Where can I store driver files so that Windows sees them when it 'searches automatically' for them?

Posted by qroberts on Super User See other posts from Super User or by qroberts
Published on 2011-11-14T15:12:31Z Indexed on 2011/11/14 17:56 UTC
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Filed under:

windows-7

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windows-xp

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drivers

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imaging

I am in the process of creating a few generic images and I have downloaded all the drivers for all the models of machines we use here. I can extract these drivers to any location but I am not sure where Windows looks when it is searching for drivers. Is there a driver store somewhere in Windows that it searches through?

These images will be created for: Windows XP, Windows 7 x86/x64

Are the locations different between Windows XP and Windows 7? Are they different if the OS is x64 based? I know Windows likes to differentiate 32/64bit software all over the place, not sure if they do the same with driver stores.

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