Solved copy drivers to cd usb hdd

is it possible to copy driver folder to removable media for purpose of back up.

as i want to format and clean install my OS

so that in mind is it possible to copy and paste my driver folder
containing all current working drivers to a usb thumb drive
perform clean install then copy and paste driver folder back into clean install
and if so would the same hold true for program files folder?

any help would be much appreciated

thanx

Welcome
Most members do what you are suggesting with the Free Driver Max. Give it a try. They want you to buy, so be sure you click on the free version
DriverMax - free driver download program for Windows XP & Vista
Programs must be reinstalled
You can back up all your stuff with karens ruplicator and then just restore to the new OS.
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

When you have it just the way you want it, on an external hard drive, back up with Macrium Reflect. Then you never have to clean install again. It will all be on Macrium and you can be back in business with the image. Everything will stay the same, programs, etc.

hi thanks again for your help and advice it is much appreciated.
however could you tell me is it possible to use the method i mentioned in my post. rather than use any software? (driverMAX etc)

You can copy and paste drivers, but not the best way
You can go to the website of your drivers and dowload to a USB drive.

hi thanks for getting back to me

however my driver folder has lots of files in it 279 files

however when i go to my pc manufacturers website driver download page for my system there are only 5 drivers available for download?

also could you possibly assist me on another matter?
how would i go about keeping the programs that are currently installed on my pc. do i copy the installer files for each program to usb/disk for re-installation after clean install of os?
if so where would i find the install files?

my pc has no cd/dvd drive. (acer revo 3600 nettop) and came with no back up media such as driver disk or program files disk
so would like to back everything i need/want thats installed on the pc now before formatting and clean install of os.
but only have option of usb thumb drive or external hard drive to back up to?

sorry to ask so many questions.

and thanks again for all your help

billybellfoot said:

hi thanks for getting back to me

however my driver folder has lots of files in it 279 files

however when i go to my pc manufacturers website driver download page for my system there are only 5 drivers available for download?

also could you possibly assist me on another matter?
how would i go about keeping the programs that are currently installed on my pc. do i copy the installer files for each program to usb/disk for re-installation after clean install of os?
if so where would i find the install files?

my pc has no cd/dvd drive. (acer revo 3600 nettop) and came with no back up media such as driver disk or program files disk
so would like to back everything i need/want thats installed on the pc now before formatting and clean install of os.
but only have option of usb thumb drive or external hard drive to back up to?

sorry to ask so many questions.

and thanks again for all your help

Click to expand...

You must go to the website for the particular driver. Go to search by start button, type device manager. In manager click on the drivers that interest you. You will see the manufactuer eg, Intel, go to that site.

Im sorry, programs must be reinstalled. The only exception is if you made an image of your entire drive with Macrium Reflect or equivilent. However, that would not be a format. It is merely an image of what you have now.

The best way to back up is to an external hard drive or a CD. External hard drive is the best, then USB, then CD.
Once again, after you have everything the way you want, use the free Macrium Reflect to make an image.

Finally, dont aplogize for asking questions, that is why I am here. We are all volunteers and we get our satisfaction from answering questions.

ok so i have to go to each device manufacturer for each corresponding driver? down load it and save to hdd. then when it comes to re-installing them use the hdd as location for device manager to locate the driver from? is that right? sounds quite a long process. is that why you suggested driver max (quicker/simpler). thanks again

also what if the driver i have installed now wich is working is older than the driver available on the website for that device? if the new driver caused problems i would have no way of getting back my current working driver as it woul be lost? wich is why i was so keen to keep all my current drivers? as they are all working even though they are the older version


as for programs needing to be re-installed where would i locate them on my pc so as i can save the install file to hdd etc to be re-installed after os is re-installed. thanks

ok i have a hdd so will use that. just a pain it didnt come with driver disc and program disc as with most pc due to it not having a cd drive. so would i be able to make a usb thumb drive with all the drivers i need and another with all programs i need for future in the place of the discs you would usually recieve from pc manufacturer

thanks again for all your help and support it is greatly appreciated and thanks for being patient with me

billybellfoot said:

ok so i have to go to each device manufacturer for each corresponding driver? down load it and save to hdd. then when it comes to re-installing them use the hdd as location for device manager to locate the driver from? is that right? sounds quite a long process. is that why you suggested driver max (quicker/simpler). thanks again

also what if the driver i have installed now wich is working is older than the driver available on the website for that device? if the new driver caused problems i would have no way of getting back my current working driver as it woul be lost? wich is why i was so keen to keep all my current drivers? as they are all working even though they are the older version


as for programs needing to be re-installed where would i locate them on my pc so as i can save the install file to hdd etc to be re-installed after os is re-installed. thanks

ok i have a hdd so will use that. just a pain it didnt come with driver disc and program disc as with most pc due to it not having a cd drive. so would i be able to make a usb thumb drive with all the drivers i need and another with all programs i need for future in the place of the discs you would usually recieve from pc manufacturer

thanks again for all your help and support it is greatly appreciated and thanks for being patient with me

Click to expand...

You have the choice of software such as driver max or download and save from the website. You can do it the way most people do it. When you reinstall be sure that you are on line. You will get all necessary drivers. When you begin to use, lets say your printer, it will download the proper driver (hopefully). I had no problem going from Vista to Seven using the aforementioned method.

I cant guarantee, but a new driver should not cause problems.

No install file for programs. You install the way you did originally, download from net, or cd. You may also need product key numbers for pay programs like Word or Excel.

No you must reinstall programs the way you did originally.

I also volunteer in our affiliated Windows 8 forum and I can tell you there are some driver compatiblity problems, not with software but with the OS. Several are having problems with the graphics driver, causing BSODs

ok so best method if i want to keep existing drivers is driver max.

programs came pre installed from manufacturer only place i have them is on the C:drive they are installed on wich will be formatted? in that case will i just loose them and thats that?

oh really i will be staying with vista (re-install) to start with. but thanks for the word of warning on windows 8.

thanks

What are the programs?

I aplogize, I just realized something. If your computer did not come with reinstall discs, your probably have a restoration partition. A RP gives you a way to restore to the way the computer was the day you took it home. With the make and model of the computer, I can tell you how its done, but I prefer not to.
I suggest you call your computer company, ask them if you restore to factory specs, will the programs still be installed. If they say, yes go that route. If they say no, come back here, you are in the same boat.
You mentioned that you want to reinstall, if from a DVD. and it came from the computer company, find out if it includdes the preinstalled software.

erm not sure off the top of my head there are a few.
i am using laptop at moment
some software i got off the net and can get back via the net and install in the usual way as you mentioned. but software that came with the pc? also some games software that came free with pc. from acer. but i checked acer website for my system and they arent available to download from the acer website
i will have to get back to you on what programs
off the top of my head i think winlocker came free only one i can remember at the moment. as soon as im at my pc will send a list of programs/games that came with it pre_installed.

thanks again for all your help

Read my last post

I aplogize, I just realized something. If your computer did not come with reinstall discs, your probably have a restoration partition. A RP gives you a way to restore to the way the computer was the day you took it home. With the make and model of the computer, I can tell you how its done, but I prefer not to.
I suggest you call your computer company, ask them if you restore to factory specs, will the programs still be installed. If they say, yes go that route. If they say no, come back here, you are in the same boat.
You mentioned that you want to reinstall, if from a DVD. and it came from the computer company, find out if it includdes the preinstalled software.
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in reply o this post

i do indeed have a recovery partition but want to do a clean install.
a format and clean re-install from usb thumb drive.(have already created usb bootable vista install usb drive from tutorial on here) as pc was purchased 2nd user so to be safe want to format and perform clean install using the usb install i mentioned.

sorry for being awkward.

thanks

OK, I understand, we are back to reinstalling your programs.
I think that you know the risks and potential rewards, only you can make the final decision. If it were my computer, under similar circumstances, I would be satisified with the restoration partition, but thats your call.

thanks.

yes i think as i didnt personally know the person i purchased from i would feel safer with format-clean install. as i dont know what he/she used there pc for and what may or may not be lurking on it. (viruses spyware malware etc etc) "paranoid" ha ha.
also can get rid of programs that are not needed/wanted and eventually have a nice clean pc and fresh os install. almost as good as new "hopefully"

thanks

You do what is best for you. You can come here with any problems or questions. If I am not around we have a great group of guys and gals that will be glad to help.
Just take your time, dont do anything that you are unsure of, and you will have a grea OS. When it is all installed, you come back PM me, tell me that you have posted, and I will show you how to take care of your new set up.

hi thanks thats great i am thinking of doing at weekend when i have a whole free day..
heres the list of programs we were discussing earlier
some of the programs that came pre-installed are
in the list of PROGRAMS AND FEATURES:
z-controller games (for z-controller)
Revo boot
cyberlinkpowerdvd8
acer recovery managment
acer arcade deluxe
acer game zone game zone console
Nvidia ForceWare network access manager
MyWinlocker
Microsoft SQL server 2005 compact edition [ENU]
microsoft works
microsoft office sweet
and various games but i dont play games so not so worried about loosing those

adobe products AIR Flash etc i should be able to get from net for free(right?)

same for windows live essentials and silverlight etc.

asside from those they are programs i have installed myself xbmc imgburn anti-virus software etc etc

and as for the drivers i think ill take your advice and use driver max. as that way i can keep the ones that are working. do you know of a safe trusted download location for the driver max software.

thanks again for your help

billybellfoot said:

hi thanks thats great i am thinking of doing at weekend when i have a whole free day..
heres the list of programs we were discussing earlier
some of the programs that came pre-installed are
in the list of PROGRAMS AND FEATURES:
z-controller games (for z-controller)
Revo boot
cyberlinkpowerdvd8
acer recovery managment
acer arcade deluxe
acer game zone game zone console
Nvidia ForceWare network access manager
MyWinlocker
Microsoft SQL server 2005 compact edition [ENU]
microsoft works
microsoft office sweet
and various games but i dont play games so not so worried about loosing those

adobe products AIR Flash etc i should be able to get from net for free(right?)

same for windows live essentials and silverlight etc.

asside from those they are programs i have installed myself xbmc imgburn anti-virus software etc etc

and as for the drivers i think ill take your advice and use driver max. as that way i can keep the ones that are working. do you know of a safe trusted download location for the driver max software.

thanks again for your help

Click to expand...

The only one that I see that should concern you is MS Office Suite and we can get the same thing for free from Libre Office.
I bet you did not even use them.

the only ones id maybe interested in keeping would be
acer arcade
acer recovery
revo boot
winlocker
z-controller games

and if its important the nvidia one

anything else if not important i can go without. id actually rather have less installed on my os.. "cleaner the better". and with my little pc (acer revo) performance is low so having to much installed might greatly impact what little performance it has.

thanks