Uninstall Device and Device Driver

How to Uninstall a Device and Device Driver in Vista​

information   Information
This will show you how to uninstall a device, a device driver, or both in Vista.

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps






OPTION ONE
Through Programs and Features

NOTE: This will only uninstall the device driver software and not the device itself from Device Manager. You would use this option if you wanted to install another device driver version afterwards for the device.
1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).​
​
2. Click on the the Programs and Features icon.​
​
3. Look to see if the device driver is listed. (See screenshot below step 4)​
​
A) If it is, then right click on the listed device and click Uninstall, then Yes to confirm.​
NOTE: Sometimes, you will get a notice to restart the computer to finish uninstalling the driver. If you do, then click on Yes to restart the computer when prompted.​
​
B) If not, then use OPTION TWO below.​
​
4. Close the Programs and Features window.​
​
Programs_Features.jpg​
​

5. If a generic driver for the device is included in Windows, then Windows will automatically install this generic driver for the device if the device is still connected.​
​





OPTION TWO
Through Device Manager

NOTE: This will allow you to uninstall just the device, or both the device and device driver.
1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).​
​
2. Click on the Device Manager icon.​
​
3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue.​
​
4. Click on the + sign next to the device you want to uninstall to expand it. (see screenshot below step 5)​
​
5. Right click on the listed device and click on Properties.​
NOTE: You can also click on Uninstall and go to step 8 instead.​
​
Device_Manager.jpg​

6. Click on the Driver tab. (see screenshot below step 7)​
​
7. Click on the Uninstall button.​
​
Properties.jpg​

8. To Uninstall Only the Device​
NOTE: This will only uninstall the device and leave the device driver still installed for the device.​
​
A) Uncheck the Delete the driver software for this device box. (see screenshot below step 9)​
NOTE: If you do not have this option, then only the device will be uninstalled. Go to step 10.​
​
B) Click on OK.​
NOTE: Sometimes, you may be prompted to restart the computer to finish uninstalling the driver. If you do, then click on Yes to restart the computer.​
​
C) Go to step 10.​

9. To Uninstall Both the Device and Device Driver​
NOTE: This will uninstall both the device and device driver software installed for the device. ​
​
A) Check the Delete the driver software for this device box.​
NOTE: If you do not have this option, then only the device will be uninstalled. Go to step 10.​
​
B) Click on OK.​
NOTE: Sometimes, you may be prompted to restart the computer to finish uninstalling the driver. If you do, then click on Yes to restart the computer.​
​
Confirm.jpg​

10. Device Manager will now no longer have the device listed. (see screenshot below)​
​
Device_Manager_Uninstalled.jpg​

11. Close Device Manager. (see screenshot below step 5)​
​
12. If a generic driver for the device is included in Windows, then Windows will automatically install this generic driver for the device if the device is still connected.​
​
That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

 

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Last edited:
Click to expand...
Brink, just one thing that I have never been able to work out on my own!: If I have an (ATI) graphics card and driver, and I uninstall this graphics device from Device Manager, will I get a black screen, or a Vista default driver?

Thanks so much!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300) Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0 1 x 1Tb (SATA 600) Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
Hello Niemiro,

If you uninstall the device (graphics card) in Device Manager, it will just auto detect it again at restart and reinstall it using the latest driver you have installed.

If you uninstall the device and driver, then it will still auto detect and reinstall it, but it will use the default drivers that came with Vista.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Brink said:
Hello Niemiro,

If you uninstall the device (graphics card) in Device Manager, it will just auto detect it again at restart and reinstall it using the latest driver you have installed.

If you uninstall the device and driver, then it will still auto detect and reinstall it, but it will use the default drivers that came with Vista.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
Click to expand...

It does help a lot! Thank you so much for taking the time to educate me!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300) Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0 1 x 1Tb (SATA 600) Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
You're most welcome Niemiro. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Thanks for the info,
but How do I prevent Vista from automatically installing the generic driver after I uninstall my driver?
I have a sigmatel audio device on a Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop.

I tried:
1. deleting the Dell/Driver/Audio folder
2. Uninstalling the Sigmatel driver from add/remove programs
3. Uninstalling the driver from device manager.

Everytime I rebooted, vista installed the generic driver and I need a complete uninstall so that I would be able to Install a certain version of sigmatel that has input monitoring.
 

My Computer

System One

Hello Moonmadness, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You could set your Windows Update settings to Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. You would have to manually selected and install Windows Updates that you want afterwards every 2nd Tuesday of the month, but you will no longer have drivers automatically installed from Windows Updates anymore.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/120695-windows-update-windows-automatic-updating.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for your reply,
Eventually I managed to do what I needed by installing the SigmaTel driver right after uninstalling the vista native driver, that is, without rebooting in between, so Vista didn't get the chance to reinstall it automatically.

This is even easier than what you suggested :-)
but thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

That's great news Moonmadness. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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