AMD Driver Reinstallation Fails After Using DDU

[annawhite]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and hoping someone can help. I used the latest version of DDU to clean out my AMD GPU drivers (Radeon RX 6700 XT) in Safe Mode on Windows 11. The cleaning process seemed to go fine, and the system restarted without issues. However, when I tried to reinstall the latest AMD Adrenalin drivers, the installer either fails midway or completes without actually installing the driver; Device Manager still shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. I've tried redownloading the installer and disabling Windows Update driver installation during the process, but no luck. Is there something else I need to clear or reset after using DDU?

[Wagnard]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and hoping someone can help. I used the latest version of DDU to clean out my AMD GPU drivers (Radeon RX 6700 XT) in Safe Mode on Windows 11. The cleaning process seemed to go fine, and the system restarted without issues. However, when I tried to reinstall the latest AMD Adrenalin drivers, the installer either fails midway or completes without actually installing the driver; Device Manager still shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. I've tried redownloading the installer and disabling Windows Update driver installation during the process, but no luck. Is there something else I need to clear or reset after using DDU?

Hi,
Normally you don't have anything to do after a DDU run.
Just be sure that if you blocked updates of the GPU in any matter , you must revert that before installing your new driver.

If you wish, you can zip the DDU logs folder located within the DDU folder and email it to [email protected]
I may me able to see if something was wrong with your computer prior usage.

[bobsullivan]

It sounds like you've already taken the right steps by using DDU in Safe Mode and disabling Windows Update driver installation — good call. However, this kind of issue can sometimes happen due to a few leftover things or system quirks.

[plasticclash]

After using DDU, make sure Windows isn’t stuck in Safe Mode, delete leftover AMD folders, and turn off Memory Integrity. You can also reinstall chipset drivers, try installing the “Driver Only” version, or manually point Device Manager to the AMD folder. If it still fails, install the driver offline or use the WHQL version instead.

[disfigureddry]

You’ve done the right steps so far. After using DDU, make sure Windows isn’t forcing Safe Mode, remove any leftover AMD folders, and temporarily disable features like Memory Integrity. Reinstalling chipset drivers or trying the “driver-only” package can also help. If the installer still fails, try installing offline or use the WHQL version—both often fix cases where the system keeps defaulting to Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.

[HenryBlaine]

Got it, thanks! I’ll give those steps a try and see if it works.

[isaacirwin]

A few things to try:
Check Windows Update interference
Even if you disabled driver updates, Windows 11 sometimes sneaks in a basic or partial driver. Disconnect from the internet completely (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) before installing AMD Adrenalin.
Use AMD Cleanup Utility (once)
Since DDU was already used, try running the AMD Cleanup Utility (also in Safe Mode), reboot, then install the driver normally.
Install as Administrator + Factory Reset option
Right-click the Adrenalin installer → Run as administrator and enable Factory Reset during installation.
Chipset drivers first
Make sure your AMD chipset drivers are up to date (from your motherboard vendor or AMD). Missing chipset drivers can cause the GPU driver to fail silently.
Check Device Manager → Hardware IDs
If the GPU still shows as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, confirm Windows is actually detecting the RX 6700 XT correctly (no error codes like Code 31 or 43).
BIOS / iGPU check
If your CPU has an iGPU, try disabling it in BIOS temporarily, and make sure PCIe is set as the primary display.

[RogerWilliams]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and hoping someone can help. I used the latest version of DDU to clean out my AMD GPU drivers (Radeon RX 6700 XT) in Safe Mode on Windows 11. The cleaning process seemed to go fine, and the system restarted without issues. However, when I tried to reinstall the latest AMD Adrenalin drivers, the installer either fails midway or completes without actually installing the driver; Device Manager still shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. I've tried redownloading the installer and disabling Windows Update driver installation during the process, but no luck. Is there something else I need to clear or reset after using DDU?

This usually means Windows or the driver stack isn’t quite resetting cleanly after DDU, even though the cleanup looked successful. A couple of things to check. First, make sure you’re still booting normally and not stuck in Safe Mode when running the AMD installer, as it will silently fail there. Next, confirm that Windows hasn’t auto-installed a partial driver in the background; even a half-baked Windows driver can block Adrenalin. In Device Manager, try uninstalling the adapter again and tick “delete driver software” if it appears.

It’s also worth disabling Windows Update entirely for the install session, not just the driver option. Reboot, then run the installer as admin. If it still fails, try the minimal or driver-only install. That often gets things unstuck, and you can add the full suite afterward.