installing graphics cards

[joshd]

if u buy a new graphics card, is it just a case on switching the cards, booting up and installing the new drivers? surely if ur card doesnt have n e drivers you wouldnt see n e thing on the monitor when you boot up?

 

[Trifid]

You will need to get rid of every trace of your previous card. The best way of doing this is format.

There are generic drivers on your pc to get it working, but get the drivers straight away.

 

[ice_snuff]

You will need to get rid of every trace of your previous card. The best way of doing this is format.

There are generic drivers on your pc to get it working, but get the drivers straight away.

if he formats won't he lose all his data?

 

[Trifid]

You will have to back up the things that you don't want to lose. But everything will be wiped.

 

[Trotter]

No need to reformat... yet.

If you're going from nvidia to nvidia, no problem. Or ati to ati, no problem.

If you're going from one to the other, you have to remove all traces of the original drivers BEFORE you put the other card in. Nvidia's drivers are pretty coopperative (I'm told) and clean up after themselves. ATI's aren't, so you need to get their uninstaller (it is a stand-alone uninstaller). No matter which you do, be sure to browse through your registry to make sure that nothing is left there, as well as browsing your harddrive to make sure that nothing was left there either.

Reformatting should always be a last option.