How to install device drivers during Windows7 install

[Beekhof]

During the installation process of W7 it is possible to load drivers, e.g. the downloaded SATA, LAN and Graphics drivers for a specific motherboard (MoBo ASUS P7P55D).
However, these files are compressed zip files and Unzipping delivers a set of folders with in each a number of files. Which are the device drivers?
In other words: what is the extension of a device driver? Inf? And how to present it?

 

[bigmck]

During the installation process of W7 it is possible to load drivers, e.g. the downloaded SATA, LAN and Graphics drivers for a specific motherboard (MoBo ASUS P7P55D).
However, these files are compressed zip files and Unzipping delivers a set of folders with in each a number of files. Which are the device drivers?
In other words: what is the extension of a device driver? Inf? And how to present it?

No, not during installation. The Windows 7 DVD normally has all drivers on it. When you have completed the install, it will search the internet for drivers and DL if needed. You should be OK.

 

[PooMan UK]

Hiya pal and welcome to the forums

You used to be able (with a legal version of XP and key) to use Nlite to create a "unattended" installation in which you could slipstream (incorporate) service packs and drivers etc. I've use Nlite in the past and it works really well.
But from what I've read (haven't tried yet) rt7Lite seems to do the same thing for win7 32/64 bit. (please note you need a legal version and valid installation key of win7 to make this software work correctly)

 

[Beekhof]

How to find device driver files in a folder?

Thanks for the replies. NLite (excellent for WXP) and RT7Lite (the same for W7) I did slipstream Sata driver to an OEM W7 Ultimate DVD (has only one language: Dutch).
The installation of W7 was going well until copying files, however the succeeding action of unpacking these files stopped after about 30%.
I have tried the installation several times with always the same (bad) result: with and without the 100MB system partition, by formatting (to ntfs) with Windows disk manager or without, but with GParted. As a conclusion the Sata driver would not be the problem (that was Slipstreamed on beforehand and the installation was starting). However, I am not sure about the Graphic driver and therefore would load this driver during the installation process of Windows7. That is, for sure, an option in the W7 install process (not in WXP).
Thus, my question stands: how are driver files characterised, with what sort of extension, i.e. inf??

 

[razy60]

Personally i would say let the install do all that it needs to upto and including the install of the sp1 update. Then install any drivers for what you need. You should not need to install any drivers before hand. including any sata drivers.
During the install choose the fresh/new install option then when you get to the hard drive install choice select advanced, delete(to remove any old systems) then install to your selected drive.

Could you post your system specs as that would help others to help you.

Raz

 

[theog]

Yes, can take at this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/68505-sata-driver-load-windows-7-vista-setup.html

 

[Duzzy]

You can do this. My Win7 install disk installs unattended including Chipset, ATK, RAID/SATA, LAN, Wireless Adaptor, Audio and Graphics (Nvidia) drivers. Also Motherboard utilites, Nvidia Systemtools, .Net Framework 4.0, Office2010 and Windows and Office updates.

Unattended drivers and software can be time consuming as you need to find the unattended switch and test installations.

Drivers that are inf files alone can be placed in a folder named "$WinPEDriver$" in the root folder of the install disk, this will only install the driver no software that is included with the driver. Software and .exe driver installs can be installed via the "Autounattend.xml" file under "RunSynchronousCommand" if they install unattended.

If this is what you want it will take time to get everything working and you will need to start by downloading the Windows 7 AIK (Automated Installation Kit). I would also Google a little and I will be happy to provide any help you need.

PS. SP1 cannot be slipstreamed without third party software. Best to start with Win 7 with SP1 install disk. This can be obtained via the internet and use your own serial although I don't know if thats entirly legal.

 

[DeaconFrost]

You really shouldn't mess with the original install disc, if you truly want the best results. Let Windows 7 install, and then have all of your drivers handy on a flash drive, read to be installed.

Think about it. Are you really going to want to recreate and reburn a disc everytime a driver gets updated? I'm a firm believer in the K.I.S.S. way of thinking. Keep it simple. Too many people spend too much time worrying about things that yield no real value or results.

PS. SP1 cannot be slipstreamed without third party software. Best to start with Win 7 with SP1 install disk. This can be obtained via the internet and use your own serial although I don't know if thats entirly legal.

Considering the site everyone goes to is owned by Microsoft, it is completely legal.

 

[Duzzy]

Think about it. Are you really going to want to recreate and reburn a disc everytime a driver gets updated?

Yes recreating the disc would be a pain thats why I use a external hard drive via usb to install then I can just replace the old with the new with a simple delete old, copy, paste new. Altough this can cause failed installs if the driver/software has changed considerably, not that I have had this problem. Only my chipset and graphics driver gets updated, I have a old motherboard that no longer gets updated.

Too many people spend too much time worrying about things that yield no real value or results.

This is true, but in my case a normal installation of Windows takes roughly 17mins then installing the rest takes more time which I have to sit there with a short time between installs, some longer than others. With unattended install it takes roughly an hour and a half so I know I can start a install and do something else for that time then come back and install the rest.

 

[Beekhof]

Original device driver files from ASUS-P7P55D Mother Board for SATA, LAN or Graphics card can be downloaded from internet (ASUSTeK Computer Inc.) in a compressed form (zip). Extracting these zip-files delivers a number of files.

So my question is: which one are the real and usable device drivers.
In other words: how are device drivers itself characterised, what sort is their file-extension, i.e. inf??

 

[Beekhof]

Message to theog:

I read your advice: "How to Load SATA Driver in Windows 7 setup"​

When you install Vista or Win 7, setup can not find your Hard Drive.




Do you have experience with it? That means if the sata-driver is not installed the above message is the result.
Or in other words: I don't have received this message (in the installation process of W7 on P7P55D MoBo), does that mean the right sata-driver is installed, saying that not the cause of your problem?

 

[theog]

Or in other words: I don't have received this message (in the installation process of Windows 7 on P7P55D MoBo), does that mean the right sata-driver is installed, saying that not the cause of your problem?

If your HD Drive is showing the right drivers are installed in setup.

 

[Duzzy]

About which files are the real drivers. I'm not 100% up to date on this but I believe .inf is an install file for the driver and .sys files are part of the driver as well as any other .dll files and sometimes other files. The .inf file list a number of things including matching Hardware ID's, the required files to copy (.sys, .dll), reg entries and the Device Description that shows in Device Manager.

For example if you required the drivers to complete the steps in "How to Load SATA Driver in Windows 7 setup" you would download the latest "Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology" driver and extract it. Open the folder and browse to "\Driver\64bit" (or "32bit" if you had a 32bit Windows). Then copy all the files except the 2 .txt files to a floppy, CD/DVD or USB. You shouldn't have to copy the iaAHCI files really unless your SATA mode in the BIOS is configured as AHCI. The txtsetup.oem is only required for this type of install and the .cat files I'm not sure but you need them. This will only install the driver and not the software that comes with it.

For your LAN driver you would find the required files in "\Win 7\64" (without space) or "\RIS\64". If you don't know what RIS is then you don't need them, you only need one of the folders and I'm 99% sure it won't be RIS. Do you need both the .sys and .dll file, who cares keep them all together and you can't go wrong, you could go through the .inf to find out but thats not always easy and not necessary. You won't be able to install the LAN driver the same way as your SATA above.

Other people please correct me if I'm wrong, I would hate to have given any wrong info.

 

[Beekhof]

Duzzy, my many thanks for help to understand installation of device drivers (DD).
On the P7P55D I found (yesterday) a tutorial how to install DD BEFORE or after W-Xp or W7 install on a PC.

 

[Duzzy]

Don't know what tutorial you found but after Windows is installed the easiest way to install a driver is to run the setup.exe or with Asus drivers/software run AsusSetup.exe.
If no setup.exe then use device manager - update driver. This can be a problem with some like my chipset driver which would fail when running setup.exe, you would have to manually update several devices and I didn't know which ones. I solved this with the "$WinPEDriver$" folder during install. The setup.exe has now been updated but I still do it during install.

 

[Shrike49]

About which files are the real drivers. I'm not 100% up to date on this but I believe .inf is an install file for the driver and .sys files are part of the driver as well as any other .dll files and sometimes other files. The .inf file list a number of things including matching Hardware ID's, the required files to copy (.sys, .dll), reg entries and the Device Description that shows in Device Manager.

For example if you required the drivers to complete the steps in "How to Load SATA Driver in Windows 7 setup" you would download the latest "Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology" driver and extract it. Open the folder and browse to "\Driver\64bit" (or "32bit" if you had a 32bit Windows). Then copy all the files except the 2 .txt files to a floppy, CD/DVD or USB. You shouldn't have to copy the iaAHCI files really unless your SATA mode in the BIOS is configured as AHCI. The txtsetup.oem is only required for this type of install and the .cat files I'm not sure but you need them. This will only install the driver and not the software that comes with it.

For your LAN driver you would find the required files in "\Win 7\64" (without space) or "\RIS\64". If you don't know what RIS is then you don't need them, you only need one of the folders and I'm 99% sure it won't be RIS. Do you need both the .sys and .dll file, who cares keep them all together and you can't go wrong, you could go through the .inf to find out but thats not always easy and not necessary. You won't be able to install the LAN driver the same way as your SATA above.

Other people please correct me if I'm wrong, I would hate to have given any wrong info.

Hi All,

Had exactly the Same Question as Beekof regarding exactly which files (extension) the Device Drivers are?

Duzzy Seems to have covered the question pretty well (PP Quote above & thanks) but thought I would add the following after having done a little research!!

When Installing windows 7 and after clicking on the CUSTOM install, you get a option to "Load Driver" at bottom left of the dialog box. Clicking on it takes you to another Dialog Box and you need to supply the Device Driver, that is navigate to where the Device Driver/Drivers are!! This, from what I can figure out, is the FOLDER Containing the Device Drivers. The Device Drivers are actually made up of AT LEAST twp (2) file's. One with a ".inf" the other a ".cat" extension. The ".inf" file is actually a text format file containing information about the manufacturer, the specific device etc etc - IT's a Infomation file!
The ".Cat" would contain (I'm NOT 100% Sure) other info such as registry keys etc to be set in the Registry.

IN A NUTSHELL, Locating a Device Driver is a matter of finding the ".inf" & ".cat" file's in a Folder such as "Win_7" or "x64". Once Selected the "Load Driver" pass the Source back to the Windows 7 Installer which then installs the Device Driver by finding ANY ".inf" files!

I managed to find the following "Working with Setup Information (.inf) Files" (Click on Link) which explains a lot.

I'm NOT SURE if you can say Install your ChipSet Drivers & then go back and Load additional Drivers (SATA, LAN etc) individually by selecting a different folder each time OR maybe you can setup a Folder with sub folders containing each set of drivers. EG $Drivers$/Chipset - $Drivers$/SATA - $Drivers$/LAN. Then if you Select the "$Drivers$" Folder will the "Load Driver" find the Sub folders??? Hopefully some will know the answer to that One.

Thanks to all who have contributed and hope the above help's others!
Shrike49

 

[briansdough]

Hi, I have a custom built computer (GA-F2A85X-UP4 AMD A10-5800k) and had to reinstall windows. I was able to get all drivers from Gig website but I still cannot use them to update USB. I get an error message stating "windows has found the files for the drivers but it cannot install..." Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[GokAy]

Did you try in device manager - right click - update driver - browse - and point to the USB driver folder?