it. After reboot place driver CD in cr-rom and install new drivers. Reboot again. You will have to right clik on desk top slect properties and reset former desktop settings. Then....you're good to go.

04-20-07, 01:06 PM	#9
Tobus Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 260 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	To elaborate on your first question: go to start, run, then type the command 'dxdiag'. DirectX now runs a diagnostic of all your stuff and its drivers, divided by tabs. You can select each tab to view the apparatus, its status and the currently used driver.