What is the best way to install laptop drivers after clean windows installation?

What about drivers? especially on OEM pc's and laptops.
What is the best way to install laptop drivers after clean windows installation?
Nowadays windows install all drivers automatically during or right after the windows installation or first boot up (when laptop/pc is connected to internet).
So there is two ways to install laptop manufacturer drivers and I want to make sure which one is the best.

1. Disconnect internet connection before windows setup to prevent automatic driver installation by windows.
So after the first boot up there will be no drivers and I can manually install manufacturer drivers from USB. After that connect to the internet and update rest of the drivers through windows update.

2. Install windows with internet connection, after the first boot up let windows do the work (let windows install all the drivers and updates) and after that download all manufacturer drivers and install them on top of already installed drivers.

It's not possible to generalize for all laptops as each manufacturer may offer different software.

For example it's easy to install drivers on HP laptops by using HP software.

It will find drivers and BIOS and perform upgrades making it very easy for the end user.

In contrast Asus and Acer may have no software and have to upgrade each driver manually.


The best tested drivers are displayed on the ASUS website.

After you've installed all applicable drivers on the ASUS website you can perform Windows updates.

In addition you can open the component manufacturer websites to find updates.


A Windows 10 iso may not just have Microsoft default drivers for installation.

When a clean install is performed without connecting to the internet you may find that a third party driver is already installed.

These drivers are then updated as needed with the drivers on the motherboard or component manufacturer websites.

You might want to create images/backups of your OS at points, before, after and take notes along the way.

MartinX2 said:

What about drivers? especially on OEM pc's and laptops.
What is the best way to install laptop drivers after clean windows installation?
Nowadays windows install all drivers automatically during or right after the windows installation or first boot up (when laptop/pc is connected to internet).
So there is two ways to install laptop manufacturer drivers and I want to make sure which one is the best.

1. Disconnect internet connection before windows setup to prevent automatic driver installation by windows.
So after the first boot up there will be no drivers and I can manually install manufacturer drivers from USB. After that connect to the internet and update rest of the drivers through windows update.

2. Install windows with internet connection, after the first boot up let windows do the work (let windows install all the drivers and updates) and after that download all manufacturer drivers and install them on top of already installed drivers.

Click to expand...

I never want Windows update installing their generic drivers. I infact disable driver updates through Windows updates.

I install the OS, login with an offline account, do all my tweaks. The install the drivers one by one rebooting after each driver install even if not prompted.

Here is my driver installation list for my Dell XPS 13, the concept should be similar to other manufacturers in terms of the driver installtion order.

go to the manufacturer's website, specify your laptop model and download the latest drivers and install them.

I let Windows install the drivers on a clean install as I know it'll load the basic to get the system up and running, I then disable driver updates in GPedit and then go to either manufacturer and get their drivers, but for graphics and network I go to (in my case) Nvidia, AMD and Intel

zbook said:

It's not possible to generalize for all laptops as each manufacturer may offer different software.

For example it's easy to install drivers on HP laptops by using HP software.

It will find drivers and BIOS and perform upgrades making it very easy for the end user.

In contrast Asus and Acer may have no software and have to upgrade each driver manually.


The best tested drivers are displayed on the ASUS website.

After you've installed all applicable drivers on the ASUS website you can perform Windows updates.

In addition you can open the component manufacturer websites to find updates.


A Windows 10 iso may not just have Microsoft default drivers for installation.

When a clean install is performed without connecting to the internet you may find that a third party driver is already installed.

These drivers are then updated as needed with the drivers on the motherboard or component manufacturer websites.

Click to expand...

So should I let windows install all the drivers after the first boot up and then download drivers from laptop manufacturer?

me75006 said:

You might want to create images/backups of your OS at points, before, after and take notes along the way.

Click to expand...

badrobot said:

go to the manufacturer's website, specify your laptop model and download the latest drivers and install them.

Click to expand...

Thanks but this is not answers to this topic

Spartan said:

I never want Windows update installing their generic drivers. I infact disable driver updates through Windows updates.

I install the OS, login with an offline account, do all my tweaks. The install the drivers one by one rebooting after each driver install even if not prompted.

Here is my driver installation list for my Dell XPS 13, the concept should be similar to other manufacturers in terms of the driver installtion order.

View attachment 25925

Click to expand...

I appreciate picture with installation order.
So you are using method 1.

CornishRattler said:

I let Windows install the drivers on a clean install as I know it'll load the basic to get the system up and running, I then disable driver updates in GPedit and then go to either manufacturer and get their drivers, but for graphics and network I go to (in my case) Nvidia, AMD and Intel

Click to expand...

Method 2.

Thank you guys

MartinX2 said:

Thanks but this is not answers to this topic

Click to expand...

Just install windows, boot up and it will run with Windows default drivers. Windows will not install specific OEM drivers for your hardware. Go to manufacturer's website, download all the latest driver and install them to update all your drivers. You can't make it any simpler than that if your bottom line is to update to latest drivers.

MartinX2 said:

So should I let windows install all the drivers after the first boot up and then download drivers from laptop manufacturer?

Click to expand...

Yes, allow Windows to install any driver after a clean install.
Then go to the computer or motherboard manufacturer website.
Install the best tested drivers.
Having Windows install default drivers during the clean install or immediately after should not matter unless your troubleshooting a malfunctioning hardware component.
Then perform Windows updates.
Component manufacturer updates can be performed as needed.
Intel, AMD, Nvidia, etc. have autodetect software that can be used as needed.
Drivers can be obtained from the Microsoft catalog as needed.

For those reading the thread that have Dell laptops, simply use Dell's Support Assist app. If you don't have it, download it from Dell Support. The installation of all drivers, app updates, and BIOS updates for your computer is all fully automated and correctly executed.

badrobot said:

Just install windows, boot up and it will run with Windows default drivers. Windows will not install specific OEM drivers for your hardware. Go to manufacturer's website, download all the latest driver and install them to update all your drivers. You can't make it any simpler than that if your bottom line is to update to latest drivers.

Click to expand...

Not true. Right after first boot up windows is searching for OEM drivers and automatically install them. Otherwise I would not start this topic.
For example this driver was installed few seconds after the first boot up:

MartinX2 said:

Right after first boot up windows is searching for OEM drivers and automatically install them.

Click to expand...

Windows installs the latest tested and compatible drivers, not the latest drivers.

zbook said:

Yes, allow Windows to install any driver after a clean install.
Then go to the computer or motherboard manufacturer website.
Install the best tested drivers.
Having Windows install default drivers during the clean install or immediately after should not matter unless your troubleshooting a malfunctioning hardware component.
Then perform Windows updates.
Component manufacturer updates can be performed as needed.
Intel, AMD, Nvidia, etc. have autodetect software that can be used as needed.
Drivers can be obtained from the Microsoft catalog as needed.

Click to expand...

The problem is that default windows drivers are replaced by OEM drivers automatically downloaded by windows right after the first boot up. These drivers are usually not the same ones provided by laptop manufacturer.
Two examples:
Realtek sound driver downloaded by windows had low microphone volume with every headphones I tried even if everything was maxed out.
AMD graphic driver downloaded by windows came with old control panel from Microsoft Store (AMD setting lite) not the full version.

This is why I'm asking if it's better to install windows without internet connection or let windows do all the downloads and updates and then manually install laptop manufacturer drivers on top of that.

TairikuOkami said:

Windows installs the latest tested and compatible drivers, not the latest drivers.

GeForce Game Ready Driver | 512.15 | Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 | NVIDIA

Download the English (US) GeForce Game Ready Driver for Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 systems. Released 2022.3.22

www.nvidia.com

Click to expand...

That is true and usually windows have newer drivers than device manufacturers but even Nvidia recommends to use laptop manufacturer drivers.

I have found that upon completion of a clean install, as soon as I connect to the internet Windows Update does a great job with all third party drivers.
Just as a precaution, I go to the Manufacturer's support site for my machine and check the drivers that the manufacturer recommends and compare them against the installed by Windows Update drivers using Driver Store Explorer [RAPR].
Very rarely the Manufacturer has a newer driver and these usually are Audio, Video or Network drivers.

Years ago I was working with Microsoft engineers in India on a problem with Windows.
They asked me to perform the testing.
A clean install was performed without internet access.
Windows driver verifier was then turned on and there was an immediate BSOD.
In the process I learned that during a clean install a Windows 10 iso may have third party drivers
In this case it had the Nvidia GPU drivers.
So when a clean install is performed it may have default GPU or other drivers that are not default Windows drivers.

After a clean install you can install any driver.
Some of the newest drivers may cause problems.
The best tested drivers are always displayed on the computer or motherboard manufacturer websites.

Windows updates of non-Microsoft drivers can be turned on or off.

Each end user must decide whether they want the best tested or newest or older drivers.

In most cases the Microsoft catalog drivers are the most up to date drivers.
This is simply by volume.
The most up to date drivers after typically displayed on the AMD, Nvidia, and Intel websites.
The software tools on the respective websites can be used as needed.

I think the easiest way is the best way.

Let Windows do its job and if everything turns out OK, end of story.

On the rare occasion that Windows does not do its job, let the OEM Support App (like the Dell Support Assist App that was mentioned earlier) do its job, again end of story.

On the very rare occasion that there is still an issue > ask the forum for help

badrobot said:

go to the manufacturer's website, specify your laptop model and download the latest drivers and install them.

Click to expand...