Windows get installed drivers

Drivers are essential software components that enable communication between the computer’s hardware and the operating system. Keeping track of the installed drivers on the Windows system can be crucial for troubleshooting hardware issues, updating outdated drivers, or simply understanding the system’s configuration. This tutorial provides 2 methods how to get installed drivers on Windows.

Method 1 — CMD

The wmic command can be used to query the Win32_PnPSignedDriver class for retrieving a list of the device names and their corresponding driver versions.

wmic path Win32_PnPSignedDriver get DeviceName,DriverVersion

Output example:

DeviceNmae                                           DriverVersion 
Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I226-V                  2.1.3.3
Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6E AX211 160MHz                       22.240.0.6
Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R)                       22.240.0.2

Method 2 — PowerShell

In PowerShell window, use the Get-WmiObject cmdlet to query the Win32_PnPSignedDriver class, specifically selecting and displaying the DeviceName and DriverVersion properties.

Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Select DeviceName,DriverVersion

In modern computing environments, device drivers serve as critical software components that enable the operating system to communicate effectively with hardware devices. When managing a Windows system—whether for personal use, system administration, or troubleshooting—being aware of the installed drivers can be essential. PowerShell, Microsoft’s powerful scripting language and command-line shell, provides robust capabilities for retrieving information about system components, including installed drivers. This article will delve deep into how to get a list of installed drivers using PowerShell, providing you with the knowledge necessary to perform this task efficiently.

Understanding Device Drivers

Before we explore the specifics of retrieving driver information with PowerShell, let’s clarify what device drivers are and their significance. A device driver is a specialized software program that allows the operating system to interact with the hardware peripherals. Each device requires a driver to function correctly, and troubleshooting hardware-related issues often begins with checking these drivers.

Key Points about Device Drivers

1. Types of Drivers: There are various types of drivers for different devices like printer drivers, graphics drivers, network adapter drivers, etc.
2. Driver Update Importance: Keeping drivers up-to-date is crucial for system stability, performance, and security.
3. Driver Conflicts: Sometimes drivers can conflict with one another, leading to malfunctioning hardware. Knowing which drivers are installed can help diagnose such issues.

An Introduction to PowerShell

PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language built on the .NET framework, used for task automation and configuration management. It allows system administrators and power users to automate and manage system tasks efficiently.

Why Use PowerShell for Drivers?

PowerShell offers several advantages for managing installed drivers:

1. Automated Scripts: You can write scripts to automate the driver retrieval process.
2. Integration with System Management: PowerShell can query system management tools, providing detailed driver configurations.
3. Access to Advanced Features: Unlike traditional command-line interfaces, PowerShell can tap into .NET and COM objects to provide enhanced functionality.

Getting Started with PowerShell

Before diving into obtaining the list of installed drivers, you’ll want to ensure that PowerShell is accessible on your system. Most modern Windows operating systems come with PowerShell preinstalled.

Launching PowerShell

To start PowerShell, you can use the following methods:

1. Using the Search Bar:

   • Click on the Start menu or press the Windows key.
   • Type «PowerShell» and then press Enter.

2. Windows + X Menu:

   • Press Windows + X.
   • Choose «Windows PowerShell» or «Windows PowerShell (Admin)» for administrative tasks.

3. Run Dialog:

   • Press Windows + R.
   • Type powershell and hit Enter.

Having launched PowerShell, you’re now ready to interact with it effectively.

Command to Get Installed Drivers

One of the simplest means to retrieve installed driver information is by using the Get-WindowsDriver cmdlet that is part of the DISM module. However, PowerShell also allows you to employ WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) or CIM (Common Information Model) to access driver information.

Using Get-WmiObject

To get all installed drivers with their properties, you can utilize the Get-WmiObject cmdlet. Here’s how you can execute this in PowerShell:

Get-WmiObject win32_PnPSignedDriver | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, Manufacturer, Date

Breakdown of the Command

• Get-WmiObject: This cmdlet retrieves instances of WMI classes.
• win32_PnPSignedDriver: This class contains information about the drivers that have been installed on the machine.
• Select-Object: This cmdlet is used to specify the properties to be displayed. Here, we are selecting the DeviceName, DriverVersion, Manufacturer, and Date properties.

When you run the above command, it will output a list of installed drivers, showing the name, version, manufacturer, and installation date.

Using Get-CimInstance

Alternatively, starting from PowerShell 3.0, it’s recommended to use Get-CimInstance instead of Get-WmiObject for better performance and compatibility with remote systems:

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, Manufacturer, InstallDate

Note on InstallDate

The InstallDate will return the date in a specific format (YYYYMMDDHHMMSS.ssssss±UUU), which you may want to format for easier readability.

Formatting the Output

To format the InstallDate for better clarity, you could convert it using several additional commands or by creating a custom object. Here is an example of how you might achieve a more readable output:

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPSignedDriver | 
Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, Manufacturer, @{Name="InstallDate"; Expression={[Management.ManagementDateTimeConverter]::ToDateTime($_.InstallDate)}}

Filtering Driver Information

Sometimes, you may want to filter the driver information based on specific criteria. For instance, if you want to find drivers from a particular manufacturer, you can utilize the Where-Object cmdlet:

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPSignedDriver | 
Where-Object { $_.Manufacturer -like "*NVIDIA*" } | 
Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, Manufacturer, InstallDate

This command will output only those drivers where the manufacturer’s name includes “NVIDIA”.

Exporting the Driver List

If you need to save the driver list for reporting or analysis, you could export the output to various formats. One common format is CSV:

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPSignedDriver | 
Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, Manufacturer, @{Name="InstallDate"; Expression={[Management.ManagementDateTimeConverter]::ToDateTime($_.InstallDate)}} | 
Export-Csv -Path "C:DriversList.csv" -NoTypeInformation

This command creates a CSV file containing the queried driver information, which can easily be opened in Excel or any CSV reader.

Understanding the Output

The output from the aforementioned commands contains several useful properties:

1. DeviceName: The name of the device that the driver supports.
2. DriverVersion: The version number of the installed driver.
3. Manufacturer: The name of the entity (company) that produced the driver.
4. InstallDate: The date the driver was installed on the system.

Advanced Driver Features

For advanced users, PowerShell also enables you to access more detailed properties related to each driver. You can delve deeper by exploring additional class properties available in the Win32_PnPSignedDriver class:

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Get-Member

This command lists all the properties and methods available in the Win32_PnPSignedDriver class, providing a thorough perspective of what information you can extract.

Troubleshooting Driver Issues

After gathering driver information, if you encounter issues with specific drivers, here are some common steps you might consider:

1. Driver Rollback: If a recent driver update causes problems, you can roll back to a previous version through Device Manager.

2. Driver Update: Use PowerShell to check for driver updates, installing them either manually or using an update tool.

3. Driver Uninstallation: In cases where a driver is causing significant issues, you may opt to uninstall it via:

   Get-PnpDevice -FriendlyName "DEVICE_NAME" | Remove-PnpDevice

   Be cautious using this command, as it will remove the specified driver/device.

4. Driver Verification: Some drivers may be digitally signed, which can be checked using the DriverVer property reported by:

   Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Where-Object { $_.Manufacturer -like "*manufacturer_name*" } | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, "DigitalSignature"

Conclusion

Retrieving the list of installed drivers in Windows using PowerShell is a straightforward yet powerful task that can assist in system administration, troubleshooting, and maintenance. By utilizing the various cmdlets introduced, such as Get-CimInstance and Get-WmiObject, you can obtain valuable insights into the drivers on your system.

In addition to fetching a simple list, the ability to filter, format, and export this information adds to the versatility of PowerShell, making it an invaluable tool for both novice and experienced users. As technology evolves, maintaining an awareness of device drivers and their statuses remains vital for achieving optimal system performance and stability.

Finally, while knowing how to list driver information is beneficial, understanding what to do with that information is equally important. Whether updating, uninstalling, or rolling back drivers, combining your PowerShell knowledge with effective driver management strategies will elevate your administrative skills to new heights.

Description

InstalledDriversList is a simple tool for Windows that lists all device drivers that are currently installed on your system.
For every device driver, the following information is displayed:
Driver Name, Display Name, Description, Startup Type, Driver type, Driver Group, Filename, File Size, Modified/Created Time of the driver file,
and version information of the driver file.

If the driver is currently running on Windows kernel, the following information is also displayed:
Base Memory Address, End Address, Memory Size, and Load Count.

System Requirements

This utility works on any version of Windows, starting from Windows 2000 and up to Windows 11.
On 64-bit systems, you must use the 64-bit version of InstalledDriversList.

Картинка с сайта: www.nirsoft.net

Versions History

• Version 1.06:
  • Updated to work properly on Windows 11 Version 24H2.
• Version 1.05:
  • Added ‘Open In RegEdit’ option, which opens the Registry key of the driver in RegEdit.
• Version 1.01:
  • Added secondary sorting support: You can now get a secondary sorting, by holding down the shift key while clicking the column header. Be aware that you only have to hold down the shift key when clicking the second/third/fourth column. To sort the first column you should not hold down the Shift key.
  • Fixed to display local date/time values according to daylight saving time settings.
• Version 1.00 — First release.

Start Using InstalledDriversList

InstalledDriversList doesn’t require any installation process or additional dll files. In order to start using it, simply run the executable file — InstalledDriversList.exe

After running it, the main window of InstalledDriversList displays the list of all drivers installed on your system.
You can select one or more items (or select all items with Ctrl+A), and then copy them to the clipboard (Ctrl+C) and paste them into Excel or other spreadsheet application.
You can also use the ‘Save Selected Items’ option (Ctrl+S) to export the selected items into csv/tab-delimited/xml/html file.

Meaning of green/yellow/red icons

• Green Icon — The driver is running on Windows kernel.
• Yellow Icon — The driver is not running on Windows kernel.
• Red Icon — The driver is not running on Windows kernel, but it should be loaded automatically when Windows starts.
  When you see a red icon, it’s possible that something is wrong with the driver. Be aware that on Windows 8, there are 2 drivers of the operating system that are normally displayed with red icon.

Command-Line Options

Translating InstalledDriversList to other languages

In order to translate InstalledDriversList to other language, follow the instructions below:

1. Run InstalledDriversList with /savelangfile parameter:
   
   InstalledDriversList.exe /savelangfile
   
   A file named InstalledDriversList_lng.ini will be created in the folder of InstalledDriversList utility.
2. Open the created language file in Notepad or in any other text editor.
3. Translate all string entries to the desired language.
   Optionally, you can also add your name and/or a link to your Web site.
   (TranslatorName and TranslatorURL values) If you add this information, it’ll be
   used in the ‘About’ window.

4. After you finish the translation, Run InstalledDriversList, and all translated
   strings will be loaded from the language file.
   
   If you want to run InstalledDriversList without the translation, simply rename the language file, or move
   it to another folder.

License

This utility is released as freeware.
You are allowed to freely distribute this utility via floppy disk, CD-ROM,
Internet, or in any other way, as long as you don’t charge anything for this and you don’t
sell it or distribute it as a part of commercial product.
If you distribute this utility, you must include all files in
the distribution package, without any modification !

Disclaimer

The software is provided «AS IS» without any warranty, either expressed or implied,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose. The author will not be liable for any special, incidental,
consequential or indirect damages due to loss of data or any other reason.

Feedback

If you have any problem, suggestion, comment, or you found a bug in my utility,
you can send a message to nirsofer@yahoo.com

InstalledDriversList is also available in other languages. In order to change the language of
InstalledDriversList, download the appropriate language zip file, extract the ‘installeddriverslist_lng.ini’,
and put it in the same folder that you Installed InstalledDriversList utility.

In today’s post, we will talk about drivers, Yes drivers!! Drivers are very important and vital part of operating system. Without compatible driver of the hardware, we can’t use that. The driver is in between our hardware and OS. If correct driver is not installed, then OS is not capable of communicating with hardware (external or internal). So it is very important and essential to install and update your drivers regularly as new driver version is offered. I personally use Driver Booster software from Iobit which provides a very easy method to install and update drivers. You can download it for free from below link.

Download Iobit Driver Booster software

But my today’s post is not being about that. How many drivers are installed in my system, have you ever questioned about that? No, I know. But don’t worry, in today post I will tell you that, how can you get a list of installed drivers. Follow the steps.

Steps

1. Press Windows logo key + R. Run window will open at bottom left corner. And type “cmd” (without quote) in that to open command prompt window.
2. After that in black cmd command window type “driverquery” (without quote). And hit enter.

Картинка с сайта: shreyasjejurkar.com

3. As soon as you hit enter, OS will enlist all of the installed drivers in system and will display a table.

Картинка с сайта: shreyasjejurkar.com

4. The table consists of the Module name, display name, driver type and link date. Link date shows the date on which the driver was very first installed.
5. If you want more info about this drivers, you can type “driverquery /v” (without quote) in the cmd window.
This will show up details about installed drivers including status (on or off), size and much more.

So this is a very simple technique to find the list of installed drivers and their current status in the system.
This technique is applicable for Windows 10, 7, 8,8.1.
Try now.
If any problem occurs, don’t forget to hit comment below about that.

Header image credit – computer.howstuffworks.com