Driver uninstall gone wrong

[gmreplay]

I just switched to an ATI 6950 from a Nvidia GTX 260, so I needed to uninstall the Nvidia drivers and swap to the ATI drivers. My Nvidia was already in a box ready to ship back to EVGA when my new ATI card arrived.

I attempted to safely remove the Nvidia drivers by installing the new ATI card, booting into safe mode, and uninstalling the drivers through Add/Remove Programs. I then ran Driver Sweeper in safe mode and removed the Nvidia PhysX, display and some other Nvidia driver. I attempted to reboot the PC to install my ATI drivers, but Windows 7 will now not boot.

It gets to the Windows loading logo, then proceeds to reboot. Attempting to use safe mode also fails. The only thing I can get it to do is go into Startup Repair mode, where it asks me to restore or repair. I don't have a restore point (and don't want to lose my data), and it won't repair.

What the hell happened and how do I fix it?


Edit: system restore saved my bacon. Now how do I do this properly?

 

[Kangg]

Should've removed the nvidia drivers first before ever trying to install the new card.

 

[roz1281]

this might be a stupid question, but where the 'other nvidia' drivers some motherboard drivers?

Anyway, I always remove drivers, reboot into safe mode and run cleaner/sweeper, shut off system and remove card, pop in new card, then install drivers.

 

[magoo]

Simply put..........

delete all nvidia drivers with the nvidia card still in the computer, then install the new GPU and install the AMD drivers.

 

[gmreplay]

Simply put..........

delete all nvidia drivers with the nvidia card still in the computer, then install the new GPU and install the AMD drivers.

Sounds good, and now that system restore saved my butt I'm attempting to do so. However, for some reason, when I attempt to uninstall the driver in Add/Remove Programs nothing happens. I get the little spinning circle, but nothing permitting me to remove it. I wonder what's up.

Strangest of all, I can't even remove the driver from Add/Remove while in safe mode. Should I just use Driver Sweeper without uninstalling it first? What are my options?


Edit: I was able to kill the driver through device manager, but now every time I reboot Windows automatically reinstalls it, even in safe mode with networking off. I've even set it to not automatically install drivers and it still happens. Grr...

Edit 2: This would be funny if it wasn't so frustrating. I uninstalled the Nvidia driver, only to have it reinstall every time I entered safe mode. Finally I said screw it, and just ran Driver Sweeper in safe mode. I then installed the ATI card, installed their drivers... and nothing happened. I rebooted and again nothing happened. My resolution is still in safemode-view, and I can't change it because my monitor isn't recognized. I look into my Add/Remove programs, and lo and behold the damned Nvidia driver is back. This is like herpes. How do I get rid of this damn thing for GOOD?

Edit 3: Turns out the "AMD Catalyst 10.12 Preview for Windows 7– Featuring the new Catalyst Control Center", the first download on the ATI page for my card, does not in fact contain the driver. Who was the wise guy who thought of that? Anyhow the card is now working, but I ended up having to just delete the Nvidia folder entirely to get rid of it, since Windows kept reinstalling it and Driver Sweeper couldn't find it any longer. Was there some magic I missed to keeping the Nvidia driver from continually springing up?