Backing up my drivers before reinstall  

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  1. Posts : 188
    Windows 7 Pro
       #1

    Backing up my drivers before reinstall


    How do I go about backing up my drivers? I thought there was a folder that held just the drivers, guess not. I then looked in the device manager to see if they could be downloaded from there???
    Is there some kind of software that can help ferret out the drivers I will actually need after a system repair?
    If there is, it needs to be simple to operate. Once I download them, can I put them on my external hard drive? Not sure how I go about restoring them either. I had hoped they were in some kind of folder and all I had to do was copy the folder, then just put the folder back afterward.
    As my Granny used to tell me "If wishes were horses, beggars could ride".

    I have to do a repair install, on the tutorial page it says to backup every thing including drivers. I've backed up every thing in my personal files, made copies of programs I don't have installation disc for too. I'm just not sure I have all of the Cd's that came with my Printers, camera's etc.. If I remove my hardware won't the plug and play recognize it as New and search for the driver? What about my internet? I have roadrunner with Time Warner, does that have a driver?
    I'm going to have enough to do just getting back all of the Windows updates I'm going to lose. Just hope it doesn't load the ones that caused this mess in the first place!
    Any help or advice would be much appreciated
    George
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,243
    win 7 ultimate32bit, Win8.1pro wmc 32bit
       #2

    Hi total confusion, I use a free little program called "Driver Magician " Device driver backup, restoration, update and removal tool for Windows, drivers backup, backup drivers It's never let me down yet!! ,All drivers can be backed up to a location of your choice :)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 188
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi
    I tried downloading that one and I got about 12 other things along with it plus a bunch of spyware. My Malwarebytes picked up at least 4 and that was after I had deleted the stuff from the desktop. Where id you download it from?
    Reinstall has gone well so far.... It just did it's first boot so i have a long way to go to get back to where I was before Microsoft screwed me over.
    Thanks
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,261
    Windows 7 Professional X64
       #4

    total confusion said:
    Hi
    I tried downloading that one and I got about 12 other things along with it plus a bunch of spyware. My Malwarebytes picked up at least 4 and that was after I had deleted the stuff from the desktop. Where id you download it from?
    Reinstall has gone well so far.... It just did it's first boot so i have a long way to go to get back to where I was before Microsoft screwed me over.
    Thanks

    Anytime you download a program, check "custom" and uncheck the garbage they want to install or change homepage,etc.

    The following pages also offer more crap - just click "decline" and the download will continue.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 188
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I did uncheck the toolbars etc. The minute I hit save, download, stuff started popping up on my desktop.
    I generally am aware they all want to load some kind of extra crap. I also normally check it with malwarebytes before I install. I was just saving it to the desktop and out popped all this other stuff. NEVER had that happen before. It was kinda freaky!
      My Computer


  6. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #6

    You better use this one - it's safe and easy to use.

    Imaging with free Macrium
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 188
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Whs
    You probably won't believe this but I actually had the paid version of that. It never worked, not even the free version. It would back up but failed on the verification process every single time. Their Techs couldn't figure out why so they gave me my money back. Too bad because it was pretty easy to use too.
    George
    Last edited by total confusion; 23 Nov 2013 at 16:32. Reason: mispell
      My Computer


  8. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #8

    Hmm, that is the first time I hear that Macrium does not work. But there is always a first. There must be something wrong in your system when all these programs don't work. Another one you could try is free Paragon.

    Sometimes it is the ShadowExplorer service that does not function correctly. I think the imaging programs use that. Check whether that is set to automatic.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 188
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Right now I've got that set on manual. I've got some other issues I need to iron out in the event view. Then I can worry about getting a backup image. The way it's going I may end up doing another repair install.
    I've got errors coming out my ears + taskScheduler, DNS Client, WMI, & Kernel-PnP, just to mention a few
      My Computer


  10. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #10

    My ShadowExplorer service is set to automatic.
      My Computer


 
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