Device Driver Rollback in XP

  • Section(s): Drivers
  • Published on Apr 20, 2004.
  • Last Modified on Apr 20, 2004.
  • Last Modified by Wayne Maples.
  • Rated 4.1 out of 5 based on 27 votes.
A significant enhancement over Windowns NT and Windows 2000 is XP's Device Driver Rollback which gives one the option to quickly go back to a previous version of a device driver if the updated driver causes problems. You know how much an improvement this is IF you have spent several hours restoring after a BSOD has killed your PC.

XP achieves the rollback because XP saves the old one driver for this purpose. Roolback is done via Device Manager:

  • Left-click the Start menu
  • Click the Control Panel
  • Double-click the Performance and Maintenance icon
  • Double-click the System icon
  • Click the Hardware tab
  • Click the Device Manager button
  • Expand the device menu you'd like to roll back
  • Double-click the device whose driver you want to rollback to bring up its properties
  • Click on the Driver tab
  • Click on the Roll Back Driver button

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