Olliegami Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 We have so many computers with different components that sometimes it's incredibly difficult to find drivers for them (easily). Currently, we're still on XP. (Joy.) I knew someone who had a disc full of drivers that did the work for you. Does anyone know where it's possible to get hold of one of these, or is there any other (free) application that anyone uses to obtain these rogue drivers?
Olliegami Posted October 9, 2012 Author Posted October 9, 2012 Thanks, I can see how this can be helpful, but this won't resolve issues with finding drivers? (Not that I can see, unless I'm not reading it right?)
VeryPC_Tom_M Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 If I have access to the hardware, I find the Devices section in AIDA64 invaluable for working out what drivers are missing from a particular machine... On loading Aida64, click on Devices, then Windows Devices, before scrolling down to double click on the “Unknown” Selection. Highlighting each device will once again show you a driver description for the device and Hardware ID, which once again, can be searched for online.
strawberry Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 News | DriverPacks.net Useful for MDT but might do what you want too.
SYNACK Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 You can use something like Everest home edition to grab the hardware IDs of the devices then search online for them, generally gets you the information you need. Vista/7/8 does this way better as it both looks in its huge driver DB locally and online but also shows you the device IDs right in device manager.
Jamo Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I used to use Astra32 which just gives you the hardware IDs and then does a lookup for you
Dos_Box Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 We have so many computers with different components that sometimes it's incredibly difficult to find drivers for them (easily). Currently, we're still on XP. (Joy.) I knew someone who had a disc full of drivers that did the work for you. Does anyone know where it's possible to get hold of one of these, or is there any other (free) application that anyone uses to obtain these rogue drivers? So is your exact problem: a. Not being able to find out what the hardware actually is to obtain a driver or... b. Knowing what the hardware is but not being able to find a driver? c. Both of the above I would suspect that if you have older hardware you would already have compatible drivers that came with the hardware, or if you are using new kit but want to 'downgrade' to XP then I would suspect that this will become increasingly difficult, if not impossible for newer components such as smaller yet integral motherboard integrated hardware such as security devices. To find out what hardware you have on a platform SiSoft Sandra was always good for identifying hardware that Windows XP had flagged as unknown in device manager, but I would suggest that about now is the time to let the powers-that-be know about how little life span XP has left in it and that you should be planning/budgeting for a migration to W7 or W8.
Guest Guest Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 News | DriverPacks.net Useful for MDT but might do what you want too. This. Has drivers for every major component.
UnknownStuntman Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 Not sure how well it works for XP but we have used ma-config.com to get windows 7 drivers for our older PC's Will detect the hardware and link any relevant drivers for download.
unixman_again Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 Here's what I do. Firstly go lookup the vendor and pci id in the details tab of device manager. If you haven't got a details tab in XP, you're not running service pack 2. ChucK both into PCI Vendor and Device Lists which will tell you exactly what hardware you have. Next, search the manufacturers website or use google to locate a suitable driver. Never fails.
Meldrew Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I find this site quite good: Microsoft Update Catalog
SHimmer45 Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I used to use Astra32 which just gives you the hardware IDs and then does a lookup for you +1 on this also if most of the hardware is run on intel boards i bet you will not need loads of differing install packages and intels often cover a range of chipsets same goes for alot of the nics they put on the boards etc. should take long to get a decent bundle together
6Foot2 Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 If you are still having trouble with this have a look at this thread: Link: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/downloads/61859-drivers.html At the time of posting the product was in beta. It is now out of beta and works slightly differently. Last time I used it [on XP] the unregistered version had you download each driver to be updated one driver at a time. When we had XP it helped me no end. Try it [unregistered] on a single XP station and see how you get on.
apeman Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I find this site quite good: Microsoft Update Catalog +1 for this but surely you should know what hardware you have out there and then just get the latest driver from the manufactures website for most of the hardware
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