How do I save and update drivers for pc with no disk prior to reformatting?

Lady_K

I want to prepare for reformatting a pc without an installation disc because it was not a shop build pc. It was made up and I do not have any disc for it or programs or drivers.

I have already saved some documents to a spare hardrive but need to get the rest that I will need and I'm not sure exactly what that will be. I've only ever reformatted a pc with an installation disc before so I dont want to make a mess of it.

It has:
floppy drive a,
local disc c,
local disc d,
dvd re-writer drive e,
dvd drive f,

those have software for them too like power dvd, aero, cdex etc.

Where do I update and save the drivers from? I don't know yet what to do with them once I've saved them but 1 step at a time. Any help will be much appreciated

BritBrat

Run this and it will tell you what is on your system.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

I think it also tells you your product key.

Then do searches for updated drivers for each item.

You will not have to do DVD or CD Rom as windows will install most drivers for them.

startrekker

I used a program called drivermax... it is only a free 30 day trial but.....installed it, backed up all the drivers which I saved to a pen drive.....formatted the machine and re-installed windows.... then installed the drivermax program amd re-installed the drivers from the pen drive......so easy....... google is your friend on this one.....

BritBrat

You will need motherboard and Graphic card drivers to start with.

Do you have a Windows XP Disk?

jje_2

Save the downloaded drivers to a folder on D drive if you want to be extra carefull put a copy on a cd/dvd .

jje

Lady_K

BritBrat wrote: »

You will need motherboard and Graphic card drivers to start with.

Do you have a Windows XP Disk?

Yes I do but its a bit old its sp 1 but I know I can update the rest, it wasn't for this pc though but I suppose you can use any xp cd so long as you have the correct product key. Would I have to use the product key that this already has or would I have to use the xp disc I have?

jje_2

Lady_K wrote: »

Yes I do but its a bit old its sp 1 but I know I can update the rest, it wasn't for this pc though but I suppose you can use any xp cd so long as you have the correct product key. Would I have to use the product key that this already has or would I have to use the xp disc I have?

key is tied to type of disc home edition professional corporate or oem .
OEM disc and serial generally only work on the machine brand they where made for .
Retail products home work on any machine with a valid retail home serial like wise the pro version and corporate runs on many computers .
If you have already activated any copy then it will fail activation on the newer machine .
If its a genuine retail copy and serial the activation page gives you a microsoft phone number . Just use that and tell the operator when asked that you have a new machine and are no longer using on old but transferring to new and removing from the old one .They will reactivate for you .

jje

Lady_K

It says on the Belarc program

Operating system
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

Microsoft - Windows XP Home Edition5****-OEM-0******-6**** (Key: H****-R****-P****-3****-9****)e

I just dont want to end up wiping it then not being able to put xp on again

I have that sp 1 xp home edition thats never been opened not sure if thats oem or not but it was already on an acer laptop. The other copy I have is what I think must be a corporate one but its copied onto a disc thats xp pro and I've used it to update on microsoft update so its a legit one just copied on a disc from a friend

Dime_Bar

Just because it works does not make it Legit. You still need a licence for the relevent version of XP. As for the disks that that came with the Acer they will most likeley be OEM, as long as its a XP disk and not an image of the Acers Build you should be ok. Would recommend downloading SP2 prior to reformatting and putting it on a disk.

jje_2

If it was me i would not be convinced that an OEM disc would install and activate on a home made unit and would be prepared for it to fail on serial number or activation. But i would give it a go rather than spend £70 .
However as OEM is complicated and the OEM may not be a large Brand i would give it a try rather than buy another . Problem is i dont know how the activation process will measure the onboard hardware . Activation is a compound of the serial and signatures from specific hardware .
It will take at most two hours to wipe the disc and install XP and drivers load internet and get to activation .
Problem is if it fails you need to buy a copy of XP even if it does fail a genuine copy will install you wont have done any damage
Good news XP support has been extended another two years .
Acer laptop almost certain to be OEM .

jje

Lady_K

I've downloaded that drivermax and tried 6 times to register to get the free activation key but theres some error happening so cant do it, I'll try again in the morning.

I want to take this pc in to the shop in the morning for the repairs (heres hoping) so if I haven't got the drivers sorted by then I might take it in without them. There just seems a lot to look up and I'm worried I will miss some so thought the drivermax might be a safer bet.

I might tell them in the shop that I haven't got the drivers or a cd that came with it or an xp cd specifically for it. I may take the xp cds I have with me and ask them depending who it is that serves me if they will be ok. I feel a bit bad though when I'm not going to have it reformatted by them but I do think £97.50 is expensive just for a reformat especially for an old pc. I can't afford it anyway and I also have the repairs to pay for without that.