Removing unused device drivers from Windows XP machines

by Greg Shultz | Jan 04, 2006 4:27:00 PM

Tags: Greg Shultz, device driver, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows, dialog box, Windows XP Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: 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.

When you install a device driver on a Windows XP machine, the operating system loads that driver each time the computer boots regardless of whether the device is present—unless you specifically uninstall the driver. This means that drivers from devices that you have long since removed from your system may be wasting valuable system resources.

Follow these steps to view and remove these unnecessary device drivers:

1. Press [Windows]+[Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box.
2. Select the Advanced tab and click the Environment Variables button.
3. Click the New button below the System Variables panel.
4. In the New System Variable dialog box, type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices in the Variable Name text box and 1 in the Variable Value text box.
5. Click OK to return to the System Properties dialog box and then click OK again.
6. Select the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button.
7. In Device Manager, go to View | Show Hidden Devices.
8. Expand the various branches in the device tree and look for the washed out icons, which indicate unused device drivers.
9. To remove an unused device driver, right-click the icon and select Uninstall.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

PnP device drivers only loaded when needed technet@... | 01/05/06

Use caution when executing this tip ozziea@... | 01/05/06

Agree--Use Caution vicdelta | 01/05/06

null ozziea@... | 01/05/06

Can't get rid of superfluous devices pgparke@... | 09/13/07

remember richard@... | 02/28/06

50 drivers, do duplicates djbl311@... | 03/01/06

Drivers vall7744@... | 07/11/07

VERY USEFUL FOR LAPTOPS!!! kepa_pere@... | 03/20/08

greyed out isn't an accurate indicator of use. kirk227@... | 04/16/08

Okay which is the Break Key clkatz@... | 01/05/06

Okay which is the Break Key stu_new@... | 01/05/06

Which is the Break Key clkatz@... | 01/06/06

Under the Pause ... kaspencer | 01/06/06

Break key paul@... | 01/06/06

Break Key clkatz@... | 01/06/06

... djhpr@... | 02/01/06

_._. _ _._ jedtimmer | 06/05/06

break key mess484@... | 02/19/06

break key WMurray378@... | 05/22/06

PNP devices came0023@... | 01/06/06

problem with XDA Exec faizaslam@... | 02/06/06

Just reinstall the drivers Greg Shultz | 02/08/06

Didnt work for me at all? Biff-NZ | 02/07/06

Hmmm Greg Shultz | 02/08/06

Right on the money randy@... | 04/09/07

PnP device drivers only loaded when needed technet@... | 01/05/06

i wonder petremure | 01/05/06

May not be a good idea! david.harker@... | 01/05/06

Not a good idea paul@... | 01/06/06

Excellent tip EastExpert | 12/22/06

Removing unused device drivers ArieA | 01/05/06

Removing unused device drivers clkatz@... | 01/06/06

reboot mjwirth@... | 01/06/06

Removing unused device drivers ArieA | 01/05/06

I use a Bat File ffulton | 01/05/06

I use a Bat File S. Giesbrecht | 01/05/06

Simple Bat File ffulton | 01/05/06

Bat file... ciacob@... | 01/05/06

Safe to remove duplicates? TerPar | 01/05/06

Washed Out Icons dhoward@... | 01/05/06

Washed Out Icons eye_T_guy | 01/06/06

Washed Out Icons innerkoast@... | 02/01/06

Nope Greg Shultz | 02/01/06

Safe to Remove Duplicates waddell01@... | 01/05/06

Mostly w2ktechman | 01/05/06

Re: Mostly Another Canadian | 01/05/06

um... what? notanewbie | 01/10/06

Enough said - The End....... dhoward@... | 01/10/06

Re: um... what? Another Canadian | 01/11/06

Re: Safe to remove duplicates? Another Canadian | 01/05/06

Re: Safe to remove duplicates? Another Canadian | 01/05/06

Re: Safe to remove duplicates? Another Canadian | 01/05/06

Thank You!! Solved a nagging problem for me kferraro@... | 01/05/06

Opportunity hdwhit@... | 01/05/06

Back Up All Your Drivers gerrymar@... | 01/05/06

Requires Registration gerrymar@... | 01/05/06

Free Version Link mlopes | 01/06/06

Re: Back Up All Your Drivers Another Canadian | 01/06/06

Removing unused device drivers from Windows XP machines futurent@... | 01/16/06

COPYRIGHT?????? 3xp3rt | 01/06/06

Wake Up... jpr75 | 01/09/06

Sleep ........ 3xp3rt | 01/09/06

Not sure I agree jessieb | 12/29/06

At your own risk - nightmare iainbuchanan@... | 01/10/06

At your own risk - nightmare iainbuchanan@... | 01/10/06

At your own risk - nightmare iainbuchanan@... | 01/10/06

Is there an echo in here? Seeker532@... | 01/12/06

HP 722 ffulton | 01/13/06

ATi JusB@... | 01/31/06

ATI 9600 kaspencer | 01/13/06

Echo Echo iainbuchanan@... | 01/13/06

Radeon 9600 (Secondary) daffoml@... | 01/16/06

one more thing... blindsight@... | 01/16/06

I guess that's it! Seeker532@... | 01/16/06

Radeon Entries RebelFlag | 01/18/06

Is There An Echo In Here? futurent@... | 01/18/06

I have atleast 62 washed out drivers, what next? djcappa@... | 01/22/06

Delete the washed out ones Greg Shultz | 01/23/06

Go ahead and do it. jacquesfortier55@... | 02/28/06

Delete all except any "ghost" NIC drivers. blakehadley@... | 08/11/09

usb ports no longer work paclady | 01/25/06

Re: usb ports no longer work Another Canadian | 02/01/06

usb ports no longer work - Thanks, I'll try it paclady | 02/02/06

Holy cats jfoust@... | 02/01/06

No windows key cristelnet1@... | 02/02/06

How to... kirchbaum@... | 02/03/06

use if you don't have a windows key belbinclive@... | 08/02/07

great tip merryoboe@... | 03/06/06

Worked like a charm -- thanks! dskolnik | 12/29/06

helps find missing drivers or hardware Porscla@... | 01/02/07

missing com port after showing hidden devices joycechensw@... | 06/05/07

Loading LOTS of SD and CF cards iportn1@... | 12/10/07

RE: Removing unused device drivers from Windows XP machines derf24 | 07/17/09

RE: Removing unused device drivers from Windows XP machines str8ross | 07/29/09