driver uninstall related problems-please help!

wheeljack21

wheeljack21

New member
when I go to use display driver uninstaller or amd's cleanup util, one of the two causes some problems on my pc. Just to get things started, I usually will use amd's cleaner then use the ddu just to make sure when uninstalling a amd driver. What is happening (I am not sure if this is just win 8.1 related either) is that my uninstall button disappears from the programs and features menu in control panel. Where is a PITA is in that when I right click on a app,etc. I get the option to uninstall in programs and features. When I go to do that, I get the "it's already uninstalled, do you want us to remove it from programs and features" prompt. My only way around is using apps like wise program uninstaller to force a app or driver out. And even then, the process stays active in startup via looking in msconfig. I can disable the process too. All I need to know is which one is causing this strange behavior being the amd cleaner or DDU. BTW, my optimize and defrag drives gets changed in naming to it's executable name dfgui when this happens. And I have scanned with my av (zone alarm free av+firewall), superantispyware free edition, spybot s&d 2.2, Malwarebytes antimalware, malwarebytes anti-rootkit, and emco malware destroyer. Nothing shows up. Any thoughts?

PS. If you notice in my sig that I am using a nv card, that only until friday when I get a r9 290. I gave my r9 280x to my brother and tempoarily swapped with him until then.
 
Don't use AMDs utility on windows 8/8.1, its only for windows 7 and causes problems on 8/8.1. Also always uninstall your current drivers first, then boot into safe mode and either use DDU or Driverfusion if you really feel the need to do so. Never run a cleaner without uninstalling drivers or not in safe mode
 
Do NOT skip the normal uninstall procedure, do not start with the AMD Uninstall tool. First uninstall the normal way.
Do NOT use any third party uninstall-wizzardry, they are completely unnecessary and may create more misery than you already have...

  1. In CCC click Preferences -> restore to factory defaults, to undo AMD overdrive.
  2. via Control Panel -> Programs and Features -> AMD Catalyst Install Manager:
    • Intel CPU based PC's: Express uninstall all AMD/ATI software.
    • AMD CPU based PC's: select Custom uninstall, and select to only uninstall the display drivers and the Control Center.
  3. Reboot the PC
  4. Make sure that "view hidden files and folders" is enabled:
    Control Panel > Folder Options > "View" tab > enable "Show hidden files folders and drives" and untick "hide protected operating system files"
  5. Delete (Shift+Del) the AMD/ATI folders that you find in
    C:/Users/*You*/AppData/Local
    and
    C:/Users/*You*/AppData/Local/Roaming
    and
    Program Files, Program Files (x86) and Program Data
  6. In the search bar above the Windows Start orb, type msconfig and hit enter (or click msconfig.exe). On the "Boot" tab check on "Safe boot" and restart the PC
  7. In Safe Mode, go to Control Panel -> Device Manager. In "View" select to show hidden devices
    • First run msconfig, this time at the "Boot" tab uncheck "Safe boot" (to make sure for next time)
    • Right-click on (each of) your Radeon videocard -> Properties -> "Uninstall", check the checkbox to remove the drivers
    • under non-plug and play drivers uninstall amdkmdag and reboot at the prompt
  8. In the search bar above the Windows Start orb, type regedit
    • Right-click regedit.exe -> Run as administrator
    • In registry find
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ATI\ACE\
      and delete that key.
  9. Install (run as admin!) the Catalyst version of your choice.
  10. Crossfire users always have to reboot. I'd recommend single users reboot as well.
  11. That's it.

In your situation, i think you should start with step 7, the Safe Mode part:
  • In the search bar above the Windows Start orb, type msconfig and hit enter (or click msconfig.exe). On the "Boot" tab check on "Safe boot" and restart the PC
  • In Safe Mode, go to Control Panel -> Device Manager. In "View" select to show hidden devices
    • First run msconfig, this time at the "Boot" tab uncheck "Safe boot" (to make sure for next time)
    • Right-click on (each of) your Radeon videocard -> Properties -> "Uninstall", check the checkbox to remove the drivers
    • under non-plug and play drivers uninstall amdkmdag and reboot at the prompt
  • In the search bar above the Windows Start orb, type regedit
    • Right-click regedit.exe -> Run as administrator
    • In registry find
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ATI\ACE\
      and delete that key.
  • Install (run as admin!) the Catalyst version of your choice.
  • Crossfire users always have to reboot. I'd recommend single users reboot as well.
  • That's it.
 
Last edited:
kakarot, thanks for letting me know what was the problem. Blin, Thanks for the detailed instructions as I wouldn't to have thought that stuff was in the users/appdata directories. The registry makes sense though. Wow, being a long time nv user, I now understand some of your growing pains in using AMD. Seems I got taught up close and personal with the amd cleaning app. From my perspective, I see AMD has their driver situation under control now after being away for a couple of years. Now, they need guys like Blin to teach them how to properly create a driver uninstaller app for win 8 and 8.1.
 
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