Clean install each time or not? The reason I ask is on upgrading to a GTX 980 from the 670 I had so many issues likely caused by not clean installing the latest drivers that it took a complete Windows install to sort things.
Clean install of what? The OS, using a driver cleaning program, or using the built in clean install when installing the driver. I always use the custom/clean install option of the drivers when installing newer version even on the same OS and card, if I upgraded to a newer card I would un-install the driver > shutdown > swap cards > re-install driver. I would only do a full re-install of the OS if something didn't seem right, like high temps or low FPS, and using a driver cleaner didn't sort it out.
Driver updates are really easy if done correctly and should never need a OS reinstall. If you're unsure how to do it, RTFM is often better than trying to fudge it: http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/IO_13955.html
No clean install of driver. I only reinstalled Windows because of the many issues I was having and it was simpler than trying and probably making worse the problems I was then having.
As I have said by the time I decided on a reinstall of Windows my issues with the new card or drivers were many and it was simpler to reinstall the OS ETC. MY original question concerned updates to GPU drivers. use the clean install option or not.
Kronos, didn't you have to reinstall the OS because you somehow FUBARed the video drivers by not removing the drivers for your SLI 670 cards before installing your new card?
Err yes. But my question is still about driver updates of which I had a notification of this morning. Should you clean install such an update which is offered or just overwrite which I have tended to do in the past with no issues?
I see, apologies. I can't really help you with that because I do it the old fashioned way, by downloading the driver myself, removing the old driver manually as per Nvidia's instructions (linked to in my post above) and then installing the new driver. I've never had a problem doing it that way.
FWIW I let GeForce Experience manage the downloading of updates, and I then install the driver and make it do a clean installation. I find it a reliable way of doing things.
Is Geforce Experience any good? I only gave it a brief look some time ago before shuddering in fear vowing never to return (auto game settings? No thanks!). Maybe I should have another look.
For an update, you’d be mad to do a clean install. You’d be reinstalling every two weeks. Only time I do a clean install is when swapping between AMD/NVidia.
Updating drivers isn't just related to fixing issues, in some cases it brings a marked performance increase or even a decrease, I guess those could be classed as issues it's just difficult to know if that issue effects you without testing.
Wise words. That's one good thing about using older hardware: no more driver optimisations means less faffing around (..until it goes EOL).
Wise words from a AMD user. Cat 14.9's have been a nightmare for me, random black screens while browsing and idle is enough to make you scream lol
Same here. I only do a "clean" install when swapping cards or if the "dirty" install (update) fails - but frankly, I can't remember the last time a graphics driver update failed. I don't think it has ever happened with any of my W7 or W8 systems and I avoided Vista so it must have been with XP. But since W7 and W8 are not XP, I don't do things today with W7 or W8 just because those things needed to be done with XP.
