rec.autos.simulators

Ok I have a Nvidia G Force 4 with what ever drivers came with it. I
fly IL2-FB, Strike Fighters, F4,   FS2002, and race F12002.  I want to
try newer drivers but am very unclear about how to install them.

Some people tell me that I can just downlooad, double click on the
file and they will do it all automatically.

Some people tell me that you must go into your device drivers window
and use the upgrade drivers button there.
(By the way how do I set a driver state or position so that I can use
the fall back to old drivers option provided in XP?)

Still others tell me that you uninstall the drivers using the
install/uninstall option in windows tools.

Now I enjoy all the games above, so I am very hesitant to EXPERIMENT
and end up with nothing. I have also heard that the 40 and up version
of Nvidia drivers will make my older games like Falcon 4 look
terrible.

SO there you are, I want to upgrade but have no clue how to do it,
help....

Ken in Ottawa

Normally, just running the install program will update your drivers and
everything is fine.  However, it is usually "better" to remove a prior
driver version before updating.  Basically, you go to control panel, then
add/remove programs and click on the Nvida display drivers to remove.  You
should also be able to remove the prior drivers using the uninstall routine.
Then, you should use a utility to remove the remaining bits of the program
from your computer.  Detonator Destroyer or Detonator R.I.P. are two good
programs for doing this.  You then can do the install of the new drivers.

Guru 3d is a good place to start for driver updates and Detonator Destroyer
or Detonantor R.I.P.  http://guru3d.com/review/asus/v6600/frames.htm  The
videocard drivers are in the downloads section.

Wayne Templin

In addition to the excellent advice above,

I would also add that some recommend then setting the video to stanard VGA
and rebooting before installing the new drivers, so:

(1) uninstall the old drivers (however you want, control panel, uninstall
app, etc...), reboot

(2) skip the driver install on boot and go to "standard VGA" for the driver
(or whatever its called, its the generic vga driver).

(3) run detonator destroyer.  This gets rid of everything, including any
registry settings lingering about, reboot

(4) skip the driver install again.  Now run the app that installs the new
drivers you just downloaded, reboot

(5) at this point, everything should work.  But make sure you follow the
directions that come with the driver file.  Sometimes on the reboot, you
gotta point the driver install towards a directory that contains the
extracted driver files.

good luck,
jeff

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I'm assuming you are running Windows XP.

If so here goes...

After you DL the new driver, run the .exe. It will tell you that you have
another version of the driver install. It will ask you if you would like to
cancel and uninstall first or continue. DO NOT CONTINUE! Cancel instead.

This has made a new directory on your C drive. you will browse to this
directory later.

Go to SYSTEM PROPERTIES \ HARDWARE \ DEVICE MANAGER.

In the Device Manger select -  DISPLAY ADAPTERS.

Select the NVIDIA entry and go to properties.

There you will select the driver tab. Click on UPDATE DRIVER.

There you will find two options. Select... "Install from a list or specific
location (Advanced)"

Select... ( Next >)

In this window select... "Don't search. I will choose the driver to
install".

Select... ( Next >)

Now click on the "Have Disk..." button.

Now browse to the directory that was made when you originally started and
canceled the new driver install.

Mine is ... (C:\NVIDIA\WinXP-2K\43.45)

Find the file (nv4_disp.inf) select it and click okay.

Follow the prompts.

I hope this helps...