# Updating ATI Video Graphics Card **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2011, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-ati-video-graphics-card/593751 "2011-08-23T05:58:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-ati-video-graphics-card/593751/1 "2011-08-23T05:58:54Z")
My sister wants me to help update her ATI video graphics card for her games. I’m confused about how to do it. I have a NVIDIA graphics card on my computer and their recommended[procedure](http://www.nvidia.com/object/drivers_faq.html) to download the driver and overinstall the old driver. However, when I go to ATI, they [recommend](http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx) (see the videos below) downloading the new driver, uninstalling the old driver and then installing the new one. During the video, it states the computer may restart. If there’s no driver, what happens? Also, I noticed a "Auto Detect and Install. " If I choose this option, would it do all this for me (download, uninstall, install)? Any help would be greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-ati-video-graphics-card/593751/2 "2011-08-23T06:07:32Z")
If you uninstall it, your computer will most likely default to a generic display driver that won’t support the highest resolutions but will likely work at least well enough to let you install the new version. It’s not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-ati-video-graphics-card/593751/3 "2011-08-23T06:10:18Z")
Most modern drivers won’t have problems if you install over the top of them, so you can probably just get away with downloading the installer and running it (in fact, it may super secretly uninstall it for you first). Some of us anal hobbyists use the “nuclear method” so to speak, which is: 1. Download and install a free 3rd party program called “driver sweeper” 2. Download the new drivers. 3. Uninstall the drivers 4. Restart the computer in Safe Mode and run driver sweeper, analyzing and removing all ATI Radeon drivers 5. Restart and install the new drivers. However, that’s usually overkill. I recommend just downloading the new drivers and running the installer, and then moving up the chain from more to less simple as it fails. _Technically_ Windows Update can install new drivers (it’s in the Optional section), however, it almost always fails for me, same with Auto Detect and Install, YMMV. My recommended procedure would be: Install over the top, if there’s problems Uninstall from Add/Remove Programs, restart, install new drivers, if it STILL fails Use the “nuclear method” outlined above. If it still fails, keep trying, I’ve had issues with drivers refusing to install for no good reason whatsoever. Note: If you uninstall the driver it usually goes to the minimum resolution (often 800x600), which makes the desktop impossible to navigate, I recommend downloading the new drivers to a folder so that you don’t run the risk of having the driver file buried somewhere off the screen on the desktop. The only other problem is the desktop often messes up and “segments” which is quickly fixed by using the Sort right click option on the desktop. It’s not a big deal, but if she has some anal custom file ordering it could mess it up. Either way, it’s hard to avoid since installing over the top will cause it to revert display modes for a few seconds anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-ati-video-graphics-card/593751/4 "2011-08-23T15:51:58Z")
I hate updating / upgrading ATI video cards. I actually avoid buying ATI video cards for exactly this reason. They work fine once they are in, but it’s a PITA to install or update the drivers. With NVIDIA, it’s a snap, as you descibed. With ATI, I’ve found that I really do need to uninstall the old driver before installing the new one, rather than overwriting. As mentioned, if the computer restarts before the new driver is installed, your computer will default to a generic. It won’t handle all the pretty pictures, but it will be enough to handle things until you get the new driver in place. I don’t use the auto detect/install options, so I don’t know how well they work.