Driver Repositories for Windows 95 Users? 39
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."
windrivers (Score:2, Informative)
Re:windrivers (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:windrivers (Score:1)
driverguide requires registration, but it's only a way to get your personal details. I did it once and what did I get for a username and password?
Username:drivers Password:all
And happy driver hunting. I know how frustrating that can be. Sometimes the problem is when the manufacturer does not support the product any longer. I had a Voodoo Rush 3d card with TV Out that I had to replace because all the drivers I could get had the same problem. When playing DVD/VCD/Divx the picture was corrupted (some overlay problems). Not a nice thing to have when I was building a box to watch movies on the TV.
Why? (Score:1)
You're so right (Score:1)
Re:You're so right (Score:1)
Re:You're so right (Score:1)
Re:You're so right (Score:1)
You may want to try... (Score:4, Interesting)
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!
Here's the answer (Score:1, Troll)
Thousands and thousands of drivers.... and the site is easily found using Google. I swear, you'd think people "smart" enough to read slashdot would be smart enough to use a search engine. I guess I overestimate the intelligence of most people.
Drivers CD (Score:2, Interesting)
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 [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.
This may not help you but... (Score:1)
Win95+ modem init strings and drivers (Score:2)
"Disparate" modems, eh?
um... (Score:2)
I know it's hard, but just stop being a jackass and giving people win95 machines. If people can quit smoking, you can surely quit this atrocious act.
Re:Presenting ... (Score:2)
Packard Bell Modem (Score:4, Informative)
I used to goto windrivers.com(when they were free) maybe they would be willing to help you out since this seems to be charitable work but who knows.
Re:Packard Bell Modem (Score:1)
I had a girlfriend ( boy could she screw) who had one of those Packard Bells. It freaking sucked.
Re:Packard Bell Modem (Score:1)
Now I've heard everything.
Re:Packard Bell Modem (Score:1)
Re:Packard Bell Modem (Score:1)
Re:Packard Bell Modem (Score:1)
Re:Packard Bell Modem (Score:1)
The one I have basically an Aztech Sound Galaxy Washington 16 with a Rockwell-chipset 14.4 modem grafted on top of it. Linux, with some isapnptools magic, always recognized it fine as a standard serial port and sound with the usual SB driver (iirc). I think once when I was bored I even managed to enable the IDE port on there and with a hacked-up IDE module (this was in 2.0.x) I got a third hard drive connected through it. Win95 worked fine with standard modem and a driver from Aztech somewhere. FaxWorks Voice was a beast though, crashed so many times I just ended up ripping it out.
Of course that modem fried years ago (Florida lightning), and my current machines are ISA- and modem-free.
My advice... (Score:3, Informative)
www.driverguide.com [driverguide.com] is always a good place to look. Get used to yanking the card, looking for the ID on any chips, and then searching for that chip's drivers. Also check out www.google.com [google.com] and groups.google.com [google.com] for other excellent places to search.
When you download the drivers, have a network share (or directory) with this file structure: /drivers/type[video,sound,modem,network]/manufactu rer/model/OS. Then, if you keep seeing the same type of card (not uncommon when you realize the machines you are refurbishing tend to come from a specific local manufacturer[s] who use the same hardware in each of their machines) you don't have to redownload it. And you can always burn /drivers/ onto a few CD's if your driver collection gets large enough to be useful.
Re:My advice... (Score:3, Insightful)
Usually what I do is figure out who made the device (If there's no manufacturers name you can look up the FCC ID at www.fcc.gov) and go to the manufacturers homepage. Most of them have drivers downloadable for just about everything they ever made.
And what really pisses me off most; if it weren't for places like driversguide.com and windrivers.com, the MANUFACTURERS site with the FREE drivers would probably be a whole heap easier to find via google!!
Re:My advice... (Score:1)
OTOH their advertising partners 'flycast' will be tracking your every keyclick. No thanks, I'll just stick with getting drivers directly from the manufacturers sites thanks!
I just felt I'd better mention this correction and save anyone else the bother of flaming me..
Re:My advice... (Score:1)
windows 98 (Score:1)
I was gong to make a repository.... (Score:1, Interesting)
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/
refurbishing... (Score:4, Insightful)
You should probably just throw them out, and put in more modern (but dirt cheap) stuff. Then you can stack those weird devices up in piles, waiting untill you have at least a dozen of a given type. At that time, you may invest time in finding a driver. By working this way, you can also use time to your advantage. Instead of you using your time to find those old drivers, write a letter to the manufacturer, and ask them to dig up the old drivers.
driversguide.com with login (Score:1)
For login, use: drivers. and password: all.
Re:driversguide.com with login (Score:1)
MWave.... (Score:1)