UPDATE: I noticed that some registry entries are simply mirror images of other and are obsolete to include in the filter; they get deleted once the source is deleted. I was able to identify and get rid of the obsolete entries and also create a single filter, which eases the use. Enjoy!

Hey guys,
If you're using Driver Sweeper, developed by Phyxion, to wipe the NVIDIA display driver uninstall leftovers, you may have realized that there are some things still not cleaned even after DS. After some detailed investigation (really), I identified the files and registry entries left behind by DS; those that are installed by the NVIDIA display driver and are safe to delete.

What I found applies to DS versions 2.05 and 2.10 and Windows Vista and 7 64 bit versions; these should work for 32 bit versions as well. I contacted Phyxion on these and he looked into it and told me that they will be included in the next DS update.

In the meantime, upon his direction, I created a custom filter within DS for these leftovers. Custom filters work just like the built-in filters in DS such as "Nvidia Display Driver" or "Realtek Sound", etc. Before you continue, know that I will not assume any responsibility for any problem you might face while using the custom filters I'm sharing here; it is your responsibility to take a backup of your system before using this kind of software.

So, the custom filters a user creates are stored in a file named "Filters.xml" in the DS working directory. You can download the file that I created and put it where your DS executable resides; backup or overwrite the existing file. Then, when you start DS (I'm assuming you know how to use DS), it'll show you the filters I created, named as "NVIDIA_Display_theGryphon". Just check its box along with the regular "NVIDIA - Display" and "NVIDIA - PhysX" and press "Analyse". You should see the files and registry entries caught by the new filters. Again, I can confirm that it is safe to delete them in Windows 7 64 bit or Windows Vista 64 bit, and it should work in 32 bit just as safely; it just wouldn't find as many leftovers in 32 bit.

One last thing: There is a little bug I'm experiencing in DS's custom filter handling in that it corrupts the filter if you use the "Custom Filter" menu link on the left and click on a custom filter (Phyxion is looking into this matter, hopefully). So, do not use the said menu to see what's inside the filter; rather simply use notepad to see the contents of "Filters.xml".

Alright, let me put here how to use the whole thing for the newbies:
0) Download the "Filters.xml" below and put it where your "Driver Sweeper.exe" is. You can backup the existing one, if there is.
1) It is recommended that you uninstall PhysX and 3D drivers, if they are installed, before the display drivers.
2) Uninstall the Nvidia display drivers either through the Control Panel -> Uninstall A Program -> [double-click on Nvidia Drivers], or through Device Manager -> Display Adapters -> [right-click on your video card to uninstall the driver]
DO NOT use any registry cleaning application before you install your new display drivers!!!
3) Restart your system even if you're not prompted to do so, and go into "Safe Mode".
4) Start DS by right-click "Run as Admin".
5) Select "NVIDIA - Display", "NVIDIA - PhysX" and "NVIDIA_Display_theGryphon" filters, click "Analyse" and then "Clean". (deleting the C:\Nvidia folder doesn't work for me, so you can uncheck it and delete it manually after you restart).
6) Restart the system into normal mode and install your new display driver, Nvidia or ATI, whatever you need to...

Download the filter file here: http://www.mediafire.com/?txf4wim0ttw

That is excellent work!!  I have forwarded a link to this thread to a Mod requesting a BR for your work on the Driver Sweeper Program.

theGryphon
Thanks guys, and thanks for the BR!
Do you think this is the best place for this thread? Maybe the G200 section? I don't know...

Personally, since we are always recommending DS (hey, it's free), I think it should be stickied at the top.
Edit - hmmm..now that I think about it, having it stickied at the top of which submenu???  If it's put in the 200 submenu, then member's that don't have that series card, and don't frequent that submenu won't know about it, and we recommend DS for reinstalling all cards drivers....so, having rambled on about that...I suggest either Hardware and Software News, or the General Discussion.

This is really an appropriate place but not many people visit this section. I think every visitor interested in "Graphics cards" and/or using DS visits the G200 section, regardless of what they have. I'll make a case to move the thread there...

Nice work! I'll definitely be using this for my next sweep.

This works great!  Thank you, theGryphon!!   A well deserved Blue Ribbon!

good to know, i was using 2.05 for the last few sets of drivers I uninstalled and wasn't aware of this, I'm running ok right now and I look forward to the next driver sweeper release.

Excellent work Gryphon. It is pleasing to know that there are member's out there helping the community.

This is why I use a registry cleaning program after Driver sweeper and also I manually remove any folder's that are left behind.I learned this the hard way a long time ago.Nice info for noob's though!

I have yet to have a problem with the software that I use and prefer to keep my system in the best working order that I can.Just make sure you know what you are doing before you click and allway's back up your registry and you should have no problem's.
Registry Cleaners are software utilities that attempt to remove configuration data from the Windows Registry that is no longer in use or that is unwanted on the system. Such data may include information left by software that has not been Uninstalled completely from the computer, information that is no longer of use, or settings required for the operation of malware. A registry cleaner scans the registry, and attempts to pick out the unnecessary values in order to delete or repair them.
The correction of an invalid registry key can provide some benefits.[citation needed] Noted Windows architecture expert Mark Russinovich has concluded that registry cleaners will continue to have a role until most applications have moved to the .NET Framework platform that does not rely on the registry for application settings.[1]
Some registry cleaners offer backup and restore functions that allow the user to revert changes made by the registry cleaner in case they are undesired. A registry cleaner may be useful for someone that adds or removes programs from their computer very often.You do have to be carefull and opinion's will vary so you decide what is best for you and back upeverything to be safe,Also,make sure that the cleaner you use is quality software tried and tested.Good luck!
By the way Gryphon,these registry program's are designed to be used after driver removel and before instalation of the new one's,FYI.

rlynn23

I have yet to have a problem with the software that I use and prefer to keep my system in the best working order that I can.Just make sure you know what you are doing before you click and allway's back up your registry and you should have no problem's.
Registry Cleaners are software utilities that attempt to remove configuration data from the Windows Registry that is no longer in use or that is unwanted on the system. Such data may include information left by software that has not been Uninstalled completely from the computer, information that is no longer of use, or settings required for the operation of malware. A registry cleaner scans the registry, and attempts to pick out the unnecessary values in order to delete or repair them.
The correction of an invalid registry key can provide some benefits.[citation needed] Noted Windows architecture expert Mark Russinovich has concluded that registry cleaners will continue to have a role until most applications have moved to the .NET Framework platform that does not rely on the registry for application settings.[1]
Some registry cleaners offer backup and restore functions that allow the user to revert changes made by the registry cleaner in case they are undesired. A registry cleaner may be useful for someone that adds or removes programs from their computer very often.You do have to be carefull and opinion's will vary so you decide what is best for you and back upeverything to be safe,Also,make sure that the cleaner you use is quality software tried and tested.Good luck!
By the way Gryphon,these registry program's are designed to be used after driver removel and before instalation of the new one's,FYI.

Nice quoting a WIKI article...

BTW as far as I know, none of those registry cleaners take into account the sequence of using a driver cleaner then running  a registry cleaner. Can you document they are designed that way? Perhaps Phyxion could clarify that point.

Just tried it out and it works great. Thanks Gryphon!

Nice work TheGryphon - I hope this will help some of the issues people have had with the 19X.XX series.

Thanks for your time and effort. I must say though that I am a bit jealous of your knowledge.  Again, thx!

I have always uninstalled driver,physx from control panel then used ccleaner.
Then boot to safe mode, use driversweeper, reboot and installed driver with anti-virus disabled.
Never had any problems at all.