Drivers for Windows 8.1 all the way back to DOS

How to download and install old drivers

Old drivers don't always come with a friendly installer. This guide covers finding the right driver, unpacking it, and installing it on Windows 8.1 back to Windows 95, plus DOS and virtual machines.

1. Identify your hardware

  1. Look for a model number on a sticker on the card or device, or on the main chip itself. Chip names (for example ES1371 or RTL8139) are often more useful than the brand on the box.
  2. Open Device Manager. On Windows XP and later, press Win+R and run devmgmt.msc. On Windows 95, 98 and ME, open Control Panel, then System, then the Device Manager tab.
  3. On Windows XP and later, open the device's Properties, go to the Details tab and choose Hardware Ids. A value like PCI\VEN_10B7&DEV_9200 identifies the vendor and chip. Search for the model or chip name on this site.

2. Download the driver

On a driver page, the download button shows which website it opens. Most links go to the manufacturer's own download or support page. If that page has moved or disappeared:

  • Paste the old address into the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. Archived copies of vendor support pages often still have working download links.
  • Try drivers for the same chip from another brand. Many cards from different companies used the same chipset.
  • If you find a working download, please let us know so we can update the page.

Stay safe: scan every download with antivirus software before opening it, and on Windows XP or later create a System Restore point before installing a driver.

3. Unpack the files

  • .zip files: extract them to a new folder. Windows ME, XP and later can open ZIP files directly; on Windows 95 and 98 you'll need an unzip program.
  • .exe files: these are either an installer or a self-extracting archive. Run it and note the folder it extracts to.
  • 16-bit setup programs from the Windows 3.1 and 95 era won't run on 64-bit Windows. Use a virtual machine for those (see step 6).

4. Install with "Have Disk" (INF files)

If there's no setup program, look for a file ending in .inf and install it through Device Manager:

  1. Windows XP to 8.1: right-click the device and choose Update Driver. Choose to browse your computer, then pick from a list of drivers, click Have Disk and select the folder that contains the .inf file.
  2. Windows 95, 98 and ME: open the device's Properties, go to the Driver tab and click Update Driver. Choose to display a list of drivers, click Have Disk and browse to the folder with the .inf file.
  3. Restart when Windows asks you to.

5. DOS drivers

DOS drivers are loaded from CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT in the root of your boot drive. A typical CD-ROM setup looks like this:

DEVICE=C:\DRIVERS\CDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001 in CONFIG.SYS
C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001 in AUTOEXEC.BAT

The name after /D: must match in both lines. Sound cards usually also need a SET BLASTER= line with the card's port, IRQ and DMA settings; the card's setup program normally adds it for you.

6. Old drivers in virtual machines and emulators

  • VirtualBox and VMware run Windows XP and older well. Install the guest additions or tools first; they include drivers for the virtual hardware.
  • 86Box and PCem emulate real period hardware such as Sound Blaster cards and S3 or 3dfx video cards, so the original drivers for those cards are exactly what you need.
  • DOSBox emulates a Sound Blaster 16 and a VGA card by itself, so most DOS games need no extra drivers.

Common problems

The driver installs but the device doesn't work.
Check that the driver is for your exact Windows version. Drivers for Windows XP usually won't work on Vista or later, and 64-bit Windows can only load 64-bit drivers. Windows 7 drivers often work on Windows 8 and 8.1.
The download link is broken.
Old vendor pages move all the time. Try the Wayback Machine as described above, and use the Let us know link on the driver page so we can fix it.
Windows says the driver isn't signed.
Many older drivers were never signed. Windows XP lets you continue anyway; newer 64-bit versions of Windows block unsigned drivers, which is another reason to use a virtual machine for very old hardware.