When to install drivers when re-installing Windows 10

benpatten said:

I have been having problems with Windows 10 Home and after searching around I found that the best course of action would be to reinstall windows.
Having created a USB with the install on it I want to start, however I had my PC made and delivered to me with everything installed including my Graphics card drivers ect. I have the disk for it, and I understand how to reinstall windows but what I don't know is when I would Install the Graphics Card drivers and whether an External Disk Drive would work when completing this process?
I am nervous about reinstalling windows but I feel it is neccisary.

Thank you for reading, and help is appreciated.
Ben

Welcome Ben to Ten Forums. You could make a backup of all your installed drivers 1st. Also makes a complete image backup of your Windows OS too before doing your re-install of Windows. If you choose the Repair Windows method Ben, then you will not lose any personal files or installed 3rd party programs. Only thing you might want to do is whatever 3rd party AV program you may be using is to remove it 1st before repairing your Windows 10. Here are some links Ben, and suggestions.

For making a backup for all your Windows Drivers:
Create a folder on your flash drive or any internal or external drive: Drivers
Open Admin command prompt and run: Dism /Online /Export-Driver /Destination:X:\Drivers
Replace X with the drive letter of your drive.
Or use the freeware: Driver 4.1 Backup Download
http://www.techspot.com/downloads/61...le-driver.html

Link for doing a Repair install for your Windows:
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Here is the link for Macrium Reflect for making a complete image of your current Windows 10 OS
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Hope this helps you Ben
Mike :)

I think it is better to use the Device Installation Settings.

Do it and forget about the drivers.

Arc said:

I think it is better to use the Device Installation Settings.

Do it and forget about the drivers.

Everyone seems to have different opinions on this subject. Me included. I've seen cases where letting Windows update your drivers, can mess up your computer quite nicely. On the link you provided Arc its good to show the user on how to Turn OFF getting driver updates from MS. :)

BEST method is to get them from the manufacturer of your Computer. HP, Acer, Dell... etc. That's why once you've installed your Windows 10, and have it running well, backup your existing drivers, to a usb drive or any 2nd drive or external drive. Just incase Windows decides to update one of your system device drivers to a OLDER driver, which I've seen it do.


Of course its always the users choice, on which they would rather do, trust the manufacturer or Let MS decide on what drivers should be updated on their computer. :)

Hi Mike. :)

If it is a laptop, some drivers are must to use from the OEM manufacturer's site. Specially the driver to the dedicated graphics (powered by Optimus), and the touchpad and WLan too, to have their full functionality.

For a custom built desktop PC like that of benpatten, the drivers obtained form windows update does not cause a big difference, rather they are more stable. During BSOD debugging, I have never seen storahci.sys or usbxhci.sys is causing a single issue on themselves; whereas the vendor supplied alternatives cause a great lot of issues.

Moreover, when the OEM manufacturer or the motherboard manufacturer stops providing driver updates for a particular model, windows update saves the life of the system.

Yes, drivers from windows update may be unstable, seen a few time for the drivers to the peripheral/auxiliary devices; and that is the same for drivers supplied by the vendor or manufacturer.

An Optical Disk Drive is not needed to reinstall windows. A USB Flash Drive is enough.
If you have the windows ISO: Use Rufus.
If you dont have it: Use USB Media Creation Tool.

An ODD is not needed to install the drivers, too. Get the drivers directly from the OEM/ Motherboard manufacturer's website and install it; or get the drivers via windows update. Forget that you have a disk containing drivers. Those are not only old drivers but also containing lots of bloatware which may cause a number of issues.

Arc said:

An Optical Disk Drive is not needed to reinstall windows. A USB Flash Drive is enough.
If you have the windows ISO: Use Rufus.
If you dont have it: Use USB Media Creation Tool.

An ODD is not needed to install the drivers, too. Get the drivers directly from the OEM/ Motherboard manufacturer's website and install it; or get the drivers via windows update. Forget that you have a disk containing drivers. Those are not only old drivers but also containing lots of bloatware which may cause a number of issues.

Actually don't even need Rufus either, as 7-zip will copy all the files to any USB drive (formatted fat32) just fine. Or any program that can view ISO files. WinRAR is another type. This method is also MUCH faster Arc :) Try it sometime.

OldMike65 said:

Actually don't even need Rufus either, as 7-zip will copy all the files to any USB drive (formatted fat32) just fine. Or any program that can view ISO files. WinRAR is another type. This method is also MUCH faster Arc :) Try it sometime.

A clean install using 7zip? How will it boot from the installer?