Question:

How can I restore my graphics card drivers after uninstalling them by mistake?

I was trying to do a clean install of the graphics drivers for my NVIDIA GTX 1070 on my laptop, but I misunderstood the instructions and uninstalled them instead. Now, my computer does not recognize the graphics card and I cannot install any drivers for it. I have tried system restore, device manager, and BIOS settings, but nothing worked. How can I fix this problem?

Answer:

If you have accidentally uninstalled your graphics card drivers and your computer does not detect your NVIDIA GTX 1070 anymore, you might be feeling frustrated and helpless. However, there is a way to fix this problem and get your graphics card working again. In this article, we will show you how to restore your graphics card drivers using a tool called Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).

What is DDU and how does it work?

DDU is a free software that can completely remove any traces of graphics drivers from your system. It can also prevent Windows from automatically installing drivers that might interfere with your graphics card. DDU works by booting your computer into safe mode, where only the essential drivers and services are loaded. This allows DDU to access and delete the files and registry entries related to your graphics drivers. After DDU finishes its job, you can reboot your computer normally and install the latest drivers for your graphics card from the NVIDIA website.

How to use DDU to restore your graphics card drivers?

To use DDU to restore your graphics card drivers, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Download DDU from [here](https://www.wagnardsoft.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3451) and extract the zip file to a folder on your desktop.

2. Download the latest drivers for your NVIDIA GTX 1070 from [here](https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx) and save them to a folder on your desktop.

3. Disconnect your computer from the internet to prevent Windows from installing any drivers automatically.

4. Run DDU.exe from the folder where you extracted it and select NVIDIA as the device type.

5. Click on Options and check the box that says Prevent downloads of drivers from Windows update when Windows search for a driver for a device.

6. Click on Clean and restart (Highly recommended) and wait for DDU to reboot your computer into safe mode.

7. Once in safe mode, DDU will scan your system and remove any traces of NVIDIA drivers. This might take a few minutes, so be patient.

8. After DDU finishes, your computer will reboot normally. You should see your graphics card listed as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter in the device manager.

9. Run the driver installer that you downloaded from the NVIDIA website and follow the instructions to install the drivers for your graphics card.

10. Reconnect your computer to the internet and check if your graphics card is working properly.

Conclusion

By using DDU, you can restore your graphics card drivers after uninstalling them by mistake. DDU is a powerful tool that can help you solve many graphics-related issues, such as black screens, crashes, or performance drops. However, you should use DDU with caution and only when necessary, as it can also cause some problems if used incorrectly. Always backup your important data before using DDU and follow the instructions carefully. We hope this article was helpful and you were able to fix your graphics card problem. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below.