Windows 7: Manually browse and download Microsoft Drivers from windows update.

Hi all,

I use Linux and CUPS to provide free and stable networking printing shares for our community centre. Its easy to connection windows xp clients to the linux printer server, windows 7 is a pain, I have a work around, but would like to make it more streamlined.

I can get some older printers that do not have official windows 7 drivers working by using windows update during the driver selection phase of the printer set-up procedure. And selecting a slightly different printer from the list of available windows update drivers.

While this method works, there is a delay of between 5-10 minutes after clicking the windows update button before the list of drivers appears.

I would like to know if its possible to do any of the following 2 ideas:

1. manually access these driver files on Microsoft website somewhere, and download them for latter use.

2. Find where windows 7 saves the downloaded driver files and package them some how so they can be re-distributed.

As always your comments/suggestions are very welcome.

I don't think there is a way to do that I would recommend that you set up a domain and be the system administrator for all fo the Windows 7 pcs, so you can install all of the updates on all of the computers at the same time.

You can get drivers from here. Just search for the printer name.

Microsoft Update Catalog

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323166