Introduction
If you’re experiencing issues with your Nvidia graphics card, such as crashes, freezes, or performance problems, it may be time to rollback the driver to a previous version. Rolling back Nvidia drivers can help solve problems caused by the latest updates, improve stability, and restore performance.
In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to rollback Nvidia drivers, along with troubleshooting tips, quick tips, and recommendations on the best drivers to use for your hardware, software, and operating system requirements. Let’s get started!
Step-by-step guide
Preparation
Before you begin the rollback process, it’s important to prepare your computer. First, back up your data to ensure that you don’t lose any important files. Second, download the previous driver version you’d like to install from the Nvidia website.
Uninstall current Nvidia driver
To uninstall the current Nvidia driver:
- Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Device Manager”.
- Locate your Nvidia graphics card under “Display adapters”.
- Right-click the Nvidia graphics card and select “Uninstall device”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
Install previous Nvidia driver
To install the previous Nvidia driver:
- Run the installation file for the previous driver you downloaded from the Nvidia website.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the previous driver.
Restart your computer
After installing the previous Nvidia driver, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Video tutorial
For those who prefer visual aids, we’ve created a video tutorial on how to rollback Nvidia drivers. Watch our tutorial for a more detailed guide:
Importance of visual aid
Visual aids, such as video tutorials, can provide a more detailed and informative guide to rolling back Nvidia drivers. By watching a video tutorial, you can see the process step-by-step and follow along to ensure that you don’t miss any important details.
Link to the video tutorial
Click here to watch our video tutorial on how to rollback Nvidia drivers.
Troubleshooting guide
Common problems during the rollback process
During the rollback process, you may encounter common problems, such as a driver not found error, your computer freezing during installation, or your graphics card not being recognized.
- Driver not found error: If you receive an error message stating that the driver cannot be found, you may need to download the driver again or manually install the driver.
- Computer freezing during installation: If your computer freezes during installation, try closing unnecessary programs, disabling antivirus software, or restarting your computer.
- Graphics card not recognized: If your graphics card is not recognized after installing the previous driver, you may need to update your BIOS or disable secure boot.
Solutions to these problems
- Manually install the driver: If you’re having trouble installing the driver, try manually installing it by following the instructions provided by Nvidia.
- Close unnecessary programs or restart your computer: If your computer freezes during installation, try closing unnecessary programs or restarting your computer before attempting the installation again.
- Update BIOS or disable secure boot: If your graphics card is not recognized after installing the previous driver, update your BIOS to the latest version or disable secure boot in your computer’s BIOS settings.
Quick tips
Here are some quick and concise tips to keep in mind when rolling back Nvidia drivers:
- Uninstall using DDU: Consider using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to ensure a clean uninstallation of the current Nvidia driver.
- Disable antivirus software during installation: Antivirus software may interfere with the installation process, so consider disabling it temporarily during installation.
- Disconnect unnecessary peripherals: Disconnect any unnecessary peripherals, such as external hard drives or USB devices, before attempting to install the previous driver.
Recommendations
When selecting a previous driver to install, ensure that it’s compatible with your hardware, software, and operating system requirements. Here are some of our recommendations:
- For gaming: Consider using older drivers that are known to improve gaming performance and reduce input lag, such as the 417.35 driver or older.
- For stability: Consider using drivers that are known to be stable, such as the 388.71 driver or older.
- For virtual reality: Consider using a driver that’s compatible with your virtual reality headset, such as the 361.43 driver or older.
Be aware that newer drivers may not be compatible with older hardware or software, so it’s important to select a driver that’s appropriate for your system.
Common mistakes to avoid
Common mistakes during the rollback process
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when rolling back Nvidia drivers:
- Not backing up data: Always back up your data before attempting to rollback Nvidia drivers to avoid losing important files.
- Installing the wrong driver version: Ensure that you’ve downloaded the correct driver version for your graphics card and operating system before attempting to install it.
- Interrupting the installation process: Allow the installation process to complete without interruption to avoid potential issues.
How to avoid these mistakes
To avoid these mistakes, it’s important to carefully follow our step-by-step guide and ensure that you’ve selected the correct driver version for your hardware, software, and operating system requirements.
Advantages/disadvantages
Benefits of rolling back Nvidia drivers
Rolling back Nvidia drivers can offer several benefits, including:
- Fixing issues with latest driver: Rolling back Nvidia drivers can help solve problems caused by the latest updates, such as crashes, freezes, or performance issues.
- Improved stability and performance: Rolling back Nvidia drivers can help restore stability and performance to your system.
Drawbacks of rolling back Nvidia drivers
However, rolling back Nvidia drivers may also have some drawbacks, including:
- Loss of new features: Rolling back Nvidia drivers may mean that you miss out on new features included in the latest driver updates.
- Potential security risks: Rolling back Nvidia drivers may expose your system to potential security risks, as newer drivers often include security updates and bug fixes that older versions lack.
Conclusion
We hope that this step-by-step guide on how to rollback Nvidia drivers has been helpful to you. Remember to follow our advice carefully, back up your data, and select a driver version that’s appropriate for your system. By following our guide, you can improve stability and performance while avoiding common mistakes and security risks.
