# Replacing video card
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 3, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863 "2009-04-03T15:04:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863/1 "2009-04-03T15:04:55Z")
I’m planning on replacing the video card in my desktop PC. What’s the best procedure for doing this?
1. Uninstall current driver
2. Power down, physically replace card
3. Power up and install new driver
Does this sound right, or should I install the new driver before replacing the card, or wait to uninstall the old driver until after replacing the card?
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863/2 "2009-04-03T15:11:15Z")
Replace card, then driver. The regular Windows video drivers will let you see what’s going on in the meantime.
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### Author:  [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863/3 "2009-04-03T16:27:53Z")
Yep. Don’t be worried that when you have the new card stuck in but the new drivers not yet installed that everything looks like it’s made out of Duplos. Additionally, I’ve never bothered with uninstalling old drivers, but that’s just me.
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### Author:  [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863/4 "2009-04-03T16:30:10Z")
Personally, I uninstall the old drivers first, like you have outlined.
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863/5 "2009-04-03T17:17:12Z")
It’s a good idea to let Windows go through one complete session with just the VGA driver. Uninstall the old driver, reboot, make Windows use the VGA driver, reboot if necessary, and do a clean shutdown.
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### Author:  [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-video-card/491863/6 "2009-04-03T18:30:16Z")
> [@Quartz](#):
>
> It’s a good idea to let Windows go through one complete session with just the VGA driver. Uninstall the old driver, reboot, make Windows use the VGA driver, reboot if necessary, and do a clean shutdown.
Thanks, that sounds like good advice.