Solved Where can I find my Drivers?

[visruth]

I'll be doing a fresh install of Win 8.1 if migration fails , into my new Samsung 840 evo ,
At present I have my laptop with HDD , running Win 8.1 that came pre installed in the lap.

Where can I find all the driver's setup/exe files in my system now , so that I could copy them onto a USB & use them if need arises during fresh install?

 

[topgundcp]

you can use this to backup & restore:
Driver 4.1 Backup Download

 

[visruth]

Thank you very much topgundcp,

ran the exe from zip,

I can see there is loads of drivers in my system - so should I back up everything?

 

[Hybrid Vigor]

You'll find the drivers for your device on the driver support page of the manufacturer....most likely.
In most of the cases, the offered driver versions from the manufacturers are outdated.
But there you'll find an overview what drivers are needed. If you have a device with an Intel chipset and/or graphics, go to the intel website and download the latest for your particular set of inwards. Same goes for soundchip and so on.

 

[visruth]

You'll find the drivers for your device on the driver support page of the manufacturer....most likely.
In most of the cases, the offered driver versions from the manufacturers are outdated.
But there you'll find an overview what drivers are needed. If you have a device with an Intel chipset and/or graphics, go to the intel website and download the latest for your particular set of inwards. Same goes for soundchip and so on.

Yes, I could find it there - is that all that is needed for clean install, I would download the setup file & save it to USB device for loading it at the time of installation?

My graphic system is switchable type & only the versions ( Intel & nvidia) that already came with the system is found to be working for me - none of those that came later, in product site or that is available in intel/nvidia site is good. That's why, I'm too concerned about getting my driver from my system itself so that I can get those version.

 

[visruth]

How will I able download OEM ISO of Windows 8.1?
Mine came with Win 8.1 pre installed,
I have heard that the retail ISO won't be able to activated?

 

[Hybrid Vigor]

To be on the save side, take the version from the manufacturer. Sometimes hardware vendors offer special versions for their products, then the Intel/Nvida drivers won't work.
After OS installation install chipset drivers first, then (if necessary) the Management Engine drivers.
After these, it shouldn't matter in what order the next drivers will be installed.
Check whether the vendor offers download links for Windows ISO files or search the forum.
There's a plenty of topics in the "Installation and Activation"-subforum.

 

[visruth]

Okay, I'll install chipset, imei first along with installation setup - there'll be Load driver option for that right?

What about Intel rapid storage, heard without that sometimes SSD would not be seen by system?


about all other drivers- should I install them along with OS installation setup or after OS installation is complete?

When i asked forum expert, i got info that there is no such thing as Windows 8.1 OEM ISO available for download, I'm at a loss here
Only MSDN subscription allows that it seems,
Really wanted to go for clean install in a new SSD, but if that don't work - migration is the option left but with all the bloatwares

 

[Hybrid Vigor]

After Windows installation has finished:
1. chipset drivers
2. IMEI
3. Rapid Storage (if you don't plan to setup a RAID, it will at least help to save some power)
4. Graphic drivers
5. Sound drivers

There is no need to install any drivers during Windows setup because Win 8.1 includes the necessary AHCI drivers to comunicate with the SSD. If I remember right, a clean 8.1 install isn't possible without messing around with some installation files. I can't help you with that, my installation media is on a "solid" CD ROM. But I would suggest to download a Windows 8 ISO, install it, install all the drivers, do all the updates in Windows-Update and when it doesn't offer any more updates, go to the Windows Store and do the 8.1 Upgrade.
Good luck!

 

[visruth]

Thanks for info Hybrid Vigor,

Ok, but the product key of Win 8.1 cannot activate Win 8 ISO , isn't it - heard it'll show invalid product key error,
Then how can I upgrade? - my system came with win 8.1 factory

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Visruth, is this the machine that broke on Update Tuesday? If so, did you not take this machine in for service?

 

[visruth]

Yes Hippsie this is the one,

The thing got resolved after uninstall, I did all the testing again after the uinstall - hard drive, memory, battery , sfc , AV scan - all the tests passed.

No other performance issue I can say though,
I did a disck cleanup, defrag today - now going to replace HDD with SSD - I already ordered one from Amazon

Yea, HP Support advised me to check the hardware last time when I contacted them, but I did the uninstall & issue got over -
then contacted near by HP service center, they told if the problem is not there how can they simply check for the hardware, later on