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Thread ID: 90550 2008-06-07 04:56:00 Copying drivers prior to reinstall jwil1 (65) Press F1
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676238 2008-06-07 04:56:00 Hey all,

I have a client's Dell PC that is buggered and needs a reinstall. The recovery discs have been created but they reinstall all the cr*p that Dell put onto it in the factory.

I intend to use a 'vanilla' XP Home disc for the reinstall and load drivers after that, using the COA on the side of the box.

BUT I suspect the drivers are integrated into the recovery discs and thus I won't be able to use them for the reinstall.

Is there a program out there that can take drivers from an existing installation of XP and save them onto the HD?

To me it would appear that a program doing that would have alot of demand.

TIA
jwil1 (65)
676239 2008-06-07 04:59:00 Get them from the Dell site, and chuck them on cd .

If there's drivers for XP on the Dell site

Or just use the recovery cd's / dvd and uninstall what you dont want
Speedy Gonzales (78)
676240 2008-06-07 05:34:00 A program called Driver Genius Professional (www.majorgeeks.com) used to be mentioned a bit for being good at this. Never tried it myself though and I haven't seen anyone mention it recently on the forum. Jen (38)
676241 2008-06-07 05:50:00 Just googled and found a program called DriverMax ( . innovative-sol . com/drivermax/index . htm" target="_blank">www . innovative-sol . com) .

Anyone used it??
jwil1 (65)
676242 2008-06-07 06:56:00 Just lookup the model on Dell's site. They'll probably have newer drivers than what's on the CD anyway Agent_24 (57)
676243 2008-06-07 08:28:00 From memory - dell use a hidden folder on some setups, open my computer, tools/Folder options/Show hiden files. have a look through the C: drive the driver folder is sometimes there, if it is, simply copy/paste it to another media. wainuitech (129)
676244 2008-06-07 08:48:00 Thanks for your thoughts guys.

IIRC I have already done a reinstall on this PC, so no go with your suggestion wainuitech :(

I'd also like a 'standard' method of backing up drivers for no-name PCs that didn't have recovery/driver discs etc - only COAs - so I don't have to comb the Net to find drivers like I do now :groan:
jwil1 (65)
676245 2008-06-07 08:56:00 Download the drivers from the makers site and extract / burn them to cd.

That's the only way you're going to get them, if youre not going to use the restore cds / dvd.

Just make sure (before you format the hdd), that there are drivers for it. (If you dont use the restore cd / dvd)

Or else you wont have sound, LAN drivers, or mobo / chipset drivers. In other words, nothing will work

You cant just download / use one set / lot of drivers, since not all systems use the same drivers
Speedy Gonzales (78)
676246 2008-06-07 08:57:00 Thanks for your thoughts guys.

IIRC I have already done a reinstall on this PC, so no go with your suggestion wainuitech :(

I'd also like a 'standard' method of backing up drivers for no-name PCs that didn't have recovery/driver discs etc - only COAs - so I don't have to comb the Net to find drivers like I do now :groan: With the Reinstall how was it done ? If it was off of a recovery CD then it still may have loaded the folder as default - I have found that sometimes does happen - regarding the last statement, - Sometimes you do have to comb the net for drivers, but most common drivers are easy - simply go to the manufactures web site - then once you find them, store them in some place for future use - on one of my servers I have so many different drivers for so many different components its sometimes hard to locate the ones I KNOW I already have. Just remember - different makes/models need different drivers - not all will work with some components - what is the model of the Dell PC - I have a quite a few as well for Dells that I have collected over the years.
wainuitech (129)
676247 2008-06-07 10:58:00 Hi

Yes, I have used DriverMax ( . innovative-sol . com/drivermax/" target="_blank">www . innovative-sol . com) for quite a while now . For what you are trying to do and ease of application, this program just can't be beaten . What's more it's free . What yah got to lose!!

Run this program and copy all the drivers on cd . Drivermax can restore them later if required or you can do it manually .


BURNZEE
Burnzee (6950)
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