Assembling a new rig without a DVD reader. Drivers are still needed.
Assembling a new rig without a DVD reader. Drivers are still needed.
Hello, your components for the new rig are arriving, including CDs/DVDs among the parts. I don’t plan to add a DVD reader to my setup. I’ll install the OS from a bootable USB drive as I have done before, but I’m curious—how should I handle the drivers? Since I’ve mainly used laptops up until now, downloading all the drivers from the manufacturer’s site was straightforward because they were consistent and well-organized. Will this be similar here? And are the drivers on the manufacturer’s site different from those included with the product? Thanks ahead of time.
Best regards, MMGA
Use your current PC to fetch the drivers from the sites and save them onto a USB drive.
Yes, certain programs or drivers might only come with the CD/DVD provided and not be found on the website.
Usually no. It’s better to get the newest drivers directly from the manufacturer’s site, since the ones on those CDs might be outdated. If you’re using Windows 7 or 8, the OS should usually find most drivers automatically, but it’s wise to download the latest versions beforehand. You can also use an external USB drive if you’re very cautious, though you probably won’t need it. The only possible content on a CD is free software packages, which might not always be available on the manufacturer’s site.
This wouldn't be ideal. It could lead to serious issues if used items are sold without discs. The only installation typically done via CD is the LAN driver, unless you plan to download additional content first.
Typically, CDs or DVDs come with bundled software like 90-day antivirus trials, which often aren't useful. Most of these offerings don’t add real value. Instead, I’d download the newest drivers from the manufacturer’s site and install them on a separate USB drive.