What Factory Reset does (and when you need more)
The Adrenalin installer layers new drivers over old ones, and broken settings, stale caches and remnants of previous versions can survive a normal update. Factory Reset, a checkbox inside the installer, deletes all prior driver versions and AMD Software settings before the fresh package installs, which fixes most update-related trouble in one pass. This is the supported route, and it needs no third-party tools.
Cases where Factory Reset alone may not be enough: you switched from an NVIDIA card and the old driver was half-removed, the installer fails mid-way with an error, or black screens make the desktop unusable. There the stronger route is DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in Safe Mode — the same procedure described for NVIDIA cards, with AMD selected instead.
- Download the full Adrenalin installer from amd.com/support — the site detects your card, or you pick the model yourself.
- Close games, browsers and monitoring tools; they hold driver files open.
- Create a restore point first: press Win, type Create a restore point, then click Create.
- Disconnect the internet, or Windows Update may race the installer with an older WHQL build.
- Do not delete the C:\AMD folder before the install finishes — the installer extracts its packages there.
Step by step: run the installer with Factory Reset
Run the downloaded installer, accept the license and, on the options screen right before installation begins, tick Factory Reset; if you do not want the full Adrenalin software, choose the driver-only install as well. The installer removes the previous driver and software, reboots the PC automatically and continues on the next logon — do not interrupt it, and let the screen stay dark for a minute or two when it does. When it finishes, reboot once more if asked, then open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition to confirm the app starts.
Verify the result in Device Manager: Display adapters → your Radeon card → Driver tab must show the version from the package you ran. If games then misbehave, reset the shader cache in Adrenalin (Settings → Graphics → Reset Shader Cache), so titles rebuild their caches against the new driver.
Aftercare: chipset drivers, C:\AMD leftovers and update hygiene
Install or update the AMD chipset drivers too — they are a separate download from amd.com and they matter for the Ryzen power plans. The folder C:\AMD collects extracted installation packages and easily grows to several gigabytes; after a successful install it is safe to empty, and Kleaner PRO sweeps such leftover folders along with the temp files in one pass.
Reinstall with Factory Reset when problems return after big updates or before you sell the card, and use a plain update otherwise. Skip third-party driver-updater tools entirely: they bundle outdated installers and are a common source of broken AMD installs.
Questions and Answers
Where is Factory Reset in the AMD installer?
It is a checkbox on the options screen of the Adrenalin installer, right before installation begins. Tick it and the setup removes all previous driver versions and settings, reboots, and continues.
Is DDU better than AMD Factory Reset?
Factory Reset is enough for most cases and is the supported method. DDU in Safe Mode digs deeper, so use it for brand switches and installs that keep failing.
Can I delete the C:\AMD folder?
Yes, after a successful install. It only holds extracted driver packages for repair purposes, and the old contents are safe to remove — that often frees several gigabytes.
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