Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP?

EricB · 02-24-2008, 02:03 AM

this post was from the old forum.

part of this trick was courtesy of PCWorld

download the proper OS batch file to your desktop or your C drive (It didn't work when I copied it from another partition). If it don't download, copy and paste it in notepad and save it as drivercopy. rename the .txt extension to .bat. viola, you now have a batch file.

Code:

echo off
cls
echo This batch file is meant for use ONLY with Windows XP.
echo It copies certain files and folders out of the Windows folder so that
echo they are still on your hard drive when you delete that folder and
echo reinstall Windows.
echo Written by Lincoln Spector for PC World.
pause
md \olddrivers
cd \olddrivers
xcopy c:\windows\help /h /y
xcopy c:\windows\inf /h /r /y
xcopy c:\windows\system /h /r /y
xcopy c:\windows\system32 /h /r /y
xcopy c:\windows\system32\drivers /h /r /y
pause

the actual bat file

XP

these links seemed to expired below

Code:

XP 2000 98,ME

open it. it will open command prompt. it will copy the files to your C drive

it will save it as a hidden folder called olddrivers. (you have to unhide them in folder options to see them). you can now burn it to disk (I would burn the batch file too). if you ever have reformat, you can throw this disc in (make you use the add new hardware wizard or update in device manager) when you are done. it will contain all of your latest drivers.

Mak213 · 02-24-2008, 02:14 AM

Sticky. Useful for XP users. Have to see if they come up with one for Vista some year soon...

EricB · 02-24-2008, 02:18 AM

it might work right now. I know you just need to change the words to make it work for another OS

Mak213 · 02-24-2008, 02:38 AM

It will take more than that. My Vista setup reads exactly like that batch file would read if it was for Vista. Except the Windows XP Part. there is a sharing violation that takes place near the end of the bat file execution.

I bet this has something to do with UAC.

EricB · 02-24-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makaveli213

It will take more than that. My Vista setup reads exactly like that batch file would read if it was for Vista. Except the Windows XP Part. there is a sharing violation that takes place near the end of the bat file execution.

I bet this has something to do with UAC.

probably

Mak213 · 02-24-2008, 01:13 PM

Actually this worked in Vista as well. Without even changing the .bat file. I found the folder. Label olddrivers and all that. Looks exactly as you have it. The reason at first i thought it failed, mine isnt located under the c:\ drive. I didnt run the .bat file from there. I ran it under my Data drive where the olddrivers folder is located.

So it worked. I jsut can not confirm if the drivers would work or not as i have not used this method before with Vista. Next re-isntall i will try these drivers out and see if they work. That will be the final confirmation if the .bat file works for Vista.

EricB · 02-24-2008, 02:39 PM

ok. just remember. for some reason none of these program (driver genius and double driver) seem to install ati video drivers, at least in my experience. but you can get them from their website

Mak213 · 02-24-2008, 02:49 PM

Well i use nVidia anyways. But still you should always check for updated driver for the GFX card and that on a fresh install. Most of them are going thru Windows Update now in Vista.

EricB · 02-24-2008, 02:58 PM

you can also right click the hidden folder, select properties and unhide it

Ste · 02-24-2008, 03:43 PM

I guess this is quicker, but I just have all the driver install files backed up on a separate harddrive..

02-24-2008, 02:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
EricB Hard Core Techie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,399	Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? this post was from the old forum. part of this trick was courtesy of PCWorld download the proper OS batch file to your desktop or your C drive (It didn't work when I copied it from another partition). If it don't download, copy and paste it in notepad and save it as drivercopy. rename the .txt extension to .bat. viola, you now have a batch file. Code: echo off cls echo This batch file is meant for use ONLY with Windows XP. echo It copies certain files and folders out of the Windows folder so that echo they are still on your hard drive when you delete that folder and echo reinstall Windows. echo Written by Lincoln Spector for PC World. pause md \olddrivers cd \olddrivers xcopy c:\windows\help /h /y xcopy c:\windows\inf /h /r /y xcopy c:\windows\system /h /r /y xcopy c:\windows\system32 /h /r /y xcopy c:\windows\system32\drivers /h /r /y pause the actual bat file XP these links seemed to expired below Code: XP 2000 98,ME open it. it will open command prompt. it will copy the files to your C drive it will save it as a hidden folder called olddrivers. (you have to unhide them in folder options to see them). you can now burn it to disk (I would burn the batch file too). if you ever have reformat, you can throw this disc in (make you use the add new hardware wizard or update in device manager) when you are done. it will contain all of your latest drivers. __________________ The Ultimate Hard Drive Utility PowerMax 4.23. (It now has the ability to clean a Boot Sector virus on the quick erase option.) The best browser Netscape 8 Have you accidently delete something? Look here (trial. the better one) and here(free) Last edited by EricB; 02-24-2008 at 02:11 AM.

02-24-2008, 02:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mak213 Commander SMod Autobot Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In Trotter's crawl space Posts: 11,872	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? Sticky. Useful for XP users. Have to see if they come up with one for Vista some year soon... __________________ If I have helped you, consider making a donation to help me build a better PC.

02-24-2008, 02:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
EricB Hard Core Techie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,399	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? it might work right now. I know you just need to change the words to make it work for another OS __________________ The Ultimate Hard Drive Utility PowerMax 4.23. (It now has the ability to clean a Boot Sector virus on the quick erase option.) The best browser Netscape 8 Have you accidently delete something? Look here (trial. the better one) and here(free)

02-24-2008, 02:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mak213 Commander SMod Autobot Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In Trotter's crawl space Posts: 11,872	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? It will take more than that. My Vista setup reads exactly like that batch file would read if it was for Vista. Except the Windows XP Part. there is a sharing violation that takes place near the end of the bat file execution. I bet this has something to do with UAC. __________________ If I have helped you, consider making a donation to help me build a better PC.

02-24-2008, 01:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mak213 Commander SMod Autobot Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In Trotter's crawl space Posts: 11,872	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? Actually this worked in Vista as well. Without even changing the .bat file. I found the folder. Label olddrivers and all that. Looks exactly as you have it. The reason at first i thought it failed, mine isnt located under the c:\ drive. I didnt run the .bat file from there. I ran it under my Data drive where the olddrivers folder is located. So it worked. I jsut can not confirm if the drivers would work or not as i have not used this method before with Vista. Next re-isntall i will try these drivers out and see if they work. That will be the final confirmation if the .bat file works for Vista. __________________ If I have helped you, consider making a donation to help me build a better PC.

02-24-2008, 02:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
EricB Hard Core Techie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,399	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? ok. just remember. for some reason none of these program (driver genius and double driver) seem to install ati video drivers, at least in my experience. but you can get them from their website __________________ The Ultimate Hard Drive Utility PowerMax 4.23. (It now has the ability to clean a Boot Sector virus on the quick erase option.) The best browser Netscape 8 Have you accidently delete something? Look here (trial. the better one) and here(free)

02-24-2008, 02:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mak213 Commander SMod Autobot Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In Trotter's crawl space Posts: 11,872	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? Well i use nVidia anyways. But still you should always check for updated driver for the GFX card and that on a fresh install. Most of them are going thru Windows Update now in Vista. __________________ If I have helped you, consider making a donation to help me build a better PC.

02-24-2008, 02:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
EricB Hard Core Techie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,399	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? you can also right click the hidden folder, select properties and unhide it __________________ The Ultimate Hard Drive Utility PowerMax 4.23. (It now has the ability to clean a Boot Sector virus on the quick erase option.) The best browser Netscape 8 Have you accidently delete something? Look here (trial. the better one) and here(free)

02-24-2008, 03:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ste The Executioner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mount Prospect, IL Posts: 8,186	Re: Tired of losing drivers when you reinstall XP? I guess this is quicker, but I just have all the driver install files backed up on a separate harddrive.. __________________ Read The Rules!! Power Supply Guide Intel Overclocking Thread AMD Overclocking Thread Other Important Threads I'm sorry but I do not accept support requests via IM, email, or personal messages There will come a day, such a day when all will be told more than they wish to know, what one hears may explain the past, it may explain the future, but it has never made a difference either way and it will change nothing. Some day.... But that is not this day, and I don't know when, I just don't know.

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