digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover and share the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

Removing unused device drivers from Windows XP machines

techrepublic.com.com — Did you know that unless you uninstall a device driver on a Windows XP machine that it still may be sucking up valuable system resources? Here are step-by-step instructions on how you can view and remove these unnecessary devices.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • MrsAgentSmith, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Although the tip falls to caution (see article discussion) its pretty nice and painless (I hate going into the registry if I don't have to) so I digg it! Just for the curious there is an MS KB article here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q315539
  • MrsAgentSmith, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0argh! that is what you get when you are too arrogant to use the spellchecker... falls --> fails *__*
  • woodie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Useful, and I learned the Windows Key + Break shortcut, which I didn't know beforehand ;D
  • en3r0, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Good information!
    ___________
    -en3r0
    http://virtenu.com
  • odysseus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Be careful when doing this. In particular, think twice about removing anything from Non-Plug-N-Play Drivers. You could render your machine unbootable.

    See this page for more info:
    http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/77909774/m/1400925745
  • plarp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1unused drivers and dll's do not take up resources... *sigh*
  • estacado, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0What is "break" in windows + break?
  • JHawk24821, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2estacado - it's the "Pause" key, often labeled Pause/Break. It's next to F11, and F12.
  • Shikkyn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I didn't remove anything, because i didn't see any icons that were "washed out".
  • artman, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0Alright, I'm gonna get flamed for this but...why is it that most Windows submissions pertain to ways that YOU have to remove, fix and tweak things (& in a complicated manner too) to get this OS to actually run correctly (better)? I give the writer props for helping (I use Windows XP @ work), but it's sad to see that in most cases for Windows users, you are always fixing the OS on a constant basis (IF you know how) or saving it from exploding.

    /yes, Mac user
  • l3e3e7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"What is "break" in windows + break?"

    Pause/break is a button. Mine is above the page up.
  • cryptoz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@artman: Macs are the same way. Except the OS doesn't let you config it so nicely, so you don't have to sit there and do it. And with XP, there's no pressure either. I'm running Fedora Core 3 and Windows XP, and my XP runs fine. Never had to tweak any complicated settings ever.
  • FRAGaLOT, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1This is because in order to speed up and improve perform ace for Mac OS X, you have to constantly add in PC HARDWARE to do so. For instance, Intel CPUs. Since we already have said hardware, it all about the tweaking.
  • popetorak, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0artman, shut up. MAc has the same stuff
  • AttroPheed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I guess this isn't really neccessary if you never add/remove hardware. Neat trick tho.
  • Bullsnot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Because Mac software only runs on mac specific hardware. Windows software has to run on a million different pieces of hardware. Abuse MS all you want, but I think it does a pretty descent job of finding the drivers and running any hardware I add. You would think Mac would be a better gaming machine, with only one standard on video. That's where most games run into complication issues, having to deal with the various video cards a PC user may be running and the hardware/software for those cards.
  • CluelessTroll, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0There is a more thorough method.
    But of course, if I were to post such info.
    At least a few of you f'ktards would take it as creditable advice.
    :P
  • BugMeNot2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Useful, and I learned the Windows Key + Break shortcut, which I didn't know beforehand ;D"

    Me too.
  • GooseSwan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Hrmmm....never knew about the 'windows' + 'break' shortcut. (I'm all about shortcuts and hot-keys.) :)
  • artman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Thanks all for setting me straight on some points. You have the knowledge to back your statements up (& the important word there is knowledge). But I have been realizing that I have had a lot less headaches with OSX than Windows. And I'd even include Apple's OS 9. That was a POS OS. constantly tweaking memory, preferences and extensions.

    Now with OSX....for example, I have had 3 clients who have come over and transfered their photos onto my eMac. They plugged in the camera and on every one iPhoto on OSX loaded the pictures from every camera. No "What's That?" no drivers to install and no glitches. Same with video cameras too.

    Bullsnot; the main reason I never use gaming as an argument for any Mac/Windows "discussion" is exactly what you stated about the complications involved with video cards and such. I gave up a long time trying to deal with that. I got a game console, bought the games, loaded them in and they played. No tweaking needed. Though that seems to be vanishing too with XBox, HDTV and other mods...

    I'll leave what I said to my own opinion. Whatever works, works, use the tools that suits, blah, blah, blah...think it was the Dead Kennedys that said, "Trust Your Mechanic..."
  • Veritas77, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't hold myself out to be some expert, so maybe I'm missing something here...how do unused drivers use "valuable system resources?" I don't consider hard drive space a valuable system resource, not with 250GB @ $110 +/- $10. Other than that, the driver's not doing anything when the device isn't connected, so where is the waste?
  • lotusleaf, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1The better way:

    Step 1: Install Linux

    Done
  • quentinp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Veritas77 - it is possible that they might take up a bit of RAM here or there, and may also increase startup times...but unless it's really crazy it shouldn't be too bad. Just tweaks really. Unless of course you have a bad device driver which could conceivably muck things up.
  • noghead, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0meh...tried it, didnt find any unnessary drivers. Its worth a digg..but i rather not
  • fvdheide, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Useless, can't see why so much people are digging this.
  • DJFMA, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Gotta love the people who always say ditch windows, install OS X or linux. Wait, no... it get's old. :/
  • schotty, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0to lotusleaf:

    Did that 7 years ago. Viva Red Hat and Ubuntu.
  • generalleoff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The best part about this is it showed me the Break key is actually used for something. I have never seen that key used.
  • MasterDwarf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0funny, i dont see any washed out devices. hmmm
  • WalterDirt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2"The better way:

    Step 1: Install Linux

    Done"

    You forgot Step 2: Set aside 4 days to configure Linux (set aside 2 months if you're new to Linux)

    I'm not bashing it, its true. I actually installed Ubuntu and for the first time enjoy Linux. Unless all you need is a web browser and email its going to take some time to figure out how things are done.
  • GreatBunzinni, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0...and that's why I use linux.

    //ducks
  • odsae, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Lame. No digg. OH, that's why use linux is an even lamer response. This site used to have knowlegable people on here, but now everyone diggs everything, even meaningless XP tweaks that do not affect performance at all.
  • techlinks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't see any washed out devices either. Haha. First time seeing the break key used too.
  • finger99, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Nice... I was tired of looking for ghosts in safe mode.
  • aa3000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1dugg for the [windows] + [break] command.



  • zoomie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0hmmm, interesting, but the only thing that was "washed out" were 23 instances of "Generic volume" which I guess is from all the times plug and unplugged a USB flash drive or External USB hard drive. Well, another 5 minutes of my life wasted..6 minutes after typing this
  • elrawtic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"it still may be sucking up valuable system resources"
    Windows already sucks up all my valuable system resources by itself.
  • zoomie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I initially dugg this article...but I found it useless and will probably never use it again, I undugg it. I'm sure that each digg uses valuable system resources on digg.com
  • MrKite, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Unused device drivers don't load if windows doesn't detect the hardware. You're probably going to cause more problems by attempting this.
  • kagayaki1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1More people digging for the Windows + Break command than the actual tip? LOL

    I didn't find any greyed out ones...seems no one else has either. No Digg.
  • leobaby, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Give me a break. Linux, device drivers and desktop pc's are a match made in hell.
  • scrapstyle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Has some usefullness on older Windows installations. My installation in only a month old so I have no use for this for the meantime.

    I've known WIN+Break for a while put haven't been able to do it on my laptop.
    Now I know it's WIN+PAUSE (fn+pgup). Now I learned something new again.

    Whee.
  • bestdamnpics, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah, totally appreciate the whole Windows+Break key thing. I do tech support and will be using that pretty often. On a Compaq laptop, though, the Pause and Break are the same key, so it's really the Pause key....
  • hankosky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0lol "where is the break key"

    Do you use a keyboard???

  • modian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0If you don't know where the break key is on your keyboard I wouldn't recommend doing this.
  • ChrisGranger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm stunned that so many Windows users aren't familiar with the Win+Break combination. It's pretty handy.

    It should go without saying, but be careful when removing unused drivers. Do not remove any you're unsure about. Better safe than sorry.
  • tsmori, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Another great article for the masses with too much trust and not enough knowledge. I wonder how many people massively screw up their computer, especially their work computers and who will now need an actual IT type person to come fix it.
  • BassCadet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The Windows + Break key trick is worth more than the whole rest of the article.
  • cvrefugee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0To artman:

    Windows XP doesn't need drivers for digital cameras either. When I connect my camera a dialog box pops up and asks me what I want to do with the device.

    You have used Windows XP, correct?
  • imdamaverick, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Why does windows feel the need to hide drivers anyway? They must want people to be ignorant about what's on their PCs.
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 63 of 63 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.