Apparently, there is no need to say that most users know that for the correct operation of absolutely everything installed on the computer, equipment in the form of “iron” components and some virtual devices, special software called drivers is required. However, quite often questions arise about, for example, where the printer driver is located in Windows 7 (as well as in other operating systems of this family) or some other device connected to the system when the control software needs to be integrated into the system manually. Let’s try to find out, taking into account some of the nuances associated with installing and updating such software components.
Where is the drivers folder in Windows 7 and other systems installed?
On various forums on the Internet, questions related to determining the exact location of the driver of a device can be found quite often.
Some users claim that the main directory is the System32 directory in the root folder of the system, while others believe that the control software is stored in the drivers directory in the System32 folder or in the DriverStore folder. Who is right? Both of them are right, because, depending on the type of driver itself (SYS, VXD, DRV, etc.), the location of the location of the files may change.
How to determine the exact location of the driver?
Now let's try to find out where the drivers are located in Windows 7 with determining their exact location on the disk in the system partition. To do this, it is completely optional to manually “dig through” the specified folders. In addition, when you search by device name, you are unlikely to find a driver matching it.
The easiest way is to use the standard "Device Manager", select the desired device, through the PCM menu, go to the properties item and click the details button on the driver tab. After that, a special window will be displayed in which all absolute (full) paths to the directory in which they are located will be shown.
Where are the drivers in Windows 7 for updates?
However, knowing the exact location of the management software is not enough to update it. Many users when trying to install updates rely solely on the means of the operating system itself. In the general case, it is true. However, in this situation, it should be remembered that when specifying the search for the necessary driver, Windows first of all refers to scanning already installed components.
If the search for updated drivers on the network (Internet) is specified, only Microsoft databases are accessed, and drivers are installed that either have the digital signature of the corporation or the software of those manufacturers for which support is claimed. In this situation, it is better to use automated applications. But where are the drivers in Windows 7 that can be updated? Unfortunately, they are not in the system. But the relevant programs refer exclusively to the websites of equipment manufacturers and developers of such software, after which they install updated components without user intervention.
Where do drivers load when manually downloading?
Finally, let's see where the drivers are in Windows 7 for cases where the user found and downloaded them on their own. Typically, in browsers that are installed in all recent versions of Windows, the “Downloads” directory is assigned as a folder for saving downloads by default, and such folders are provided for all accounts registered in the system. If the browser is enabled to constantly issue a request to save the downloaded content, you can specify the folder yourself. Typically, EXE or INF file formats are available for download.
In the first case, the driver and related software are installed by launching the applet on behalf of the administrator, in the second - through the PCM menu with the installation item selected. If the system reports that this type of action is not supported, the update can be done through the “Device Manager”, indicating the browse button where the INF file was saved.