How to get a list of drivers deployed with Windows operating systems
I need to create a tool that identifies drivers installed apart from the original installation and updates of a Windows operating system.
There are various tools that can be used to interrogate an installed operating system and even an offline Windows image. However, I was wondering if this information is available in other ways that would mean not having to install each of the operating systems of interest, then check again following releases of hotfixes etc. Some online catalog perhaps.
At first glance, Microsoft Update Catalog looks like the kind of thing I'm thinking of, but it does not to appear to support searching for all drivers of a given operating system. https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Faq.aspx
windows drivers
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
|
show 9 more comments
I need to create a tool that identifies drivers installed apart from the original installation and updates of a Windows operating system.
There are various tools that can be used to interrogate an installed operating system and even an offline Windows image. However, I was wondering if this information is available in other ways that would mean not having to install each of the operating systems of interest, then check again following releases of hotfixes etc. Some online catalog perhaps.
At first glance, Microsoft Update Catalog looks like the kind of thing I'm thinking of, but it does not to appear to support searching for all drivers of a given operating system. https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Faq.aspx
windows drivers
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
Given that Windows updates itself and its drivers automatically during installation based on what is installed in the system it is going to be difficult to get a definitive list that isn't in constant flux. Drivers can be updated and uploaded to Microsoft update systems at any time.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 15:40
There are numerous third-party tools that will generate a list of drivers that are currently installed, but if you are trying to streamline your installation process, your best bet to simplify the process is to add those drivers to your installation image.
– Ramhound
Dec 6 '18 at 15:43
In short, there are no shortcuts to the information.
– harrymc
Dec 6 '18 at 15:44
@Mokubai Indeed, this is the problem. The tool I need to create is to help with migration of applications from legacy operating systems and I need to suggest third-party drivers on which the application might be dependent.
– fractor
Dec 6 '18 at 15:46
1
Then there is potentially an XY problem here and you are attacking it from the wrong direction. If you ask what drivers are required for a particular program to work with a specific device we might actually be able to help. That would be a new question though.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 17:11
|
show 9 more comments
I need to create a tool that identifies drivers installed apart from the original installation and updates of a Windows operating system.
There are various tools that can be used to interrogate an installed operating system and even an offline Windows image. However, I was wondering if this information is available in other ways that would mean not having to install each of the operating systems of interest, then check again following releases of hotfixes etc. Some online catalog perhaps.
At first glance, Microsoft Update Catalog looks like the kind of thing I'm thinking of, but it does not to appear to support searching for all drivers of a given operating system. https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Faq.aspx
windows drivers
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
I need to create a tool that identifies drivers installed apart from the original installation and updates of a Windows operating system.
There are various tools that can be used to interrogate an installed operating system and even an offline Windows image. However, I was wondering if this information is available in other ways that would mean not having to install each of the operating systems of interest, then check again following releases of hotfixes etc. Some online catalog perhaps.
At first glance, Microsoft Update Catalog looks like the kind of thing I'm thinking of, but it does not to appear to support searching for all drivers of a given operating system. https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Faq.aspx
windows drivers
windows drivers
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
edited Dec 6 '18 at 17:05
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
asked Dec 6 '18 at 15:36
fractor
1215
1215
Given that Windows updates itself and its drivers automatically during installation based on what is installed in the system it is going to be difficult to get a definitive list that isn't in constant flux. Drivers can be updated and uploaded to Microsoft update systems at any time.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 15:40
There are numerous third-party tools that will generate a list of drivers that are currently installed, but if you are trying to streamline your installation process, your best bet to simplify the process is to add those drivers to your installation image.
– Ramhound
Dec 6 '18 at 15:43
In short, there are no shortcuts to the information.
– harrymc
Dec 6 '18 at 15:44
@Mokubai Indeed, this is the problem. The tool I need to create is to help with migration of applications from legacy operating systems and I need to suggest third-party drivers on which the application might be dependent.
– fractor
Dec 6 '18 at 15:46
1
Then there is potentially an XY problem here and you are attacking it from the wrong direction. If you ask what drivers are required for a particular program to work with a specific device we might actually be able to help. That would be a new question though.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 17:11
|
show 9 more comments
Given that Windows updates itself and its drivers automatically during installation based on what is installed in the system it is going to be difficult to get a definitive list that isn't in constant flux. Drivers can be updated and uploaded to Microsoft update systems at any time.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 15:40
There are numerous third-party tools that will generate a list of drivers that are currently installed, but if you are trying to streamline your installation process, your best bet to simplify the process is to add those drivers to your installation image.
– Ramhound
Dec 6 '18 at 15:43
In short, there are no shortcuts to the information.
– harrymc
Dec 6 '18 at 15:44
@Mokubai Indeed, this is the problem. The tool I need to create is to help with migration of applications from legacy operating systems and I need to suggest third-party drivers on which the application might be dependent.
– fractor
Dec 6 '18 at 15:46
1
Then there is potentially an XY problem here and you are attacking it from the wrong direction. If you ask what drivers are required for a particular program to work with a specific device we might actually be able to help. That would be a new question though.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 17:11
Given that Windows updates itself and its drivers automatically during installation based on what is installed in the system it is going to be difficult to get a definitive list that isn't in constant flux. Drivers can be updated and uploaded to Microsoft update systems at any time.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 15:40
Given that Windows updates itself and its drivers automatically during installation based on what is installed in the system it is going to be difficult to get a definitive list that isn't in constant flux. Drivers can be updated and uploaded to Microsoft update systems at any time.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 15:40
There are numerous third-party tools that will generate a list of drivers that are currently installed, but if you are trying to streamline your installation process, your best bet to simplify the process is to add those drivers to your installation image.
– Ramhound
Dec 6 '18 at 15:43
There are numerous third-party tools that will generate a list of drivers that are currently installed, but if you are trying to streamline your installation process, your best bet to simplify the process is to add those drivers to your installation image.
– Ramhound
Dec 6 '18 at 15:43
In short, there are no shortcuts to the information.
– harrymc
Dec 6 '18 at 15:44
In short, there are no shortcuts to the information.
– harrymc
Dec 6 '18 at 15:44
@Mokubai Indeed, this is the problem. The tool I need to create is to help with migration of applications from legacy operating systems and I need to suggest third-party drivers on which the application might be dependent.
– fractor
Dec 6 '18 at 15:46
@Mokubai Indeed, this is the problem. The tool I need to create is to help with migration of applications from legacy operating systems and I need to suggest third-party drivers on which the application might be dependent.
– fractor
Dec 6 '18 at 15:46
1
1
Then there is potentially an XY problem here and you are attacking it from the wrong direction. If you ask what drivers are required for a particular program to work with a specific device we might actually be able to help. That would be a new question though.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 17:11
Then there is potentially an XY problem here and you are attacking it from the wrong direction. If you ask what drivers are required for a particular program to work with a specific device we might actually be able to help. That would be a new question though.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 17:11
|
show 9 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Negative answer : There are no databases listing which drivers will be installed
for which configuration.
The number of possible combinations of hardware devices and drivers,
both Windows-generic and third-party, is simply too large and is besides
in constant evolution.
Windows installs according to the hardware it knows about at the moment,
but this decision may change in the future.
And it's not immune from making the wrong decision
(as is found in various posts on this site).
Windows never guarantees hardware support, just does the best job it can.
In many cases human intervention is required to correct the situation.
The field of hardware versus drivers is just too disorderly for any database.
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
add a comment |
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votes
Negative answer : There are no databases listing which drivers will be installed
for which configuration.
The number of possible combinations of hardware devices and drivers,
both Windows-generic and third-party, is simply too large and is besides
in constant evolution.
Windows installs according to the hardware it knows about at the moment,
but this decision may change in the future.
And it's not immune from making the wrong decision
(as is found in various posts on this site).
Windows never guarantees hardware support, just does the best job it can.
In many cases human intervention is required to correct the situation.
The field of hardware versus drivers is just too disorderly for any database.
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
add a comment |
Negative answer : There are no databases listing which drivers will be installed
for which configuration.
The number of possible combinations of hardware devices and drivers,
both Windows-generic and third-party, is simply too large and is besides
in constant evolution.
Windows installs according to the hardware it knows about at the moment,
but this decision may change in the future.
And it's not immune from making the wrong decision
(as is found in various posts on this site).
Windows never guarantees hardware support, just does the best job it can.
In many cases human intervention is required to correct the situation.
The field of hardware versus drivers is just too disorderly for any database.
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
add a comment |
Negative answer : There are no databases listing which drivers will be installed
for which configuration.
The number of possible combinations of hardware devices and drivers,
both Windows-generic and third-party, is simply too large and is besides
in constant evolution.
Windows installs according to the hardware it knows about at the moment,
but this decision may change in the future.
And it's not immune from making the wrong decision
(as is found in various posts on this site).
Windows never guarantees hardware support, just does the best job it can.
In many cases human intervention is required to correct the situation.
The field of hardware versus drivers is just too disorderly for any database.
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
Negative answer : There are no databases listing which drivers will be installed
for which configuration.
The number of possible combinations of hardware devices and drivers,
both Windows-generic and third-party, is simply too large and is besides
in constant evolution.
Windows installs according to the hardware it knows about at the moment,
but this decision may change in the future.
And it's not immune from making the wrong decision
(as is found in various posts on this site).
Windows never guarantees hardware support, just does the best job it can.
In many cases human intervention is required to correct the situation.
The field of hardware versus drivers is just too disorderly for any database.
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
answered Dec 6 '18 at 16:00
harrymc
253k12261563
253k12261563
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Given that Windows updates itself and its drivers automatically during installation based on what is installed in the system it is going to be difficult to get a definitive list that isn't in constant flux. Drivers can be updated and uploaded to Microsoft update systems at any time.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 15:40
There are numerous third-party tools that will generate a list of drivers that are currently installed, but if you are trying to streamline your installation process, your best bet to simplify the process is to add those drivers to your installation image.
– Ramhound
Dec 6 '18 at 15:43
In short, there are no shortcuts to the information.
– harrymc
Dec 6 '18 at 15:44
@Mokubai Indeed, this is the problem. The tool I need to create is to help with migration of applications from legacy operating systems and I need to suggest third-party drivers on which the application might be dependent.
– fractor
Dec 6 '18 at 15:46
1
Then there is potentially an XY problem here and you are attacking it from the wrong direction. If you ask what drivers are required for a particular program to work with a specific device we might actually be able to help. That would be a new question though.
– Mokubai♦
Dec 6 '18 at 17:11