Win7 Clean Install; backing up OEM drivers first

[DiracDeBroglie]

Hi,

I'm interested in testing out a clean install of Win7 HP, and get rid of the bloatware riddled OEM Win7 version. (Got that advice from *GreGrocker* and I'm beginning to experience I should follow that lead.) Win7 SP1 Clean Install should be able to detect all details of my hardware and (hopefully) find the right drivers for it.

However, I just want to play save and backup ALL my drivers that are currently on my system (OEM Win7); this is just in case off ..... because you never know there is something exotic in the hardware for which only ASUS has drivers.

So, how can I find out what the details are of my hardware, what the drivers are, where they are located on my system, how to back them up, and how to restore all the drivers from the backup into the Win7 that is Clean Installed?

thanks

 

[Hanna 1]

Hello Dirac
I use DriverMax from about three years but i use it solely to backup and restore my drivers, that’s because every manufacturer of a PC puts on a flavour inside the driver.
When you download the program and go to install it, you are requested to sign in for free.

DriverMax - free driver download program for Windows

 

[OldMX]

Look for a folder called c:\swsetup it should contain all drivers needed if its a HP or Compaq computer.

 

[gregrocker]

Follow these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

As explained in the tutorial, Win7 is driver-complete in the installer and quickly updated from optional Windows Updates when you enable Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware. After all Updates any drivers missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for the computer or device model.

Download and unzip your LAN driver to a stick or CD so you can get online quickly if it isn't loaded during install.

You can also back up C:windows/system32/drivers and driverstore to browse into to find any missing drivers but I would use the other steps first.