What is it like to put new drivers in when you do a fresh install of Windows?
What is it like to put new drivers in when you do a fresh install of Windows?
I have a question. A long time ago, I did a "fresh install" of Windows 11 ( keeping all my files but deleting all drivers). Later, I downloaded GPU drivers, ran windows updates, etc. Should I also install some specific drivers manually (like chipset drivers) or should Windows Update take care of that? I don't know anything about this stuff and I want to make sure I do not mess up anything. How can I check if my hardware is current with the latest drivers? My motherboard is Asus ROG Strix B760G GAMING DDR4 (I checked the website for drivers but it looks like magic, idk which ones to pick). From Asus, I only install Armoury Crate and get updates from that app.
Win Update only takes care of the OS and doesn't cover dedicated hardware drivers. You have to install things like GPU drivers, MoBo (motherboard) drivers, SSDs, KBs, mice, and other accessories on your own. The OS comes with basic built-in drivers that let you get your system working, like display drivers so your screen shows up from the graphics card. It also has peripheral drivers so that keyboards and mice actually work. Checking each piece of hardware software individually is the best way to make sure everything runs fine. For example, if you have Samsung SSDs, then Samsung Magician tells you if it needs an update or what firmware version your drives need. When dealing with peripherals like Corsair items (KB/mice), you might need Corsair iCUE instead. If you use NZXT hardware like AIO units, you'd probably want to check NZXT CAM for the latest updates. For GPUs, either Nvidia Control Panel or HWinfo64 can show you what driver version is installed. Everything else basically works without a big deal, but the Utility tool is optional. When you download and run a driver installer, it usually tells you if you need to update anything or not.
Do you want to know exactly which file to get from every section on this website? I'm worried I might pick the wrong one and end up with something broken or useless. Could you help me out?
Usually after putting on Windows fresh, you open Device Manager and look at what hardware needs drivers. Then you just install the drivers for the things that are missing. Because you're using a motherboard with an Intel chipset, you can use the Intel Driver and Support Assistant to fix most driver issues. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...etect.html
Latest ones suffice; Under Chipset: Intel Serial IO Software v30.100.2417.30 for Windows 10/11 64-bit. Version 30.100.2417.30 4.7 MB 2024/09/24 Intel Management Engine Interface v2428.6.2.0 for Windows 10/11 64-bit. Version 2428.6.2.0 465.69 MB 2024/09/24 Intel Dynamic Tuning Technology (APO) Driver v2.2.10001.3 for Windows 10/11 64-bit. Version 2.2.10001.3 16.72 MB 2024/09/24 Intel Chipset driver v10.1.19913.8607 for Windows 10/11 64-bit. Version 10.1.19913.8607 7.16 MB 2024/09/24 For others (SATA, Bluetooth, Audio, VGA etc), there is only one which is latest. Other entries under same section are older versions. "Software & Utility" and "Utility" isn't needed for normal operation. Those are optional ones.