Apparently, there is no need to say that most users know that for the correct operation of absolutely everything installed on a computer, equipment in the form of "iron" components and some virtual devices, special software called drivers is required. However, quite often there are questions 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 exactthe location of the driver for a particular device can be found quite often.
Some users claim that the main directory is the System32 directory in the root folder of the system, others believe that the storage location for the control software is the drivers subdirectory of System32 or the DriverStore folder. Who is right? Both are right, because, depending on the type of the driver itself (SYS, VXD, DRV, etc.), the location of the location of the files may vary.
How to determine the exact location of the driver?
Now let's try to find out where the drivers are in Windows 7 by determining their exact location on the disk in the system partition. To do this, it is completely optional to “dig” the specified folders manually. In addition, when searching by device name, you are unlikely to find a driver corresponding to it.
The easiest way is to use the standard "Device Manager", select the desired device, go to the properties item through the RMB menu and click the details button on the driver tab. After that, a special window will be displayed, which will show all absolute (full) paths to the directory in which they are located.
Where are the drivers in Windows 7 for updating?
However, knowing the exact location of the control software may not be enough to update it. Many users rely solely on tools when trying to install updates.the operating system itself. In general, that's right. However, in this situation, you should remember that when you set the search for the required driver, Windows first of all refers to scanning already installed components.
If the search for updated drivers is set on the network (Internet), only Microsoft databases are accessed, and drivers are installed, either digitally signed by the corporation, or software from those manufacturers for which support is declared. 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 corresponding programs access only the Internet sites of equipment manufacturers and developers of such software, after which they install updated components without user intervention.
Where do drivers get downloaded manually?
Finally, let's see where the drivers are in Windows 7 for cases where the user has found and downloaded them himself. Usually, in browsers that are installed in all recent versions of Windows, the Downloads directory is assigned by default to save downloads, and the presence of such folders is provided for all accounts registered in the system. If your browser is always prompted to save downloadable content, you can specify the folder yourself. As a rule, EXE or INF files are available for download.
BIn the first case, the driver and related software are installed by launching the applet as an administrator, in the second case, through the RMB menu with the installation item selected. If the system reports that this type of action is not supported, the update can be made through the "Device Manager" by indicating with the browse button where the INF file was saved.
