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How to Clean Install Your GPU Drivers with DDU
Short answer: Download DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) and extract it to the root of your C: drive, not your Desktop. Download the latest driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel. Boot into Safe Mode, run DDU, select GPU and your brand, click Clean and restart. Then install the driver you downloaded. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes.
A clean driver reinstall is one of the highest-value troubleshooting steps there is, because it cleanly separates software problems from hardware ones. If a clean install fixes it, you had a driver problem. If it does not, you are looking at hardware.
When this is worth doing
Reach for it when you have:
- A GPU that is not being detected
- Screen resolution locked to something low like 800x600
- Hardware errors in Device Manager, such as Error 43
- Low GPU performance for no obvious reason
- GPU-related blue screens: VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE, VIDEO_SCHEDULER_INTERNAL_ERROR
- Random crashes or general instability you want to rule software out of
Why "clean" matters
The point is removing residual driver files and settings before reinstalling, because those leftovers are frequently the problem itself.
Driver installers often include their own "clean install" checkbox. It does not go as deep. Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) by Wagnardsoft is the tool that actually clears everything, which is why it is the recommendation.
Step 1: Download DDU and put it in the right place
Get DDU from the official website or the Guru3D official mirror.
Extract or install it to the root of your C: drive, for example C:\DDU\. This matters: extracting it to your Desktop, Documents, or any user folder can stop it loading properly in Safe Mode, which is exactly where you need it to work.
Step 2: Download your new driver first
Do this before you uninstall anything, because after DDU runs you will be on a basic display driver and downloading may be awkward.
- NVIDIA: the latest Game Ready Driver from nvidia.com
- AMD Radeon: the latest AMD Software Adrenalin Edition marked WHQL Recommended
- Intel Arc: the latest WHQL certified Game On driver from intel.com
You may also see Studio or Pro drivers. Those are built for content creation and workstation stability rather than gaming performance, and they lag behind the Game Ready equivalents. For gaming, take the Game Ready or Game On version.
Step 3: Boot into Safe Mode
Open the Start menu, hold Shift, click Power, then Restart, and release Shift.
At the "Choose an option" screen: Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings, then Restart.
You will get a blue screen of numbered options. Choose 4) Enable Safe Mode or 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
You will know it worked when the desktop has a black background with "Safe Mode" in all four corners.
Step 4: Run DDU
Open DDU from the Start menu if you installed it, or from the folder if you extracted it.
On first run you get some warnings and an options window. The defaults are fine, so click Close.
- Set Device Type to GPU.
- Set Select Device to your GPU brand. DDU usually detects this automatically.
- Click Clean and restart (Highly recommended).
It takes roughly 3 to 5 minutes, then restarts by itself.
When it comes back you will be on the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. Expect a low resolution and, if you run multiple monitors, only one of them active. That is normal and it is about to be fixed.
Step 5: Install the driver
NVIDIA
Double-click the downloaded file. It asks where to extract; the default is fine, click OK. Choose whether to install the graphics driver alone or with GeForce Experience, then Agree and Continue. Pick Express unless you specifically want to exclude components. Restart if prompted.
AMD Radeon
Double-click the downloaded file and let it load. It confirms it is installing AMD Software Adrenalin Edition plus the Radeon drivers, and may ask about data collection. Click Install. There are no further prompts. When it finishes and suggests a restart, click Restart.
Intel Arc
Double-click the file, click Begin Installation, then I agree at the licence agreement. You may be told the installer includes a GPU firmware update; agree to continue. Review the component list, or click Customize to change it, then Start. Choose Reboot Required at the end.
Step 6: Confirm it worked
Right-click the Start menu, choose Device Manager, expand Display Adapters, and check your GPU's full model name is listed. If it still says Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, the driver did not install.
Your resolution and any additional monitors should also be back to normal.
If a clean install does not fix it
That is useful information rather than a dead end. You have now ruled out driver corruption, which points at hardware.
If you are seeing visual corruption, our guide to GPU artifacting covers how to confirm it. If it is crashes or shutdowns under load, random shutdowns covers stress testing to find the failing component.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need Safe Mode?
It is strongly recommended. In normal Windows the driver files are in use and cannot all be removed, which defeats the point of a clean install.
Why can't I put DDU on my Desktop?
Running from Desktop, Documents or other user folders can stop DDU loading correctly in Safe Mode. Extract it to the root of C: instead.
Is DDU safe?
It is a long-established tool and it is what NZXT support recommends for this. Download it from the official website or the Guru3D official mirror rather than a random reupload.
Should I install GeForce Experience or Adrenalin?
They handle driver update notifications and some game settings, which most people find useful. Neither is required for the GPU to work if you would rather keep the install minimal.
Game Ready or Studio drivers?
Game Ready for gaming. Studio and Pro drivers prioritise stability for content creation and workstation use, and they update less often, so they can be well behind on game support.
My screen is stuck at low resolution after DDU. Is that broken?
No, that is expected. You are on the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter until you install the real driver. Finish step 5 and it resolves.
Need a hand?
If a clean install has not resolved it, tell us what changed and what error you are seeing. Our team is at NZXT Support.
