When uninstalling hardware device drivers in Windows, it is important to take the necessary safety precautions. This is because removing the wrong driver can cause significant software and hardware issues. To uninstall a hardware device driver safely in Windows, please follow these steps:
1. Before starting the uninstallation process, always make sure that you have a backup of your system. This will ensure that your data is safe in case something goes wrong during the uninstallation process.
2. Identify the device driver that you want to uninstall. This can be done by opening the Device Manager, locating the hardware device for which you wish to uninstall the driver, and then noting down the driver’s name and version.
3. Double-check that you are uninstalling the correct driver by researching the device on the internet. It is also important to ensure that the driver is not necessary for any other hardware installed on your computer.
4. Make sure that the device is turned off or disconnected from the computer before uninstalling the device driver.
5. Boot into safe mode before starting the uninstallation process. This is necessary to ensure that the device driver won’t be loaded when the system starts.
6. Open the Device Manager again and right-click on the device driver you wish to uninstall. Then select the ‘Uninstall’ option.
7. Read the instructions on the screen carefully and then click on the ‘Yes’ button to confirm the uninstallation process.
8. After the driver has been successfully uninstalled, restart your computer normally.
9. Check the Device Manager again to ensure that the driver has been removed from the list of installed hardware devices.
10. Reinstall the device driver if necessary.
By following the above steps, you should be able to uninstall hardware device drivers safely in Windows. It is also highly recommended to check for updated drivers every once in a while, in order to make sure that your system runs as smoothly as possible.