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Driver Repositories for Windows 95 Users?

Posted by Cliff on from the you-might-not-be-able-to-find-these-in-2-years dept.

musselm asks: "I've begun working with a PC-refurbishing operation which provides Win95 machines to folks in need. The most time-consuming part is tracking down drivers for disparate modems and other devices. Does anyone have a solution to this problem? I have a dream of a few CDs with every possible driver for every possible device, but of course that's silly. Thanks for the help."

4 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. You may want to try... by thecampbeln · · Score: 4, Interesting
    ...a friendly local computer dealer. One of the white-box shops (ie- they build their own). We have one where I'm at that has drivers for all of the stuff he's sold over the years simply for his own support. So if an old customer comes in and needs their system reformatted, he can re-install the components he sold them over the years.

    Especially since you're a 'good cause' it shouldn't be too hard to talk one of the local shops into it! Offer a 'special thank to' on your site or fliers... you may even get more then drivers out of them =)

    Good luck!

    --
    "1984" was ment to be a warning, not a guidebook. You hear that Kim Jong-il!? BushCo?!
  2. Re:windrivers by rilian4 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    driverguide.com

    --

    ...quicker, easier, more seductive the darkside is...but more powerful, it is not.
  3. Drivers CD by hound3000 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In my business I typically go out to people's houses and fix their computers on site. In rare instances, I have to reformat their drives and reinstall Windows. Finally, after all these years, people generally know to keep their Windows CD handy, but all the other stuff such as modem, and video drivers are no where to be found. When they have Windows 98 or later my life is much easier, but even with W98, it almost never has the drivers for two things the video and the modem.

    I now have a CD full of drivers for all of the most common devices I come across. This was built with the help of driverguide.com on the modem drivers section, and from various other manufactuer websites for the video. A collection of all drivers ever made is impossible, but one that has the drivers of most devices you run into is not. Just be sure to come up with a organizational system to put the drivers in any time you have to hunt one down for a new exotic device, and in a few short months driver hunting will be more a diversion than the norm.

    Once you are done collecting your drivers, you can then invest time in organizing 2-3 CDs full of Windows Updates and bug fixes so that you are not sending virus prone machines out to be wrecked by some script kiddie.

  4. I was gong to make a repository.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    ExcelAnd I have the code to run one. It was gonig to be public, with a list of links to where the drivers were available from, or optionally have it on my web sevrer. However, I didn't like the first option because over time, the companies that supply drivers for their products either remove the drivr or go offline completely. The second one introduced licencing issues on redistribution. *shrug*

    How many times have you found an odd network card, or even your mobo BIOS, and never been able to find the manufacturer. There are sites that *list* the manufacturer, but dont have the driver. If only drivers could all be freely redistributed, then I'd probably go ahead with my site.... anyone got any suggestions/