best way to save drivers for win7 new install in ssd...

msongs · 12 May 2013

got my new ssd and will do a clean install of windows in a day or so. common internet advice seems to be to copy drivers to a disk and save for install on the new ssd. how does one 'save" network drivers? most of my hardware came with driver/install disks so I can start with those drivers then update to the latest via the internet after the ssd is up and running. on another note, can one open a program and run it from the secondary hard drive (the old HDD)? I know I can access data files with no problems, files liked downloads, desktop, and my documents type folders. Thanks!

AddRAM · 12 May 2013

Just download the exe file to a flash drive. You find the exe file at the manufacturer`s website.

If you have the network drivers on the cd, don`t worry about it.

Yes, you can run programs from the other drive, but they have to be installed to it from the new system.

gregrocker · 12 May 2013

Follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which explains how drivers are best handled in Win7.

There will be very few drivers missing after install and all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates are done. Just put the LAN driver in your backup in case you need it to get online. If you want to have an easy way to browse to find any drivers which are still missing, back up Windows\System32|Drivers.

Dsprague · 13 May 2013

A third alternitave, i use a third party program called double driver, it literally makes a back up of all your third party drivers (everything that wont be installed naively by windows 7) then you can use the same program to re-install said drivers when done installing windows 7.

BooZet Freeware | Double Driver - backup and restore installed drivers

Ztruker · 13 May 2013

Dsprague, that's a nice little program, and no install needed. Seems very accurate as it put a check mark next to only the drivers not supplied by Windows.

Dsprague · 13 May 2013

Ztruker said:

Dsprague, that's a nice little program, and no install needed. Seems very accurate as it put a check mark next to only the drivers not supplied by Windows.

I found this little gem when I was tasked with imaging a whole bunch of laptops of the same model it saved me from having to do anything other than boot one of the laptops once to the pre-installed version of windows 7 that came on the machine run the program to get the drivers then all the rest i just booted right to usb imaged them and they were ready to go as soon as I restored the drivers.

Layback Bear · 13 May 2013

Thank you Dsprague I Bookmarked that little puppy.

Dsprague · 13 May 2013

Your welcome.