Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

Hazel123 · 08 Feb 2022

Thank you. Yes I had no problem with the instructions on the first page except I was unclear where to make the folder! And it was rather late last night. That still confuses me - where to make the folder. Could some mention of that be made in the instructions for people like me who aren't used to using dism?

What worked in the end, was making the drivers backup folder in Windows C. Which I guessed at because the path for the command was driver number C: .............................

I am in the habit of leaving folders in C drive alone. (After a nasty accident many years ago!) So now I have made this drivers backup folder in C Drive - will it be ok still there? And can I copy it onto a usb drive to use after reinstalling? And do I then need to copy it back into the same location (C Drive) for it to work.

It is the location of the folder that is really confusing me! Because the path in the dism command sends it to C Drive.

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So if you can create the folder anywhere you want (initially I created it on the desktop) then the path in the dism command has to match that? - that's where the confusion comes in because it didn't work sending it to desktop - presumably because it had C: in the path.

Yes what I really want is a folder on a usb stick with the drivers in, for possible use after doing a clean install. Once I've got the hang of it, it will be very useful for other laptops!

Try3 · 08 Feb 2022

Hazel,

You either need to

make the folder on an external drive [such as a USB stick or a USB-connected external disk]

or

make it where you have then move them all to an external drive [such as a USB stick or a USB-connected external disk].

Once they are on an external drive they will be useful if your Windows drive fails. [If they were on that Windows drive they would be lost forever].
It's up to you where you make that folder.

The path you use in the Dism command must be the path to wherever you have made the folder. If the path contains spaces or special characters such as ampersands, the path in Dism must be enclosed in " {and " do not hurt in any case} e.g.

Code:

"C:\Users\%UserName%\Desktop\DriverBackup"

which you can put in your File explorer address bar to get straight to your Desktop and you can put it in the Dism command to point to that folder.

Code:

dism /online /export-driver /destination:"C:\Users\%UserName%\Desktop\DriverBackup"

Note:-
%UserName% just tells commands to go away and look up your username then use it
If you ever want to check your username yourself, just enter this is any Powershell or Command prompt window

Code:

WhoAmI

or

Code:

whoami

and it will reply in the form ComputerName\UserName

Denis

Hazel123 · 08 Feb 2022

Thanks! The Who am I command was very useful! The result was my shortened name (only five characters) as happens when you're signed in with a Microsoft Account - not my full name as appears at login.

.

It was trying to do that command to desktop that wasn't working last night. Although I did try "both" username versions.

So I succeeded last night in the drivers being backed up to a folder but only when I had made the folder in c drive - where it still is. So yes I need it somewhere else or will lose it when I reinstall.

What I am not sure is, because I made the folder in C drive, with the path to C drive - can I just cut that and paste it onto usb? And will it only work for reinstall if it is then placed back into C drive after reinstall? Or could I just put it on the desktop after reinstall?

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Now I tried that again, to a desktop folder, and it didn't work again. I did exactly this (below) except with my username between the % either side and with a different folder name.

dism /online /export-driver /destination:"C:\Users\%UserName%\Desktop\DriverBackup"

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I'm not too comfortable having the backup folder under Windows C, that's all.

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I am suspecting it is when using username the command doesn't seem to be working. Ghot mentioned last night about using a local account. And it working if you use your username from a local account. Do you think it doesn't work when using a Microsoft sign in username? (I am just signed in with microsoft account - no local account - didn't find it necessary).

So I am sure there is no issue in copying the driver back up folder I made from C drive to a usb stick. But when it comes to reinstalling, presumably it will only work if I put that folder back in C drive?

Try3 · 08 Feb 2022

"can I just cut that and paste it onto usb?"
Yes

"And will it only work for reinstall if it is then placed back into C drive after reinstall?"
"Or could I just put it on the desktop after reinstall?"
You can reinstall them from wherever you want. Just make sure you put the path to wherever they are into the restore command [Options 3,4 of the tutorial].

About your username

dism /online /export-driver /destination:"C:\Users\%UserName%\Desktop\DriverBackup"

My username is denis so I'd use
dism /online /export-driver /destination:"C:\Users\denis\Desktop\DriverBackup"

You need to create the folder before using the command.
You do not keep the %% if you write in your username. Those %% indicate to Windows that it needs to go away and look up what the username is.
It doesn't matter if the user account is Local or MSAccount-linked as long as you use the form of it reported by the WhoAmI command e.g. denis not denishealey@notlook.com

You are right not to want to put the driver backups on C: It will work but is merely an example to help you get the syntax right.
If you created the folder on, say, a USB drive, you'd want to run something like

Code:

dism /online /export-driver /destination:"F:\DriverBackup"

It's worth trying this out to make sure you can get it right every time because you'll be doing it again in the future after you have updated some drivers.

Best of luck,
Denis

Hazel123 · 08 Feb 2022

Thanks. Still didn't work to the desktop folder, even without the %! I'll just cut the folder from c drive and paste it on a usb then. It only worked when I sent it to the folder in C drive.

I'll have a go making the folder on a usb instead.

Try3 · 08 Feb 2022

Please go to your driver backup folder in File explorer then click on a blank area in the File explorer address bar. That will show you the correct full path to that folder and you can right-click to Copy it then paste it into your Dism command.

This works for all folders [ones within your username folders or on a USB stick].

Denis

Hazel123 · 08 Feb 2022

Just checking which white space you mean. Clicking on the area next to "This PC - Desktop just reveals "Desktop"

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10-desktop.jpg

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It's ok - it's worked to an external usb drive.

dism /online /export-driver /destination:"D:\Drivers Backup"

I think it just didn't like desktop and username - doing it direct to c drive or d drive (usb) worked fine

Thanks for all the help. The command on the front page works fine if you just make the folder in a drive - doesn't seem to like desktop!

Try3 · 08 Feb 2022

Hazel,

I had forgotten about those misleading entries within ThisPC. I got rid of them ages ago to help avoid mistakes being made.
They are not folders even though they look like they are. They are a special type of shortcut to folders within C:\Users.

Go to

C:\Users,
Double-click on your username folder,
Double-click on your Desktop folder,
Now click on a blank area in the File explorer address bar.

That will show you the correct full path to that folder.

Just by way of example, I clicked where I've drawn on the purple splodge

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10-fe-address-bar.png

So you can see that the full path to my driver backups folder is F:\DriverBackups\20220208 {I make a new folder whenever I backup my drivers so I date each one and delete old ones after a while}.
To use this path in a command, such as Dism, I'd routinely enclose that path in " because some of the ones I use contain spaces
"F:\DriverBackups\20220208"

Denis

Hazel123 · 08 Feb 2022

Thanks! Explaining things on threads is never quite the same as being in a room and showing is it?!

But I know how to do it now, thanks, direct to an external drive, which is what is needed really. The tutorial is simple and works - if I had not tried to do it to desktop!

Try3 · 08 Feb 2022

Hazel,

I agree.

I was adding a diagram as you posted. I hope it helps. I think if you go to your Desktop the way I suggested & look at its path, you will find out why you were unable to get it done before.
I'm just harping on about this to help you understand the syntax as it's used in many other commands as well.

Denis