Are you tired of NVIDIA drivers hogging space on your C: drive? Want to free up valuable storage and optimize your system's performance? This guide will walk you through how to change the installation location of your NVIDIA drivers. While NVIDIA doesn't offer a direct setting to change the default location during installation, there are a few effective workarounds.
Understanding the Importance of Driver Location
Before we dive into the methods, let's understand why changing the installation location is beneficial. Installing drivers to a different drive, like your D: drive or an SSD dedicated to applications, can:
- Free up space on your C: drive: This is especially crucial if you have a smaller C: drive. NVIDIA drivers can occupy several gigabytes of space.
- Improve performance: By installing drivers on a faster drive (like an SSD), you might experience slightly improved loading times and overall system responsiveness.
- Better organization: Keeping your drivers separate from your operating system can make system maintenance and troubleshooting easier.
Methods to Change NVIDIA Driver Install Location
Unfortunately, there isn't a built-in option within the NVIDIA installer to specify a custom installation directory. However, we can achieve this using symbolic links or by installing the drivers to a different location and then moving the necessary files.
Method 1: Using Symbolic Links (Advanced Users)
This method involves creating a symbolic link (a shortcut that points to another location) within the default NVIDIA driver directory. This method requires advanced technical knowledge and should only be attempted by users comfortable with command-line interfaces. Incorrectly using symbolic links can cause system instability.
-
Identify the desired installation location: Choose a folder where you want to install the NVIDIA drivers (e.g.,
D:\NVIDIA Drivers). Create this folder. -
Download the NVIDIA driver: Download the appropriate driver from the official NVIDIA website.
-
Install the driver to the default location: Let the installer install the drivers to its default location (usually within the
Program Filesdirectory). -
Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for "cmd", right-click, and select "Run as administrator".
-
Create the symbolic link: Use the following command, replacing
<default_path>with the default driver installation path and<new_path>with your chosen installation path:mklink /J "<default_path>" "<new_path>"For example:
mklink /J "C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Display.Driver.472.12.00" "D:\NVIDIA Drivers\Display.Driver.472.12.00"(Replace with your actual paths and driver version number)
-
Verify the link: Check if the link was created successfully.
Caution: If you uninstall or update your NVIDIA drivers, this symbolic link might break and require recreation.
Method 2: Install, then Move (Simpler Method)
This method is less technically demanding and safer for less experienced users.
- Download the NVIDIA driver: Download the driver from the official NVIDIA website.
- Install the driver to the default location: Let the installer install the drivers to its default location.
- Locate the driver files: Find the installed driver files in the default location (usually within the
Program Filesdirectory). - Cut and paste the files: Carefully cut (don't copy!) the entire driver folder and paste it into your desired location (e.g.,
D:\NVIDIA Drivers). - Restart your computer: Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
Note: This method might require some trial and error to find the exact folder containing all the necessary driver files. It's advisable to create a backup of the original driver folder before moving it.
Choosing the Right Method
For most users, Method 2 (install, then move) is recommended due to its simplicity and reduced risk of system errors. Method 1 (symbolic links) offers a more elegant solution but demands a deeper understanding of the Windows operating system.
Remember to always download drivers from the official NVIDIA website to ensure the safety and stability of your system. If you encounter any problems, consider reverting to the default driver installation location or seeking assistance from NVIDIA support.
