How can I get older Windows drivers?

rodion15 said:

Sometimes a Windows update installs a new “buggy” driver for a device. So one of the steps I may try (after trying the typical steps, some of them listed below)…is to try installing an older version of the Microsoft driver.


I’d try what I said after the typical: downloading the driver from the manufacturer” or reinstalling the driver or rolling it back or removing the update or restoring a restore point…

So I’m thinking of the best way to get and install an older Microsoft driver, these ideas occur to me:

- Boot your PC from an older Windows Installer and robocopy the driverstore folder to another drive (using the installer’s Command Prompt). Then boot Windows and use this copy of the driverstore folder to install the older driver from device manager.
- ..or install the older Windows on another PC and copy the driverstore folder from there..

Also: is there any other way to download older Microsoft drivers?

I hope this doesn't sound crazy
I’d welcome any opinions

what kinda driver do you mean? for what kinda hardware do you need an older driver?

Open Device Manager. There is an option to go back to a previous version.

From your other post.
"My purpose is to troubleshoot driver issues such as a jittery trackpad: if it doesn't happen in WinRE, and I can confirm that the trackpad drivers used by WinRE are different, then I'd suspect the proper Windows driver is faulty."

Trackpad drivers are specific to a manufacturer and Laptop model. They maybe based on a brand of trackpad like Synaptics etc, but have hardware and driver specifically related the Laptop model.

The starting point would be to install the original drivers from the manufacturer.
Make sure hardware diagnostic info is sent to MS. Then Windows updates should update properly.

You may have a greyed out button for Roll Back Driver in the Device Manager.

"Also: is there any other way to download older Microsoft drivers?"

You can but it is very tedious to find the right one that is specific for customised trackpads on Laptops.

Buster Friendly said:

what kinda driver do you mean? for what kinda hardware do you need an older driver?

well, I was thinking of the situations I described, windows update replacing drivers with buggy ones. I've been hit by this before.

other examples:
Don't install this Windows 10 update Microsoft just pushed out | TechRadar

Windows 10 update is screwing with drivers — what to do | Tom's Guide

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Paul Black said:

Hello @rodion15,



There is also this option => How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

Also, have a look at the Related Tutorials at the BOTTOM of the above Tutorial as they may also be useful.

I hope this helps.

I know that great article, thanks all the same.