Confirm the timing
Check whether the crash began on the first game session after the update or only later. Also note whether one game is affected or several. A single-game crash after a game patch may have a different cause than multiple games failing after the same graphics-driver installation.
Start with a clean reboot and default settings
- Restart Windows fully.
- Return GPU overclock or undervolt settings to known-stable values for testing.
- Disable nonessential overlays and capture hooks temporarily.
- Verify the game files if the launcher provides that option.
Read the crash pattern
A driver timeout, full system restart, game-only crash and freeze with audio continuing are different symptoms. Record the exact behavior and any error message. Windows Reliability Monitor or Event Viewer can help establish timing, but one log entry by itself does not always prove the root cause.
Compare a known-stable driver
If the previous driver was stable and the problem began directly after the update, testing that known-stable version is a useful controlled comparison. Reboot after the change and test before applying other tweaks. If the crash disappears consistently, you have stronger evidence that the newer driver or its interaction with the game is involved.
Do not assume every crash needs a cleanup utility
A normal reinstall is often enough for testing. More aggressive driver-removal tools can be useful in specific corrupted-install cases, but they add another variable and should not be the automatic first step.
Check system stability too
A new driver can expose a borderline GPU overclock, unstable RAM profile or power issue that happened to remain hidden before. If crashes continue across multiple driver versions, widen the investigation to thermals, memory stability and power delivery.