Windows 7: Driver Location

Due to the fact that the nforce drivers don't seem to install properly, in terms of the IDE ATA/ATAPI section of Device Manager of my secondary rig, I tried to locate these drivers on my primary rig so as to see how it compares with the other.



When I check the path shown for these drivers in the Device Manager's details, then go to that position in the file manager (System32/Drivers), there is nothing there to be seen of them. I do have the system set to show hidden files and protected system files, so why can't I see them?

I'm not sure if this what you are asking but here's where I found mine.

That is where mine are supposed to be, according to the driver details in the Device Manager, but they are not visible at that location.

look in SysWOW64 (64 bit drivers generally go here)

Yeah I have them there too.

Thanks, but they are not in SysWoW64 either.

That's a headscratcher.

cant you just hit "roll back driver" from device manager? im sure windows know where they are... even if you dont

That might work, if I wanted to change the drivers on my primary rig, but I don't. I'm simply trying to verify the proper location of the drivers for manual installation in my secondary rig. There is no driver there, except those originally installed by the OS, so nothing to roll back to.

It wasn't necessary on the primary, but I'm going to try installing them again from Safe Mode, using Driver Sweeper first and see if that will cause the new drivers to install properly.

Finally, partial success! Using Driver Sweeper in Safe Mode got my chipset drivers installed properly, but I compared the System32/Drivers folder on both rigs, and while the primary only shows 11 items in the folder, the secondary shows 305, with less programs, etc. installed. So I'm still looking for the solution to the invisible drivers.