Troubleshooting Driver Issues: How to Restore Stability After an Unwanted Installation
We’ve all had moments where a tech mishap can cause significant frustration, especially when it involves our essential devices. Recently, I found myself facing a rather annoying situation after an IT technician arrived to address a simple printer problem for my mother. I kindly offered him access to my computer, not knowing that he would leave me with more headaches than solutions.
During his visit, he installed a program called Driver Booster, which I later learned was unnecessary for my setup. Since then, my computer has been crashing every hour, disrupting my work and causing considerable annoyance. In a moment of panic, I promptly uninstalled the application, hoping that would resolve the issues. However, the damage had already been done, and I was left grappling with the consequences.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, you’re not alone, and there are steps you can take to regain control. Here’s what you can do to restore stability to your system:
1. Restore Previous Drivers
The first step in rectifying the problem is to revert to the previous versions of your drivers. You can do this by accessing the Device Manager:
– Right-click on the Start button and select ‘Device Manager.’
– For devices experiencing issues (like your graphics card or network adapter), right-click the device and choose ‘Properties.’
– Under the ‘Driver’ tab, you can select ‘Roll Back Driver’ if the option is available.
2. Update Drivers Manually
In cases where rolling back isn’t an option, consider updating your drivers manually. Visit the manufacturer’s website for each individual component (graphics card, motherboard, etc.) to download the latest driver versions compatible with your operating system.
3. Utilize System Restore
If your frustration persists, you might want to try using System Restore:
– Search for ‘Create a restore point’ in the Windows search bar.
– Click on the ‘System Restore’ button and follow the prompts to return your computer to a state before the Driver Booster was installed.
4. Check for Additional Software Conflicts
Sometimes, problems can arise from Software conflicts. Make sure that other driver utilities or settings are not interfering with your system’s performance. You can do this by checking the Task Manager for any unnecessary programs running in the background and disabling them as needed.
5. Seek Professional Help
If these steps don’t resolve your issues and your system still experiences instability,
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Response to “Stupid IT guy came to fix a printer for my mom and I let him use my computer. He installed Driver Booster and now I keep crashing every hour. How can I undo the damage?”
It sounds like a frustrating situation indeed! Issues stemming from Software installations can be quite disruptive, especially when they affect system stability. Here are some additional steps to consider that might help resolve the crashes you’re experiencing:
6. Check Windows Event Viewer
The Windows Event Viewer can provide insights into what is causing your system to crash. To access it:
– Right-click the Start button and select ‘Event Viewer’.
– Under ‘Windows Logs’, check both the ‘System’ and ‘Application’ logs for any error messages that occur around the time of a crash. This information can help identify specific issues linked to the crashes.
7. Run a System File Check
Your system files might have been corrupted during the installation. To check and repair these:
– Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
– Type
sfc /scannowand hit Enter. This process will scan for corrupt files and attempt to repair them, which may resolve your crashing issue.8