Necessity of Drivers and Software?

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weldorr

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Oct 23, 2013
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So I built my first PC in the last couple days, got it up and running, but I didn't buy any optical drive to reads cd's with, and I didn't realize how many components came with CD's included int he box with drivers and software to install. I thought all i had to do was install windows from a flash drive and get my GFX card drivers online. But now I have a CD for: my Wifi Card, Monitor, Motherboard, and for my GFX card, and no drive to put the CD's in. The links provided are the support pages where I assume I can just download everything that's on those CD's anyway. I've already downloaded and installed the driver version 331.58 for my GTX760.

My question is basically how much of these drivers and "software utilities" do I actually need to download/install on my PC?

I'm running windows 8.1 pro 64 bit. the monitor software I downloaded didn't have an option for windows 8.1, so I just chose windows 8 64 bit instead (same with the GTX driver), is this a problem at all?

When I try to run the setup for the D-link Wifi adapter, it says it can't run on this PC. When I look in the drivers folder, it only has folders for win. XP, win 7, and win vista. So I guess I can't install the drivers for this card? But I don't know if I need to or not because I'm already receiving my wifi and I'm using the internet perfectly fine.

As for the motherboard, it lists 11 different downloads under "drivers" and 6 different downloads under "utility". How much of this is necessary? My PC seems to be running completely fine so far (I've only had windows installed for like an hour or two)

I'm very uncomfortable with drivers and stuff like that, never really dealt with them much and don't really understand what they are or what they do. Thanks for reading and much appreciation.
 
Solution
smorizio
when you get your rig up and running look to use a program that free called slipstream. you can make a new windows iso image that you install your mb drivers into it then use the microsoft iso to usb tool to make the iso bootable on a usb stick.
for drivers download the intel or amd chipset drivers from your mb or intel or amd web page. put them on a usb stick. you need the ethernet drivers from the mb web page and the sound card drivers. on intel motherboards you also need the mei drivers and on some mb third party sata or usb drivers. you dont need anything under the optional software unless you like to see the bios in windows or the temps and voltages. a lot of that software to people is junk or spam.
the only think you need to do...
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Darren Kitchin

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Aug 22, 2013
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The differences between windows 7, 8 and 8.1 installers is very little and the only real difference is whether it's 64bit or 32bit - you have the right stuff ;)
Other drivers that will not install, please do try compatability options and run them for windows 7 and as an admin. I have drivers from Windows XP, that only worked on windows 7 or later AND if it is later they have to be run in Windows 7 compatability for them to install. (weird but unique)

The drivers you should worry about are Chipset Drivers, Sound Card, All NIC (network interface card), graphic card drivers. Pretty sure I covered all the important ones, anything else that might be a feature of your PC that you want to use (eg EPU's and green technology stuff.... *whispers* just turn that stuff off, it's about performance!)
 
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smorizio

smorizio

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Jan 22, 2010
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when you get your rig up and running look to use a program that free called slipstream. you can make a new windows iso image that you install your mb drivers into it then use the microsoft iso to usb tool to make the iso bootable on a usb stick.
for drivers download the intel or amd chipset drivers from your mb or intel or amd web page. put them on a usb stick. you need the ethernet drivers from the mb web page and the sound card drivers. on intel motherboards you also need the mei drivers and on some mb third party sata or usb drivers. you dont need anything under the optional software unless you like to see the bios in windows or the temps and voltages. a lot of that software to people is junk or spam.
the only think you need to do is look under bios files...see if you need to update the bios to fix a bug. like if your bios is rev 100 and they came out with 1.20 to add new cpu and ram code...be a good idea to update it. download the newest file and use the bios updater inside the bios.
 
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Solution
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weldorr

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Oct 23, 2013
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What do you mean by "try compatability options"? I tried running the setup.exe for the d-link drivers as administrator and it gives me a "Windows cannot find" error.

@smorizio, I already have my rig running. I made the OP and this post from my new rig. I assume the only reason you said to put the drivers on a flash drive is because you thought I didn't already have access to the internet from my new rig?? Because I don't see any point in putting the drivers on a flash drive if I can just download them straight to my hard drvie.
 
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weldorr

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Oct 23, 2013
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I tried running the program in compatability mode for every type of windows listed, from windows 95 all the way to windows 8, and I tried running all of them as administrator, and nothing changed. When I double click it still says "can't run on this PC", and when I run as admin it still says "windows cannot find C:/........setup.exe"
 
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Darren Kitchin

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Aug 22, 2013
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What Smorizio has said is how to do this, maybe hard to read it.

"Download Slipstream.

You can use it to make a new windows iso image that you extract your drivers into so from install it has them.

Use the microsoft iso to usb tool to make the iso bootable on a usb stick."

This way you are making your own windows installer pre packed with your drivers, I would ask for more advice on it from Smorizio.
 
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