ok i need to learn a bit more about computers and wondered if you could help
I sometimes get a computer that they want reinstalled to clear out any bugs and crap
so i get a computer that running and working to varing degrees & most of the time they will not give you any manufacturers disks with drivers ect

is there a way of copying all the drivers? is there anything that i could do to make it a better new install .... is there a specific routine you do?

or should i just bumble through as usual

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"If your going to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."- Winston Churchill
three and a half foot long??? dude, it could have swallowed you whole! 3jorn=GCHQ=

I'll attempt to write down what i usually do.

Before reinstalling i do this.

1. Find out if the computer has a model name/number.

2. Use a program to find out a detailed system spec. (Note down important items e.g. gfx card, motherboard model/name.)

3. Check if the computer has any hardware installed that did not originally come with the box. (E.g. TV Cards.)

4. Back-up any data required. (I always ask).

5. Then download the drivers and put them on some removable media e.g. a pen drive or if you want just the NIC driver as normally after an reinstall the NIC will not be installed and its hassle to download the drivers etc from another computer.

Then Reinstall Windows as you usually do.

After the installation i normally.

1. Install the NIC driver first, then download and install all the drivers i've noted down. (From the previous steps)

2. Restore the data. (If any)

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I would avoid trying to copy over drivers as some of the drivers could be outdated, its best just to go with the latest manufacturers release, it will prevent problems.

You can buy DVD's with loads of drivers on them but they can be dodge and are best avoided, who knows what could be on them.

If you seem to be getting the same computer through a lot e.g. same hardware and model. You could create an unattended installation CD which could have all the drivers on etc. but that depends on what your getting really.

Bumbling through seems the best option if most of the computers you get are different.

Hope that helps.

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Just ownage.

thanks very muck .... whats a nic .........lol

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"If your going to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."- Winston Churchill
three and a half foot long??? dude, it could have swallowed you whole! 3jorn=GCHQ=

i c NIC driver for the broadband so i can d/l anything after that
many thanks

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"If your going to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."- Winston Churchill
three and a half foot long??? dude, it could have swallowed you whole! 3jorn=GCHQ=

NIC = Network Interface Card.

Steaths routine is almost exactly the same as mine incidentally. What does that tell you?

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Don't worry Sony, I'll just cancel my date of birth and get a new one.

If u get no driver disks u could just use a free program called DriverMax b4 u do a clean install, it will copy all the drivers currently used on the system and then u can stick it onto removable media, it will do MS drivers, non MS drivers or both then just do a clean install stick on DriverMax and copy all the drivers back over, ive used it b4 and it took 5 mins to copy the drivers and 5 mins to put back on and all worked fine, it also has a driver update feature that can update any drivers u have without u needing to go looking for them

Heres a link to the new version i tried 3.0 and it was fine i assume the new one should be just as good its also free

http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/

Oh btw this is only for drivers u will still need to back up any pics, music movies or other data they want to keep seperately

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What does that tell?

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Just ownage.

thank you all very much for your help

_________________

"If your going to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."- Winston Churchill
three and a half foot long??? dude, it could have swallowed you whole! 3jorn=GCHQ=