DDU Tutorial: Clean Driver Installation

This page explains how to use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove your current graphics drivers and prepare your system for a clean installation.

Step 1: Download and Extract

Download the latest version of DDU from the Download page. It comes as a self-extracting 7-zip archive. Run the executable to extract it to a folder of your choice (e.g., your Desktop).

Step 2: Disconnect Internet (Recommended)

To prevent Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing a generic driver immediately after you uninstall the old one, it is highly recommended to disconnect your internet connection (unplug Ethernet or disable Wi-Fi) before running DDU.

Step 3: Boot into Safe Mode

For the best results and to avoid issues with files being in use, you should run DDU in Windows Safe Mode.
To access Safe Mode in Windows 10/11:

• Hold the Shift key while clicking Restart from the Start Menu.
• Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
• After reboot, press 4 or F4 to enable Safe Mode.

Step 4: Run DDU

Launch Display Driver Uninstaller.exe. Select your device type (GPU) and device (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) from the drop-down menus on the right.

Click the Clean and restart button (highly recommended). DDU will remove all traces of the drivers and then restart your computer automatically.

Step 5: Install New Drivers

Once back in normal Windows mode, install the new drivers you downloaded from the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Since you are offline, the installation should proceed without interference.

Step 6: Reconnect Internet

After the driver installation is complete, you can reconnect your internet.

For more help, visit the Support Forum or read the FAQ.