Drivers after reinstalling Windows
A clean Windows install typically leaves several devices without drivers: chipset components, the network adapter, sound, card readers. The right order matters - chipset first, then network, then everything else.
Quick checks first
1. Inventory the gaps
Device Manager → look at “Other devices”: every Unknown device there is missing a driver. Count them before starting - you'll check them off as you go.
2. Let Windows Update try first
If you have internet, run Windows Update including optional driver updates (Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates). It covers the common hardware; what remains is your manual list.
For every device still left without a driver, the next step is identification - each one carries a Hardware ID that maps to the exact driver, manually or in one automatic pass.
Fixing it manually
Install in the right order
- 1. Chipset drivers - the foundation; other devices may not identify correctly without them.
- 2. Network (Ethernet/Wi-Fi) - so everything else can be downloaded on this PC.
- 3. Graphics - full resolution and acceleration.
- 4. Audio, card readers, Bluetooth, and remaining unknown devices by Hardware ID.
Resolve each remaining unknown device
- For each entry under Other devices: Properties → Details → Hardware Ids → copy the first value.
- Search it in our database, install the matching driver, and watch the unknown-device list shrink.
Know the exact device model?
Search the driver database by device name, laptop model or Hardware ID - one device at a time, matching your Windows version and architecture.
Every unnamed device after a reinstall carries its Hardware ID - that's how you rebuild the system without the original driver discs. Laptop users: the vendor + laptop model in our search also surfaces model-specific packages (Dell, Lenovo).
Try for example: Intel Chipset Device Software · read the Hardware ID guide · or browse the driver category
Frequently asked questions
▸Do I need driver discs that came with the PC?
No - discs age badly anyway. Current drivers from official distribution (which is what our database indexes) are newer than anything printed years ago.
▸Do I have to look up every unknown device by hand?
Only on the manual route. The free scan identifies all the hardware installed on the PC in one pass and shows which drivers are missing - the usual choice right after a reinstall, when there are many gaps at once.