I need info on how to back up drivers

[Wii Master 64]

Hey guys, I've probably made a post similar to this, but I don't think I got any answers... I need to know how to back up my current driver installation in order to do a custom install of windows 7. is there a program to download, or what? I need to get this sorted out fast.

 

[guyver1]

you dont 'backup' drivers. you download the driver packages from your relevant hardware vendors and install them all again.

Most 'power users' store their driver install files on a separate partition to windows so that when they re-install they have all their driver files ready to go.

 

[Wii Master 64]

so, I go to my computer maker's site and download every driver on there that I need? then install them?

 

[Tews]

Save them to a safe location and use whenever necessary...

 

[mickey megabyte]

yes, most 7 drivers are the same as vista, but it's worthwhile checking for updates anyway.

once you've downloaded them, either save them on a separate partition or usb stick, or wherever...

depending on your internet connection, probably the most important driver you need is for your network device, just in case for some reason windows 7 doesn't manage to detect it during install. without an internet/network connection you can't download any drivers...

 

[Wii Master 64]

wait, windows 7 can detect certain drivers and keep them?

 

[Tews]

It will install them, but does not archive them... that is up to you...

 

[Wii Master 64]

ok, so it does reinstall some of the drivers, but it doesn't back them up is what you're saying?

 

[whs]

Why would you want to do that? Most drivers will be installed automatically anyhow - and if you have a really exotic device, you can alwas get it from the device manufacturer (if he has one for win7). With Vista and Win7, I would keep "manual" installation of drivers to a minimum.

 

[Wii Master 64]

so you're saying that my current drivers will be automatically installed, even if I do a custom installation? if that's what you're saying, then that's great!

 

[Tews]

thats what we're saying, yes....

 

[Wii Master 64]

alright! thanks for all the help guys! I guess I won't really have to do anything driver wise.

 

[Teerex]

If you copy the folder FileRepository (path - C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository), you can later point the driver wizard to that folder, and it will find all your custom drivers currently installed there (if they were not found by Windows Update before that).

 

[ilesal]

I have a bit of software called driver genius pro, using this to gather, download and install, then if required back up newest drivers.
Compared to the standard drivers that Win7 installed this found newer better ones that increased my windows experience index by a few points for graphics. It's easy to use and saves times hunting them down from vendors sites.

 

[whs]

so you're saying that my current drivers will be automatically installed, even if I do a custom installation? if that's what you're saying, then that's great!

That's correct. Suggest to unplug all external devices (except mouse and keyboard) during the installation. Then the drivers will be installed as soon as you plug them back in. This is not compulsory, but always worked for me and is another possible source of installation trouble eliminated.

 

[guyver1]

Windows will only install basic drivers for most of your devices giving you limited/basic functionality.

So while windows WILL install say a graphics driver for your nvidia/ati graphics card, it wont be a very good one, it will be a driver that will just get you 'up and running'. If you want teh full functionality and top performance of your graphics card and other devices you need to go to the nvidia or ati site and download the latest driver package for your particular model of GPU.

Same goes for sound, motherboard drivers, printers etc etc. While windows may install a sound driver and sound may work, it will be very limited and wont give you all teh features that your soundcard may offer, again you will need to go either to the sound card manufacturer's website or the motherboard manufacturer's website to get the latest driver package to give you full functionality.

Once again to re-itterate the point. Windows will install drivers for most devices but they will be BASIC and only give you limited functionality. You would still be well advised to get the latest driver releases from your hardware vendors websites.

 

[Teerex]

Windows will only install basic drivers for most of your devices giving you limited/basic functionality.

So while windows WILL install say a graphics driver for your nvidia/ati graphics card, it wont be a very good one, it will be a driver that will just get you 'up and running'. If you want teh full functionality and top performance of your graphics card and other devices you need to go to the nvidia or ati site and download the latest driver package for your particular model of GPU.

Same goes for sound, motherboard drivers, printers etc etc. While windows may install a sound driver and sound may work, it will be very limited and wont give you all teh features that your soundcard may offer, again you will need to go either to the sound card manufacturer's website or the motherboard manufacturer's website to get the latest driver package to give you full functionality.

Once again to re-itterate the point. Windows will install drivers for most devices but they will be BASIC and only give you limited functionality. You would still be well advised to get the latest driver releases from your hardware vendors websites.

I strongly disagree with you. I have a NVIDIA 7600 Go graphics card. My dear NVIDIA offers me - zilch. No drivers at all.

Microsoft Update offers an excellent driver, Forceware 179.67, that can't even be found on NVIDIA site.

To reitterate my point -while it doesn't cover Realtek Audio driver extravaganza, it's a life saver when graphics drivers are concerned.

 

[Wii Master 64]

graphics drivers and sound drivers is what I'm most concerned about, oh, and I have a laptop if that helps. but, when I install Windows 7, I plan on getting the latest driver update to my GeForce 8200M G graphics card. I don't really know where to find drivers for my mother board, sound card, etc. oh, will it keep the driver for my CD/ DVD drive? I want full functionality from it like burning and just reading disks.

 

[Wii Master 64]

I have a bit of software called driver genius pro, using this to gather, download and install, then if required back up newest drivers.
Compared to the standard drivers that Win7 installed this found newer better ones that increased my windows experience index by a few points for graphics. It's easy to use and saves times hunting them down from vendors sites.

hmmm, now that just might be what I'm looking for. is it free? or is it just shareware?