Where Can I Find Info On Registry Keys To Remove Previous NVidia-GF4Card?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jj
  • Start date Start date
J

jj

A week ago, upgraded to an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB, from a GeForce4
Ti4600. I discovered a few left-over Nvidia drivers in my WinXP Pro
(SP1) folders, i.e., \Windows\System32 has NV4_DISP.DLL and
\Windows\System32\Drivers has NV4_MINI.SYS.

When I delete these drivers, my 3DMark03 benchmarks work fine, and I get
good scores, same with 3DMark2001SE. But, because of all the existing
Registry references to the GeForce4, WinXP keeps adding (automatically)
the NV4_DISP.DLL and NV4_MINI.SYS back in the Windows folders mentioned
above.

I need to get these Nvidia/GeForce references out of my registry, but
I'm not sure exactly which ones (if not all) are safe to delete. I
think I know, but would rather be certain. Can anyone point me to a web
site, or maybe some place I can call, to find out about removing these
registry entries? Appreciate any help, advice, or direction anyone can
provide. I think if I can keep these old Nvidia drivers off my hard
drive, my video-related problems should be "history" (see other posts
pertaining to these problems). Thank you.

jj
(FYI, below are the registry references I'm referring to. Some of you
may know already which ones are safe to delete...if so, appreciate your
input).

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\nv
Calling: Windows\system32\Drivers\nv4_mini.sys
Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reinstall\0000


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
+0000 GeForce4 Ti 4600
+0001 Radeon 9800 Pro
+0002 Radeon 9800 Pro Secondary

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Video\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A43-8A36-F234CC8F9E23}\0000
Various keys under video, some with the GeForce4 Ti 4600 and some with
Radeon.
All Nvidia keys reference driver nv4_disp.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Watchdog\Display
Says NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 with driver reference nv4_disp

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\nv\
Device Description: GeForce4 Ti 4600, calling nv4_disp
Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-etc.,
etc.}
+0000 GeForce4 Ti 4600
+0001 Radeon 9800 Pro
+0002 Radeon 9800 Pro Secondary

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\Video\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A43-etc.,
etc.}\0000
Various keys under video, some with the GeForce4 Ti 4600 and some with
Radeon.
All Nvidia keys reference driver nv4_disp.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\Watchdog\Display
Says NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 with driver reference nv4_disp

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\nv
Device Description: GeForce4 Ti 4600, calling nv4_disp
Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A43-etc.,
etc.}
+0000 GeForce4 Ti 4600
+0001 Radeon 9800 Pro
+0002 Radeon 9800 Pro Secondary

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A43-etc.,
etc.}
A number of keys here reference nv4_disp

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Watchdog\Display
Says NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 with driver reference nv4_disp

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\nv\
Device Description: GeForce4 Ti 4600, calling nv4_disp
Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.
 
Download "Detonator Destroyer" here:
http://www.chill-tek.com/nvidia-drivers.html



: A week ago, upgraded to an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB, from a GeForce4
: Ti4600. I discovered a few left-over Nvidia drivers in my WinXP Pro
: (SP1) folders, i.e., \Windows\System32 has NV4_DISP.DLL and
: \Windows\System32\Drivers has NV4_MINI.SYS.
:
: When I delete these drivers, my 3DMark03 benchmarks work fine, and I get
: good scores, same with 3DMark2001SE. But, because of all the existing
: Registry references to the GeForce4, WinXP keeps adding (automatically)
: the NV4_DISP.DLL and NV4_MINI.SYS back in the Windows folders mentioned
: above.
:
: I need to get these Nvidia/GeForce references out of my registry, but
: I'm not sure exactly which ones (if not all) are safe to delete. I
: think I know, but would rather be certain. Can anyone point me to a web
: site, or maybe some place I can call, to find out about removing these
: registry entries? Appreciate any help, advice, or direction anyone can
: provide. I think if I can keep these old Nvidia drivers off my hard
: drive, my video-related problems should be "history" (see other posts
: pertaining to these problems). Thank you.
:
: jj
: (FYI, below are the registry references I'm referring to. Some of you
: may know already which ones are safe to delete...if so, appreciate your
: input).
:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\nv
: Calling: Windows\system32\Drivers\nv4_mini.sys
: Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.
:
:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reinstall\0000
:
:
:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BF
C1-08002BE10318}
: +0000 GeForce4 Ti 4600
: +0001 Radeon 9800 Pro
: +0002 Radeon 9800 Pro Secondary
:
:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Video\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A43-8A
36-F234CC8F9E23}\0000
: Various keys under video, some with the GeForce4 Ti 4600 and some with
: Radeon.
: All Nvidia keys reference driver nv4_disp.
:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Watchdog\Display
: Says NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 with driver reference nv4_disp
:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\nv\
: Device Description: GeForce4 Ti 4600, calling nv4_disp
: Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.
:
:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-et
c.,
: etc.}
: +0000 GeForce4 Ti 4600
: +0001 Radeon 9800 Pro
: +0002 Radeon 9800 Pro Secondary
:
:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\Video\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A43-et
c.,
: etc.}\0000
: Various keys under video, some with the GeForce4 Ti 4600 and some with
: Radeon.
: All Nvidia keys reference driver nv4_disp.
:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\Watchdog\Display
: Says NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 with driver reference nv4_disp
:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\nv
: Device Description: GeForce4 Ti 4600, calling nv4_disp
: Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.
:
:
:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A4
3-etc.,
: etc.}
: +0000 GeForce4 Ti 4600
: +0001 Radeon 9800 Pro
: +0002 Radeon 9800 Pro Secondary
:
:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{064CD43B-FBF5-4A4
3-etc.,
: etc.}
: A number of keys here reference nv4_disp
:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Watchdog\Display
: Says NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 with driver reference nv4_disp
:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\nv\
: Device Description: GeForce4 Ti 4600, calling nv4_disp
: Under Device0, Device1, Device2, and Device3.
:
 
Create a system restore point. Then search the registry for Nvidia and
delete every reference. It shouldn't mess anything up, and if it does you
can just roll back to the restore point you created. I've done this before
to ensure a clean install and never had any trouble.
 
Det Destroyer doesn't work for WinXP. At least it didn't yesterday when
I tried to download it. Says an XP version will be out soon.

One thought, was to back up these registry keys, then re-boot in XP Safe
Mode. Delete the keys, then re-boot. If there are any problems, I
should be able to re-boot back in safe mode, and restore the registry keys.

Personally, I think it's safe to delete any keys (except for the
re-install/roll-back) that reference the previous Nvidia card. I've
worked with Registry before (not with XP however), and it should be
safe, since the card isn't in the PC anymore. Thanks for any advice.

jj
===========
 
Thanks, Skid. We were thinking along the same lines. Also, before
deleting a registry key, I could always back up the key, so it could be
restored if necessary.

I wasn't sure if a system-restore point included ALL or just part of the
registry. Still, I think what you say will be safe. Removing a key for
some device no longer in your PC, should be safe. Thanks again.

jj
==========
 
jj said:
Thanks, Skid. We were thinking along the same lines. Also, before
deleting a registry key, I could always back up the key, so it could be
restored if necessary.

I wasn't sure if a system-restore point included ALL or just part of the
registry. Still, I think what you say will be safe. Removing a key for
some device no longer in your PC, should be safe. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Like I said, I've even scrubbed out all the ATI registry keys when updating
drivers, and never had a problem.
 
jj said:
Det Destroyer doesn't work for WinXP. At least it didn't yesterday when
I tried to download it. Says an XP version will be out soon.
Click to expand...

Same here. I had to remove all NVIDIA references by hand. NVIDIA did a
terrible job with keeping track of changes.

One thought, was to back up these registry keys, then re-boot in XP Safe
Mode. Delete the keys, then re-boot. If there are any problems, I
should be able to re-boot back in safe mode, and restore the registry keys.
Click to expand...

That is what I did. Or better, make an image of the C: drive (assuming default
Windows installation system drive) with Norton Ghost. :)
--
"Now I have you where I want you... where is my jar of Bull ants?"
--unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | E-mail: (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
\ _ / Remove ANT if replying by e-mail from a newsgroup.
( )
 
Same here. I had to remove all NVIDIA references by hand. NVIDIA did a
terrible job with keeping track of changes.
Click to expand...

There's a little handy prog out there called Nasty File Remover and it
works in XP, plus it works for Nvidia and ATI cards. Then use
Easycleaner by Toni Arts to clean up the registry.
 
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