fsilva79
asked on
I lost the default drivers list of Windwos Vista Home Premium
Ok, my problem is this:
For some reason I lost the default drivers or at least the LIST of the default drivers of Windows Vista Home Premium.
So now, everytime I connect a new device to my computer windows prompts for me to install the drivers form a CD, now, this kind of equipment (printers keyboards, mouse) they donot come with drivers for VISTA because they say Vista already have the drivers in it.
That I should only select the drivers from the windows drivers list.
BUT windows tells me that it has NO drivers, not even a few, now, please don't get me wrong, I am no beginner here, and I am not requesting a driver that windows did not have by default. A month ago, all this equipment had been working correclty, but the I install a new device and somehow this device erase some file (i am assuming original windows drivers list), this devices did not work correctly so I uninstall it. But after that day, now whenever I connect my printer o any other kind of device I get promted by Vista and asking for the drivers. again.. eventhoug Windows Vista used to have them by default.
So my quesion is: HOW can I reinstall this drivers or how can I restore this default drivers list onto Vista?
I am looking for an answer that does not require OS re-installation.
I thank you all for your time and effort.
For some reason I lost the default drivers or at least the LIST of the default drivers of Windows Vista Home Premium.
So now, everytime I connect a new device to my computer windows prompts for me to install the drivers form a CD, now, this kind of equipment (printers keyboards, mouse) they donot come with drivers for VISTA because they say Vista already have the drivers in it.
That I should only select the drivers from the windows drivers list.
BUT windows tells me that it has NO drivers, not even a few, now, please don't get me wrong, I am no beginner here, and I am not requesting a driver that windows did not have by default. A month ago, all this equipment had been working correclty, but the I install a new device and somehow this device erase some file (i am assuming original windows drivers list), this devices did not work correctly so I uninstall it. But after that day, now whenever I connect my printer o any other kind of device I get promted by Vista and asking for the drivers. again.. eventhoug Windows Vista used to have them by default.
So my quesion is: HOW can I reinstall this drivers or how can I restore this default drivers list onto Vista?
I am looking for an answer that does not require OS re-installation.
I thank you all for your time and effort.
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If that still does not work try system restore
ASKER
thanks for your comment f-king, but system restore screw more things thant what it actually restores, hahaha.
vallis:
I did as you mentioned
sfc /scannow (dont miss the space before the /)
It finished saing that there were some corrupted files but windows couln't correct the problems.
So I am stuck at the same point.
Now, my computer is a Gateway and does NOT come with the Vista DVD. only a restore partition. but the options to restore is WIPE OUT the hard drive.
So basically I am screwed.
Any other ideas?
vallis:
I did as you mentioned
sfc /scannow (dont miss the space before the /)
It finished saing that there were some corrupted files but windows couln't correct the problems.
So I am stuck at the same point.
Now, my computer is a Gateway and does NOT come with the Vista DVD. only a restore partition. but the options to restore is WIPE OUT the hard drive.
So basically I am screwed.
Any other ideas?
Look in the registry (this is for XP, but Vista *should* be the same in this area...)
Do you see the following key?
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWAR
With the DevicePath Multi String Value on the right?
If it is empty, modify the value to show.....
%SystemRoot%\inf;%SystemDr
Do you see the following key?
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWAR
With the DevicePath Multi String Value on the right?
If it is empty, modify the value to show.....
%SystemRoot%\inf;%SystemDr
ASKER
johnb6767:
This folder is empty :(
This folder is empty :(
ASKER
I think it has to do with some file inside Windows\Inf\ or Windows\System32\ some file that has all the information about WHICH drivers windows comes with.
Here is an example
When I try to setup a printer, the manual says that I must add the printer from the control panel, and that I must select HP 3520 from the Windows multiple options. but my windows list is empty, no printers at all. Now. let me clear this up, if don't connect your printer and try to install a new pinter windows should show up the WHOLE list of available drivers, so you can choose from. but my list is empty, this means windows dows NOT have this list or ii has been emptied.
Then I have two buttons one is for Windows Update, and the other for Use Disk, now, since this was a printer that works with windows drivers, HP does NOT provide drivers for this VISTA. so I don´t have a Drivers Disck. so I click in Windows Update, and after a minute, it shows a few drivers, those drivers taht micrososft has develop after VISTA release. and guess what? I am still screwed because my driver (or compatible one) does not appear in the list. :(
Even if I manage to find the driver for the printer, that would be solving the tip of the problem, and not the root. That is why I am looking to restore this driver list, maybe is a file, may be are some files.
Here is an example
When I try to setup a printer, the manual says that I must add the printer from the control panel, and that I must select HP 3520 from the Windows multiple options. but my windows list is empty, no printers at all. Now. let me clear this up, if don't connect your printer and try to install a new pinter windows should show up the WHOLE list of available drivers, so you can choose from. but my list is empty, this means windows dows NOT have this list or ii has been emptied.
Then I have two buttons one is for Windows Update, and the other for Use Disk, now, since this was a printer that works with windows drivers, HP does NOT provide drivers for this VISTA. so I don´t have a Drivers Disck. so I click in Windows Update, and after a minute, it shows a few drivers, those drivers taht micrososft has develop after VISTA release. and guess what? I am still screwed because my driver (or compatible one) does not appear in the list. :(
Even if I manage to find the driver for the printer, that would be solving the tip of the problem, and not the root. That is why I am looking to restore this driver list, maybe is a file, may be are some files.
Thats exactly why it is empty, as those default drivers are gone...
Do you have any friends with the same version of Vista? simply use a thumb drive to copy them back.....
I would call Gateway to see if they have an app that will create a recovery DVD to extract those files from....
In XP, they are stored in a few cab files....
OEM.cab
Driver.Cab <~~Printer drivers are here...
SP2.cab
Located here...
C:\windows\Driver Cache\i386
Might extract each of these to thier own folder, and then copy all of the .INF files to the C:\Windows\INF directory, and see if the choices appear again....
Kind of a longshot though....
Do you have any friends with the same version of Vista? simply use a thumb drive to copy them back.....
I would call Gateway to see if they have an app that will create a recovery DVD to extract those files from....
In XP, they are stored in a few cab files....
OEM.cab
Driver.Cab <~~Printer drivers are here...
SP2.cab
Located here...
C:\windows\Driver Cache\i386
Might extract each of these to thier own folder, and then copy all of the .INF files to the C:\Windows\INF directory, and see if the choices appear again....
Kind of a longshot though....
ASKER
vallis:
Before everything I want to thank you sincerelly.
I am grading this as B not because of a bad help, not at all, but because sadly windows vista sucks and there is no "A" solution :( to the problem I have.
So I had to do the Upgrade thing wchich actually cost me the whole day :( because AGAIN VISTA SUCKS and took over 4 hrs in a Dual Core 3.0Ghz. with 2GB computer
I could not beleive how much time this thing took, probably it would be faster to do a clean install.
Anyway. I sincererlly thank you.
And please, let me re-assure to everyone... Windows Vista SUCKS BIG TIME.
Sadly my PC came with it pre-installed.
Before everything I want to thank you sincerelly.
I am grading this as B not because of a bad help, not at all, but because sadly windows vista sucks and there is no "A" solution :( to the problem I have.
So I had to do the Upgrade thing wchich actually cost me the whole day :( because AGAIN VISTA SUCKS and took over 4 hrs in a Dual Core 3.0Ghz. with 2GB computer
I could not beleive how much time this thing took, probably it would be faster to do a clean install.
Anyway. I sincererlly thank you.
And please, let me re-assure to everyone... Windows Vista SUCKS BIG TIME.
Sadly my PC came with it pre-installed.
I'm running Vista on both my PCs. Initially I had some issues, but with all current updates installed I have no more problems than I had with XP.
There's a bit of a learning curve and some things were fixed that weren't broken but when I've gone back to XP I've missed Vista.
One thing that you could do which you'd be thankful for is to invest a few dollars in imaging software. When you have Vista set up and running - make an image. If you have any sort of future problem which isn't easily fixed, restore your image and you're back in business.
I use Acronis True Image which has received the top reviews for some time.
Some info here:
http://mistywindow.net/?p=7
http://mistywindow.net/?p=18
http://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
Some experts here highly recommend BootIt NG, it's a bit "geekier" than Acronis, but cheaper.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html
There's a bit of a learning curve and some things were fixed that weren't broken but when I've gone back to XP I've missed Vista.
One thing that you could do which you'd be thankful for is to invest a few dollars in imaging software. When you have Vista set up and running - make an image. If you have any sort of future problem which isn't easily fixed, restore your image and you're back in business.
I use Acronis True Image which has received the top reviews for some time.
Some info here:
http://mistywindow.net/?p=7
http://mistywindow.net/?p=18
http://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
Some experts here highly recommend BootIt NG, it's a bit "geekier" than Acronis, but cheaper.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html
ASKER