How do I update my video card driver?

Hey, I know this probably sounds dumb, but how do i update my video card driver, i've had my PC for two years and have never done it. It only came apparent to me when I read someone mentioning about updating video card drivers.

So how do I do it, I went onto ATI's catalyst control center and clicked the "Check for driver updates" which took me to ATI's website and I selected which card I had. I was reading the instructions and it said about uninstalling old ATI software (this wont bugger up my PC will it?) and it said there should be several ATI entries and to select the 'ATI Software Uninstall Utility' but I dont have that!! I only have one ATI entry and thats 'ATI Catalyst Control Center'

So what do I do, do I go ahead and just download and install the new driver update or do I uninstall the 'ATI Catalyst Control Center' and then download and install the new version??

Help!! By the way, I'm a real novice and know nothing about how computers work, should I even be attempting this? Also I wont have to go into the BIOS or anything because that just looks scary!

 

Whopse just looking through the list and I've found another ATI entry its... ATI Display driver

Do i have to uninstall any/both of these?

 

Read the sticky section, there is a thread there.

 

Updating Video Card Drivers in WinXP and Vista

 

Thanks, but i've only got 2 entries in the Add/Remove Programs list

- ATI Catalyst Control Center
- ATI Display Driver

Which one do I uninstall 1st as theres no 'ATI - Software Uninstall Utility' or dont I have to uninstall either of them?

 

If you are novice and don't know what you are doing, leave everything as is.

If and when you need to update your drivers, I suggest you asking someone who knows more to do it for you then.

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

 

Right ok then, Its just that I wanted my computer to be running at its optimum and I thought in two years it hadn't been updated, will it improve performance that much?

 

after 2 years, drivers have gotten much better.

Just install the new one right over the old one, ATI's drivers will AUTOMATICALLY uninstall the old one for you.

 

Are you sure... its that easy? Because everything I've read (even ATI's website installation guide) suggests that I have to uninstall everything ATI related and download & install all new drivers etc.

 

Does anyone here do that?

 

I do. To properly install the new drivers, uninstall both ATI components from your add/remove programs list. Then, run a registry cleaning utility like CCleaner. Reboot the machine before installing the new driver. Install the new driver, reboot the machine one more time.

 

The new ATI drivers automatically uninstall your old driver, reboot your PC, then uninstall the old one again, then reboot, then install the new one, then reboot again..

Yes, the new ATI drivers reboot your PC 3 times. Atleast it did for me when I installed the latest one last week on a Vista pc with an X1550.

And the same thing when I updated my brother's PC which has an HD 2600XT. about 3 weeks ago.

 

So will it just prompt me to uninstall what needs uninstalling if I just download & install the new driver over the old one?

 

****READ BEFORE POSTING**** Gaming General Info Sticky*****PLEASE READ*****

 

It will tell you that in order to install the new driver, windows must first uninstall the old one, then you click accept, and it does the rest..

Just go download it..

 

Ok... thank you!!

 

Yes . . . in the future, read the stickies. They are there for a reason.