Exporting drivers with DISM: practical guide, commands, and tricks

The good news is that the system itself comes with powerful tools to back up and recover them later. With DISM, PowerShell and PnPUtil can export drivers in INF format, restore them when needed, and, incidentally, learn everything hidden in DriverStore. Below is a complete, detailed, and to-the-point guide.

What is DISM and what drivers does it support?

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a Microsoft utility for attend images of Windows and also the running system itself. It works with both unmounted images (.wim, .vhd/.vhdx) and the “Online” system.

For general maintenance, the base syntax is: DISM.exe {/Image:<ruta_imagen> | /Online} {opción_mantenimiento} With this you can manage packages, features, and, most importantly, drivers.

Important: Maintaining drivers with DISM only supports INF style packagesYou won't be able to add or export .exe or .msi installers from some manufacturers. This is the same approach followed by the Windows DriverStore, the repository where driver packages are stored.

Depending on the context, you will use “/Online” for the system you are running, or “/Image: "If you are going to working with an image offline (for example, from Windows PE/RE or a secondary system).

Driver Maintenance Commands with DISM

DISM concentrates in a single tool the tasks for list, query, add, remove, and export drivers. For offline images, the syntax is: DISM.exe /Image:<ruta_imagen> . In an active system: DISM.exe /Online .

/Get-Help /?

If you add /? For any option, DISM displays context-sensitive help and supported arguments (especially useful with offline images). Examples: Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Add-Driver /? o Dism /online /Get-Drivers /?.

/Get-Drivers

This command displays a basic inventory of the driver packages on the selected system or image. By default, it lists only third party drivers; adds /all if you want to see the Windows defaults as well. You can forma tear the exit with /Format:Table o /Format:List to make reading more comfortable. If you need to see all the installed drivers, you can use driverquery.

Quick examples: Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Get-Drivers y Dism /online /Get-Drivers for the active system. In offline images, you'll also see the status (installed vs. staging).

/Get-DriverInfo

When you need the details of a specific package, use /Get-DriverInfo about an installed INF or an external INF: /Get-DriverInfo /Driver:{<OemX.inf>|<ruta\driver.inf>}. “Published” third-party drivers appear with names like Oem0.inf, Oem1.inf, etc.

You can pass the option /Driver several times to consult several at once. Real-life example: Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Get-DriverInfo /driver:C:\Drivers\usb.inf or in the active system: Dism /online /Get-DriverInfo /driver:C:\test\drivers\usb\usb.inf.

/Add-Driver

It serves for inject third-party INF packets in an offline image. Syntax: /Add-Driver {/Driver:<carpeta_con_INFs> | /Driver:<ruta\driver.inf>} If you point to a folder, DISM will ignore invalid INFs (it will warn you in the console and log without stopping the process).

With /Recurse will traverse subfolders and with /ForceUnsigned You can force unsigned INFs (useful for testing and lab work). Note on x64: Windows requires digital signatures, so use this wisely. Examples: Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Add-Driver /driver:C:\test\drivers y /recurse when you want to include subdirectories.

/Remove-Driver

Remove third-party drivers from an offline image. You must specify the published name (OemX.inf), not the original path. The syntax is straightforward: /Remove-Driver /Driver:<OemX.inf>You can chain several options /Driver along the same lines.

Examples: Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Remove-Driver /driver:oem1.inf or delete several at once: Dism /image:C:\test\offline /Remove-Driver /driver:oem1.inf /driver:oem2.inf. Default Windows drivers cannot be removed using this method.

/Export-Driver

Export all third-party packages from an image or from the live system to a destination folder. Syntax: /Export-Driver /Destination:<carpeta_destino>. From Windows running: DISM /Online /Export-Driver /Destination:C:\destpath. Also works against offline images: DISM /Image:C:\test\offline /Export-Driver /Destination:C:\destpath.

Limitations and installation order

Remember that DISM only accepts INF files.exe/.msi manufacturer installers are not valid in this flow. Also, if you add multiple INFs on the same line, they are installed in the written order. Example: Dism /Image:C:\test\offline /Add-Driver /Driver:C:\drivers\1.inf /Driver:C:\drivers\2.inf /Driver:C:\drivers\3.inf.

Driver backup with DISM step by step

Before you do anything, create a destination folder on a different drive than the system drive if you're formatting. The key command for backup drivers from the active system is dism /online /export-driver /destination:C:\Copia-seguridad-drivers. Make sure the path exists to avoid typing errors.

This process extracts the packages from C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore and leaves them ready for reinstallation. You'll see subfolders with INF, SYS, and CAT. It's normal for the size to vary from hundreds of MB to several GB depending on the hardware.

To verify that everything went well, check that the console doesn't show any critical errors and make sure the folder isn't empty. The presence of multiple subdirectories and files .inf/.sys It is the best sign that the backup is complete.

How do you recover them afterward? You have two options. The most user-friendly is Device Manager: right-click on the device with the prompt, “Update driver” > “Browse my computer for drivers,” select the backup folder, and select “Include subfolders”. Windows will locate the appropriate INF and install the driver.

You can also use DISM to insert them all at once: dism /online /Add-Driver /Driver:C:\Copia-seguridad-drivers /Recurse. It works, although sometimes adding massive amounts of data to a running system can give conflicts which are not presented with the Device Manager method.

Export from an offline system (WinPE/RE) and PowerShell

When working from Windows PE/RE or with a system disk mounted on another partition, the idea is to point to the unit where the OS resides offline and export to a USB. Example with DISM: DISM /Image:c:\ /Export-Driver /Destination:d:\DriversBackup (C: being the OS partition and D: your USB).

The equivalent cmdlet in PowerShell is just as straightforward: Export-WindowsDriver -Path c:\ -Destination d:\DriversBackup. If you are working on the Windows that is running, use -Online instead of -Path. Parameter -SystemDrive This can be confusing: it is not used to select another partition with an offline OS, but rather to refer to the system drive of the current environment.

If the environment is WinPE and you use “/online”, you will see the classic “Error 50: DISM does not support running Windows PE with the /online option. The solution is to run it with /Image:<letra_unidad>:\ or, in PowerShell, with -Path to Windows offline.

Alternatives: PowerShell and PnPUtil

In addition to DISM, Windows offers other official ways to backup drivers. With PowerShell you can run: Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination "C:\Ruta\A\Tu\Carpeta\PowerShell". It's ideal for automating scripts, checking if the folder exists before exporting.

If you like to compare at a glance, keep this idea in mind: DISM is the “standard and documented” to work both online and offline; PnPUtil is a direct alternative to the live system; and PowerShell excels at scripting and repeatable deployments.

Method	Environment	Key advantage
DISM /export-driver	Online and Offline	more versatile and with extensive documentation
pnputil /export-driver	Online	Simple and native on Windows 10/11
Export-WindowsDriver	Online and Offline	Perfect for PowerShell automation

View, update, and remove drivers in Windows

Device Manager is your control panel for viewing installed files, their status, and associated files. From the Properties > Device Manager tab, Controller You can update, roll back (if applicable), disable or uninstall.

You can also list and act from the console. For a list in an offline image: Dism /Image:C:\test\offline /Get-Drivers. To remove several at once: Dism /Image:C:\test\offline /Remove-Driver /Driver:OEM1.inf /Driver:OEM2.inf. Remember that the key value is the Published name (OemX.inf), not the manufacturer name.

If you accidentally load a critical driver, Windows is usually able to fix it. recover generic drivers after a reboot, but not always. Be conservative when deleting and always save a backup before experimenting.

Types of drivers and good practices

Not all drivers are the same. Packages INF (inf-style) are those that work with Windows natively; the complete installers (.exe/.msi) come with extra wizards and utilities; and there are the “boot-critical” (graphics and storage), essential to get started.

For the health of the system, it is advisable to always install the versions manufacturer's officials and keep them up to date. Manually copying manufacturer folders can skip utilities or install incompatible versions; downloading from the official website avoids this problem and ensures compatibility.

Third-Party Tools: When to Use Them and What to Expect

If you prefer to automate, there are popular drivers. IOBIT Driver Booster scans your computer and suggests newer versions, although its installer may try to sneak you in. additional softwareIt's reliable and fast, but it monitors every step of the installation.

Snappy Driver Installer Origin is portable, ideal for carrying on a USB flash drive and fixing computers without installing anything. catalog is extensive, although it offers fewer accessory features than other commercial suites.

AVG Driver Updater boasts a database of hundreds of thousands of drivers and automatic analysis from over 100 manufacturers. It has a free version for diagnosis, but to really get the most out of it you'll end up with the paid version.

Driver Easy is simple and intuitive, with a huge database that minimizes compatibility issues. As is often the case, its top features are behind the license.

Update manually and with Windows Update

Windows Update It has a very respectable database of "known good" drivers. It usually improves generic drivers and gets you out of trouble on common hardware, although it may not be the most reciente manufacturer.

For desktop computers, it is key to visit your computer's website. motherboard (ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc.) and update chipset, network and audio. In portable and OEM, always prioritize the equipment manufacturer's page.

Gaming peripherals (mice, keyboards, headsets) often come with control centers that handle drivers and firmware. Activate them so that keep everything up to date without manual intervention.

Common problems and how to solve them

Driver conflicts still exist: two drivers fighting for the same device, or a new, incompatible driver. In Device Manager, the yellow triangle This is your clue. Check Properties > General/Driver, see the error code, and act accordingly (roll back, reinstall, check for compatible version).

Failed installations are typical when we use the wrong packages or third-party tools that make mistakes. The recipe is simple: check compatibility on the official website, uninstall the faulty one and install the correct one.

After some Windows updates, certain devices may stop working (the classic Realtek audio replaced by a generic one). Launch the Problem Solver from the search engine and, if that is not enough, reinstall the manufacturer's package.

Common DISM errors: “Error 5: Access denied” (open CMD/PowerShell as administrator), “Error 87: The parameter is not correct” (check syntax and use quotes if there are spaces in the path, for example, /destination:"C:\Mis Documentos\Respaldo Drivers"), And “Error 50” when you try /online in WinPE (works with /Image: or with -Path in PowerShell).

Backup maintenance and frequency tips

Make a copy before formatting, before a big feature update And every time you add new hardware, save the backup to an external drive and name it with the date/equipment to maintain order if you manage multiple PCs.

Tools like DriverStore Explorer (RAPR) They allow you to audit installed packages, selectively export, or purge old packages. Use with caution: Removing packages hastily can break dependencies.

Finally, remember that the drivers “OemX.infThe "INFs" you see in the queries are names published within the DriverStore. Use them as a reference when deleting or inspecting, and keep in mind that third-party INFs are the focus of any DISM operation.

Having a clean copy of your drivers, knowing how to export them with DISM or alternatives like PowerShell and PnPUtil, and knowing when to turn to Device Manager or third-party utilities, makes the difference between a smooth reinstallation and an odyssey searching for them. downloads. With these commands, practices and warnings in mind, your hardware will be ready to be up and running as before in a matter of minutes.