free driver detective

You can use something like DriverCure as well...if you need to find and install drivers.
http://www.drivercure.com/

I use these two to identify the components.

SIW http://www.gtopala.com/
Unknown Devices http://www.halfdone.org/ukd/

With the information returned you can then search for the device drivers you want.

Try this:
Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Information. Click on "components" and highlight "problem devices". Any hardware device with a driver problem will be listed here. Make a note of the PNP Device ID line of the entry. It will contain a Vendor number and a Device number (VEN. . . . DEV. . . .)
both four digits long.
Look up those numbers here:

http://www.pcidatabase.com/index.php

This will tell you the manufacturer and the chip number.  First try the manufacturer's website.  If no joy there, try a driver database like Driverguide:

http://www.driverguide.com/


These hardware diagnostics are free:

Belarc:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Siw:
http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html
If you have problems downloading, use the System Indformation proceedure in my post above to find out the manufacturer of the driverless chips...

Oops! The Author wanted something free...that's my fault.

It doesn't get any freer than Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Information!!!