Removing unnecessary drivers from Windows is a good way to free up space and make your system run faster. Depending on your version of Windows, there are different ways to do this. Here’s how:
Windows 10
1. Open the Device Manager. To do this, press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu that opens.
2. In the Device Manager window, expand the category of devices you want to uninstall.
3. Right-click each device and select Uninstall.
4. Follow the prompts to uninstall the selected device(s).
Windows 8 and 8.1
1. On the Start screen, type Device and click Device Manager when it appears under Settings.
2. In the Device Manager window, expand the category of devices you want to uninstall.
3. Right-click each device and select Uninstall.
4. Follow the prompts to uninstall the selected device(s).
Windows 7
1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel and then select System and Security.
2. Click Device Manager.
3. In the Device Manager window, expand the category of devices you want to uninstall.
4. Right-click each device and select Uninstall.
5. Follow the prompts to uninstall the selected device(s).
Windows Vista
1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel and then select System and Maintenance.
2. Click Device Manager.
3. In the Device Manager window, expand the category of devices you want to uninstall.
4. Right-click each device and select Uninstall.
5. Follow the prompts to uninstall the selected device(s).
Windows XP
1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel and then select Add or Remove Programs.
2. Select the Hardware tab.
3. In the Device Manager list, select the device you want to uninstall and click Uninstall.
4. Follow the prompts to uninstall the selected device.
Once you have removed the unnecessary drivers, you may want to delete the associated files. To do this, open My Computer (or Computer) and navigate to the folder where the driver files are stored. Usually this is C:\Windows\System32\Drivers or C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepositiry. Then, delete any files with the associated name of the device you have uninstalled.
You can also use the Windows Cleanup utility to delete driver files. To access this tool, open the Control Panel and select the Programs and Features option. Next, click the Turn Windows features on or off link in the left menu and check the Windows Cleanup option. Click OK, and the utility will open. Here you can select the Drivers and Previous Installations categories and delete any old driver files.
It’s important to note that you should always be careful when removing drivers. Some programs and hardware may not work properly without their associated drivers, so be sure you are certain you want to remove a driver before you do so.
The best way to keep your system running well is to regularly perform maintenance tasks, including the removal of unnecessary drivers. Doing this can help free up disk space and prevent conflicts with other hardware and software. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have the most recent drivers installed for all your devices.