Backup ReInstall drivers. 1

[TopHat2]

I often have to do a clean install of Win98 SE, to get rid of junk on PC’s. The problem is after the Win install I have to install drivers for sound, graphics, and modem, I may not have the drivers for everything, and have to hunt for them on the net.
Is there any way I can back up the drivers, and reinstall them after the Win install? I assume I can’t just backup the files because of dependencies in the registry.

Please do not post replys on how to find/install, drivers. This is about backup/re-install.

 

[edfair]

I keep windows and drivers install stuff on a separate partition or a separate drive if at all possible within the constraints of hard drive space. For example the systems I have running currently start with a dos load and a lantastic load from floppy, then all the install stuff is downloaded across the network onto a drive that is visible but not affected by w95 reloads.
Under the same conditions in a customer's office the load comes off zip drives.
This is pretty much controlled by the hardware installed and uniformity between machines makes it easier.
You have to give up some of the flourishes that are installed on driver cds for a lack of room, but who needs 3 or 4 different acrobat readers installed anyway? Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[TopHat2]

Sorry if I did not explain properyl. I am talking primerily about PC's that are already configured, NOT PC's that are normally under my controle (these are no problem).

There have been a number of cases (say on a friends PC) where I have had to do a clean install (starting with a Format), and the most time-consuming part is finding and re-installing the drivers.

I'm trying to speed this up by backing up the drivers, then re-installing them. Maby this is not feasable. Or maybe if I know what files to look fore (drv, vxd, dll, inf?), and where to find them, I can create a batch file to back them up, and another to install them.

 

[edfair]

I wish it could be done. Too many vairables, too many drivers, too many entries in the registry.
Understand about the desire to help a friend, but if the friend doesn't have what is needed install the minimum and let him find his own stuff. Otherwise you are being used. I can see reinstalling for somebody that has never done it, but if they have lost manuals and drivers then let them buy a new computer. Or a new video card, or sound card, or whatever.
I know it sounds harsh. Comes from 40 years of having to put up with people who throw manuals and wiring diagrams away. And if it takes time to replace, then the time is charged, one way or the other. Or they wait while I do a slow search for what is needed. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[hotfusion]

Sounds like you need to do a once-only search for ALL the latest drivers, including SCSI, chipset etc, save them to hard disk within the same folder bearing in mind some come as '.exe' files and others as files you have to browse to during driver installation, and burn the lot to CD-R if you don't have a separate partition to play with. This, of course doesn't automate the driver installation, but it saves having to keep swapping CD-roms for each driver as you can keep going to the same location for your drivers - a great time-saver! Andy.