When your Windows 10 computer becomes bogged down with slow performance, errors, and other issues, you may be tempted to reset it to its factory settings. But before you take the plunge, you might be wondering what will happen to your device drivers. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of device drivers and explore what happens to them when you reset Windows 10.
Understanding Device Drivers
Before we dive into what happens to device drivers when you reset Windows 10, let’s take a brief look at what they are. Device drivers, or just drivers for short, are programs that allow your operating system to communicate with your computer’s hardware components. They’re essentially software programs that facilitate communication between the operating system and the hardware, enabling your computer to function properly.
Device drivers are usually provided by the manufacturer of the hardware component, and they’re typically installed on your computer when you install the operating system or when you connect the hardware component to your computer. Each device driver is designed to work with a specific type of hardware component, such as a printer, sound card, or graphics card.
How Device Drivers Are Installed On Your Computer
When you install Windows 10 on your computer, it comes with a set of generic device drivers that are designed to work with a wide range of hardware components. These generic drivers are usually installed by the operating system during the installation process.
However, as you connect new hardware components to your computer, you may need to install additional device drivers that are specific to those components. You can install these drivers from a CD or DVD that comes with the hardware component, or you can download them from the manufacturer’s website.
Types of Device Drivers
There are several types of device drivers that can be installed on your computer. Some common types of device drivers include:
- Kernel-mode drivers: These drivers have direct access to the operating system kernel and can interact with hardware components directly. Examples of kernel-mode drivers include drivers for graphics cards and sound cards.
- User-mode drivers: These drivers run in user mode and do not have direct access to the operating system kernel. Examples of user-mode drivers include drivers for printers and scanners.
What Happens To Device Drivers When You Reset Windows 10
Now that we’ve covered what device drivers are and how they’re installed on your computer, let’s take a look at what happens to them when you reset Windows 10. When you reset Windows 10, the operating system is restored to its original settings, which can erase all of the device drivers that you’ve installed.
However, this doesn’t mean that all of your device drivers will be completely removed. When you reset Windows 10, the operating system will keep some of the generic device drivers that were installed during the initial installation process.
Which Device Drivers Will Be Removed?
When you reset Windows 10, the following device drivers may be removed:
- Custom device drivers that you’ve installed from a CD or DVD
- Device drivers that you’ve downloaded from the manufacturer’s website
- Device drivers that were installed by the manufacturer’s software
On the other hand, the following device drivers will not be removed:
- Generic device drivers that were installed during the initial installation process
- Device drivers that are part of the Windows 10 operating system
How to Reinstall Device Drivers After Resetting Windows 10
If you’ve lost device drivers after resetting Windows 10, you can reinstall them by following these steps:
- Go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the device driver
- Run the installation program and follow the prompts to install the device driver
- Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to allow the device driver to take effect
Alternatively, you can also use the Device Manager to reinstall device drivers. To do this, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select Device Manager
- In the Device Manager, click on the Action menu and select Scan for hardware changes
- The Device Manager will scan your computer for any hardware components that may need a device driver
- If it finds any hardware components that need a device driver, it will prompt you to install the device driver
Consequences Of Resetting Windows 10 On Device Drivers
Resetting Windows 10 can have several consequences on device drivers. Some of these consequences include:
- Loss of custom device drivers that you’ve installed
- Removal of device drivers that were installed by the manufacturer’s software
- Need to reinstall device drivers after resetting Windows 10
However, resetting Windows 10 can also have some benefits, such as:
- Removal of malware and viruses that may be causing problems with your device drivers
- Restoration of the operating system to its original settings, which can improve performance and stability
Best Practices For Managing Device Drivers
To avoid losing device drivers when resetting Windows 10, it’s a good idea to follow some best practices for managing device drivers. Here are a few tips:
- Make a list of all the device drivers that you’ve installed on your computer, including the manufacturer’s name and the version number.
- Keep a copy of the installation disk or CD that came with the device driver.
- Download the device driver from the manufacturer’s website and save it to a safe location.
- Use the Device Manager to scan for hardware changes and install device drivers as needed.
By following these best practices, you can ensure that your device drivers are properly managed and that you won’t lose them when you reset Windows 10.
Conclusion
Resetting Windows 10 can be a great way to restore your computer to its original settings, but it can also have some consequences on device drivers. By understanding what happens to device drivers when you reset Windows 10, you can take steps to avoid losing them and ensure that your computer continues to run smoothly. By following some best practices for managing device drivers, you can keep your device drivers up to date and ensure that your computer continues to function properly.
What Happens To My Drivers After Resetting Windows 10?
When you reset Windows 10, all your installed applications and software are removed, including any third-party drivers you may have manually installed. However, Windows 10 will attempt to retrieve and install the necessary drivers for your hardware devices using its built-in driver library and by checking for updates on the Windows Update server.
This means that if the driver is available in the Windows library or can be downloaded from Microsoft, it will likely be reinstalled after the reset process. However, if the device uses a custom or proprietary driver that is not available through Microsoft’s servers, you may need to reinstall it manually or from the device manufacturer’s website.
Will I Need To Reinstall My Graphics Card Driver After Resetting Windows 10?
If you have a dedicated graphics card installed, you may need to reinstall the driver after resetting Windows 10. While Windows 10 will install a basic graphics driver that will work for general use, you may need to install the proprietary graphics driver from the manufacturer to take full advantage of your graphics card’s features.
This is especially true if you use your computer for gaming or other graphics-intensive activities. To reinstall your graphics card driver, you can visit the manufacturer’s website, such as NVIDIA or AMD, and download the latest driver for your specific graphics card model.
Can I Prevent Windows From Reinstalling Certain Drivers After A Reset?
There is no straightforward way to prevent Windows from reinstalling certain drivers after a reset. However, you can use the built-in Windows setting to prevent Windows from installing drivers for specific devices. To do this, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options > Select when updates are installed.
However, this method only prevents Windows from installing drivers for devices that you have specifically disabled. It will not prevent Windows from installing drivers that it deems necessary for the proper functioning of your computer. In that case, you may need to uninstall the driver after it is installed.
How Do I Reinstall My Printer Driver After Resetting Windows 10?
To reinstall your printer driver after resetting Windows 10, you can try the following methods. First, you can try connecting your printer to your computer and letting Windows 10 automatically detect and install the necessary drivers. If this does not work, you can visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your specific printer model.
Alternatively, you can also use the built-in Windows tool to install the printer driver. To do this, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, and click on the “Add a printer or scanner” button. Follow the on-screen instructions to select your printer and install the necessary drivers.
Will Resetting Windows 10 Delete My Wi-Fi Driver?
Resetting Windows 10 will likely remove your Wi-Fi driver, especially if it is a third-party driver. However, Windows 10 will likely reinstall the necessary Wi-Fi driver during the reset process, allowing you to connect to Wi-Fi networks again.
However, if the Wi-Fi driver is not installed correctly or is not functioning properly after the reset, you may need to reinstall the driver manually or from the device manufacturer’s website. Alternatively, you can try updating the driver through the Device Manager or seeking further assistance from Microsoft support.
Can I Backup My Drivers Before Resetting Windows 10?
Yes, you can backup your drivers before resetting Windows 10. To do this, you can use the built-in Windows tool called “Driver Store Explorer” or third-party software specifically designed for driver backup. This allows you to save copies of your installed drivers to an external hard drive, USB drive, or cloud storage service.
Having a backup of your drivers can be helpful in case something goes wrong during the reset process or if Windows 10 is unable to reinstall the necessary drivers. You can then use the backed-up drivers to reinstall them manually.
What Should I Do If My Sound Driver Is Not Working After Resetting Windows 10?
If your sound driver is not working after resetting Windows 10, you can try updating the driver through the Device Manager. To do this, go to Device Manager, expand the “Sound, video, and game controllers” section, and right-click on the sound device. Select “Update driver” and follow the on-screen instructions to see if Windows 10 can install a suitable driver.
If updating the driver does not work, you can also try reinstalling the driver manually or from the device manufacturer’s website. Alternatively, you can try using the built-in Windows troubleshooter to diagnose and fix any sound-related issues.