Solved Need to save all my installed drivers

[web]

Hi all I need to save all installed drivers on my pc, that I could save on a disc and to file to use to update drivers after a do a complete reinstall from a saved image, have used Double driver in past to save but didn't work (maybe user error lol) when I needed driver at a later time ? ...... any suggestion welcome cheers

 

[AddRAM]

You can`t save installed drivers.

You have to save the downloaded driver files.

And you don`t need to re install drivers if you restore windows from an image.

 

[RolandJS]

Ah, I got it, your drivers are newer than the drivers saved in an earlier image-save.
8 Best Free Windows Driver Backup Tools -- lists also Semper Driver Backup, which I've used in the past.
You have to find what you believe will work best for you.

 

[RolandJS]

AddRAM, I believe that is what the driver backup programs do, save the driver downloads; although I wonder just how they would replace the drivers if that is what they can also do.

 

[web]

You can`t save installed drivers.

You have to save the downloaded driver files.

And you don`t need to re install drivers if you restore windows from an image.

so did Double driver only save all the downloaded drivers it could find ? ....... I have a lot of drivers that have been updated since I did the image but by third party products that didn't save the drivers just updated them

isn't there a program out there that can save all drivers ??? why not ? u could make a fortune writing that lol

 

[RolandJS]

Semper Driver Backup did indeed save almost all if not all drivers on C-drive. Since I never used it for a restore, I do not know just how that works.

 

[akjudge]

You can`t save installed drivers.

You have to save the downloaded driver files.

I think Double Driver will do exactly what you want.

"Double Driver is a Free Driver Backup Utility that can be used to view all of the drivers installed on your computer and then Backup Drivers, Restore Drivers, Save Drivers or print a list of chosen drivers. Installed Driver details such as Setup Information, Hardware ID, Version, Date, Provider and Class are displayed and can be printed for reference."

See:
Double Driver

Jim

 

[RolandJS]

akjudge, thanks for the reminder of Double Driver, which I used long long ago

 

[web]

You can`t save installed drivers.

You have to save the downloaded driver files.

I think Double Driver will do exactly what you want.

"Double Driver is a Free Driver Backup Utility that can be used to view all of the drivers installed on your computer and then Backup Drivers, Restore Drivers, Save Drivers or print a list of chosen drivers. Installed Driver details such as Setup Information, Hardware ID, Version, Date, Provider and Class are displayed and can be printed for reference."

See:
Double Driver

Jim

I will look at double driver again, and read the instructions this time lol

 

[ComputerGeek]

Yes. Double Driver will do what you want. Click Backup and Scan Current computer. It will list all devices and their driver version along with a check box for each device. Note that, by default, only the drivers that are NOT packaged with the OS are checked (i.e. those that didn't come on the installation DVD). In theory only device drivers checked by default are all you need to backup (since the OS drivers will be part of the restore) but doesn't hurt to check all so to back up all. Choose option to save to a structure folder on a flash

To restore from backup, you right click the device in DevMgr select UpdateDriver, tell Windows to browse your computer and point to structured folder on flash drive.

Subtle, but important, distinction about drivers: The word "driver" can refer to either one of two different technical things:

"Driver Package"
The driver package is the set of files that implement the h/w interface between windows and the device. Every driver package includes an .inf file. The .inf tells windows a) what devices the driver supports and b) how to install the driver.

"Device Installation App"
When you download a driver, you typically download an .exe file and run it. The .exe file will always include the driver package. But often also includes application level software (e.g. Catalyst Control Center is part of the device install app but is NOT part of the driver package

Driver backup tools, like Double Driver, only backup the driver packages. That means the restore will get your hardware up and running again - but if there was also an app for the device, you'll need to go locate the installation app again. (but at least all h/w is up at running)

p.s. When you do an Update Driver in DevMgr windows looks for and inspects .inf files to find a suitable driver match. Windows ignores any .exe files in this case (meaning it's looking for driver packages, not installation apps)

 

[web]

Yes. Double Driver will do what you want. Click Backup and Scan Current computer. It will list all devices and their driver version along with a check box for each device. Note that, by default, only the drivers that are NOT packaged with the OS are checked (i.e. those that didn't come on the installation DVD). In theory only device drivers checked by default are all you need to backup (since the OS drivers will be part of the restore) but doesn't hurt to check all so to back up all. Choose option to save to a structure folder on a flash

To restore from backup, you right click the device in DevMgr select UpdateDriver, tell Windows to browse your computer and point to structured folder on flash drive.

Subtle, but important, distinction about drivers: The word "driver" can refer to either one of two different technical things:

"Driver Package"
The driver package is the set of files that implement the h/w interface between windows and the device. Every driver package includes an .inf file. The .inf tells windows a) what devices the driver supports and b) how to install the driver.

"Device Installation App"
When you download a driver, you typically download an .exe file and run it. The .exe file will always include the driver package. But often also includes application level software (e.g. Catalyst Control Center is part of the device install app but is NOT part of the driver package

Driver backup tools, like Double Driver, only backup the driver packages. That means the restore will get your hardware up and running again - but if there was also an app for the device, you'll need to go locate the installation app again. (but at least all h/w is up at running)

p.s. When you do an Update Driver in DevMgr windows looks for and inspects .inf files to find a suitable driver match. Windows ignores any .exe files in this case (meaning it's looking for driver packages, not installation apps)

think I sorted cheers