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Backing up drivers prior to reformatting
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| Domesticated |
My girlfriend's computer has contracted an extremely virulent rootkit virus which has proven next to impossible to remove. Given that her machine is a Dell and came bundled with a whole lot of awful software which slows it down anyway, I thought it would just be easier to reformat the whole thing and start over.
Does anyone have any decent ideas for backing up drivers? I have my own computer running fine, which means I can google all her components and transfer the drivers across via USB, but in the past this has proven itself to be a massive pain in the arse. Is there perhaps a program which can detect all your non-windows drivers and then archive them into an installer file or something?
Thanks in advance. |
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| gmilf |
| they have online programs that detect all the drivers your computer needs and downloads them for you. If the virus is that aggressive I wouldn't chance saving anything. |
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| Zyklon_Jay |
| ahh pc...how i do not miss you. |
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| FuzzQi |
| I'd use the manufacturer's driver cd, even if it came with bloatware, and then just remove the bloatware after the fact. |
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| PatMcGroin |
| just grab the model number off the dell find it on their website and they should have every single driver right there. |
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| Sushipunk |
| quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
My girlfriend's computer has contracted an extremely virulent rootkit virus which has proven next to impossible to remove. Given that her machine is a Dell and came bundled with a whole lot of awful software which slows it down anyway, I thought it would just be easier to reformat the whole thing and start over.
Does anyone have any decent ideas for backing up drivers? I have my own computer running fine, which means I can google all her components and transfer the drivers across via USB, but in the past this has proven itself to be a massive pain in the arse. Is there perhaps a program which can detect all your non-windows drivers and then archive them into an installer file or something?
Thanks in advance. |
Operating system?
I'm going to assume that your gf's computer is a laptop, seeing as you're (both?) travelling.
Backing the drivers up on USB (may) end up being useless - With a clean install, the USB drivers may not be automatically loaded on her computer, which will prove to be a 'massive pain in the arse' as you put it. Had this happen to me a few years ago on a HP laptop, while 'downgrading' it to XP from Vista.
If it's Win7, install it (you have the serial code, right?), get net access, and do a full update of the system from the Microsoft site. It will take a while, but it's pretty comprehensive on IDing the drivers you need. |
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| Capitalizt |
| quote: | Originally posted by PatMcGroin
just grab the model number off the dell find it on their website and they should have every single driver right there. |
I recommend this. It will likely have newer versions of the drivers than currently installed, so it will run smoother afterward anyway.
If you prefer a quick solution to just back up her current drivers, try this. http://www.drivermax.com/index.htm |
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| Jarvmeister |
This is all you need:
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/index.aspx
Makes no difference it's the Euro site, take the TAG number, normally located on the underside of a Dell laptop, it's 7 characters (alphanumeric) and enter it to get a list of drivers for your laptop.
Install chipset drivers before you install any others. |
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| Domesticated |
| Thanks for the advice, all. |
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| KilldaDJ |
all you need is this :
http://www.devicedoctor.com/
and internet connection
dont around with all that registration shareware , this will get the drivers you need. |
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| Ian |
| quote: | Originally posted by clay
get a mac. or atleast a linux distro or something. windows is so 90s. ing people put up with. |
I'm on my brothers housemates mac and I can still see you, so that's still some I'm putting up with :p |
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| Jarvmeister |
| quote: | Originally posted by KilldaDJ
all you need is this :
http://www.devicedoctor.com/
and internet connection
dont around with all that registration shareware , this will get the drivers you need. |
I've always been dubious of applications like this, but, if you have to use something like this, make sure you have network card drivers first from the link I posted.
However, there's no substitute for getting all the latest drivers direct from the manufacturers site. |
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