Device Drivers are one of the main reasons why your computer is running at optimal performance today; they can also be one of the reasons why your computer is running slowly. When things are running well, computer users might want to view a list of the drivers that are operational. This can be a difficult process, which is why we are going to talk about how to view a list of all device drivers via the Command Prompt, by using the driverquery command.

Where can I see the printer driver version on Windows? Ask Question Asked 8 years, 6 months ago. Scroll down to your computer name, click on 'Drivers' to display all printers, then right-click on the printer's name and select 'Properties'. I have seen them show up in device manager also but not all the time. What is a driver?; 4 minutes to read; In this article. It is challenging to give a single precise definition for the term driver.In the most fundamental sense, a driver is a software component that lets the operating system and a device communicate with each other.

Going this route is not for the novice user, but it pays to try so follow us as we get down and dirty with this bad boy.

First we need to kick start the Command Prompt app, and for this to happen, users may open the WinX menu in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 and click on Command Prompt. Another way of doing it is to press the Windows Key along with R, and then type CMD in the text box. Hit enter and watch as the Command Prompt launches.

Generate list of Drivers using driverquery command

In the Command Prompt, enter the command driverquery. This should bring up a list of drivers installed on the system. Depending on a number of drivers installed, it may take a while for the screen to fully populate. A relatively fast computer should perform this tasks within just a few seconds after the user hits the enter button.

Using the driverquerycommand will show the module name of the driver, along with the display name, driver type, and link date. However, that is not all, because it is possible to generate more information about these drivers just by using a different parameter.

Type driverquery /v to generate the list similar to the one below:

To generate an even more detailed list, use driverquery /FO list /v. It shows a lot more, including information on whether or not a driver is running. We understand that this one should be more adequate for advanced for users, so we would recommend starting things off with driverquery /FO list /v instead of driverquery.

While using the Command Prompt removes the need of installing another app, some users might not feel right at home, so we suggest using an app called DriverView. It does almost everything driverquerydoes and more. It is a powerful app, and as such, we recommend it to novices since it is more straightforward than using the Command Prompt.

Also read:How to get Installed Driver list and details using Windows PowerShell.

Now see how you can manage Windows Drivers with Command Prompt using DevCon or list Drives using Command Prompt & PowerShell in Windows.

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Note

This page provides information on how to determine which drives and drive letters your computer is using currently, not a list of all of the possible drive letters.

See drives in Windows 10 and Windows 8

If you're running Windows 10 or Windows 8, you can view all mounted drives in File Explorer. You can open File Explorer by pressing Win+E (hold down the Windows key and press E). In the left pane, select This PC, and all drives are shown on the right. The screenshot shows a typical view of This PC, with three mounted drives.

OS & Primary Software (C:)

In our first example, the C: and F: drives are hard drives. Most computers only have a C: drive. The hard drive is the primary location where all files are stored on your computer. To open the drive, double-click on the drive.

Tip

In our example, the drive is labeled 'OS & Primary Software.' A hard drive can be labeled anything and may be different on your computer. See our how to change a drive label steps for further information on changing the name of your hard drive.

Note

All new computers no longer have a floppy drive (A: or B:) and therefore are always going to start with the C: drive. See our why does a computer start with the C: drive document for further information about why the computer starts with the C: drive.

DVD RW Drive (D:)

The D: drive in this example is the optical disc drive installed in the computer. In most situations, the disc drive will be the last drive letter. If a disc is in the drive, the contents of that disc will be shown if you double-click the drive icon.

Tip

If the drive AutoPlays the disc, right-click on the drive and click Explore.

See available drives in Microsoft Windows 7 and earlier

Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, XP, and earlier users can identify which drives Windows has detected by opening File Explorer and then My Computer or pressing the Windows key+E shortcut key. The picture is an example of My Computer. As you can see in this example, three different drive types are listed.

Tip

In Windows 7 and earlier versions, you can access My Computer (Computer) by double-clicking the icon on the desktop. Or, open the Start menu, and select My Computer or Computer, depending on the version of Windows you're using.

3 1/2 Floppy (A:)

If the computer has a floppy disk drive, this drive will be visible and is usually set as the A: drive. If any floppy diskette is in the computer and the A: drive is opened, its contents will be shown.

Note

Local Disk (C:), New Volume (D:), and New Volume (E:)

Next, in our example, the C:, D:, and E: drives are hard drives or hard drive partitions on the computer. Most computers will only have a C: drive. The hard drive is the primary location where all files are stored on your computer.

Tip

In our example, the drives are labeled 'Local Disk' and 'New Volume.' A hard drive can be labeled anything and may be different on your computer. See our how to change a drive label steps for further information on changing the name of your hard drive.

Compact Disc (F:)

Finally, the F: drive in this example is the optical disc drive installed in the computer. In most situations, the disc drive will be the last drive letter. If a disc is in the drive, the contents of that disc will be shown if you double-click the drive icon.

Tip

If the drive AutoPlays the disc, right-click the drive, and click Explore.

See drives in Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11

Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11 users can open drives through the Windows File Manager. In the File Manager, click the drive icons shown above the folder and files. By default, the C: drive will be open, if you want to move to the floppy disk drive, click the A: drive icon, or click the D: or the CD-ROM drive icon if you want to open the CD drive.

See drives in MS-DOS and the Windows command line

Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10 command line users

If you're using Windows Vista, 7, or 8, use the wmic command at the Windows command line to view available drives on the computer. At the prompt, type the following command.

Or, for a little more information, such as volume size, use this command:

Show Drivers On This Computer Windows 10

See our wmic command page for further information and examples on this command.

Generate list of Drivers using driverquery command

See drives in Windows 10 and Windows 8

OS & Primary Software (C:)

DVD RW Drive (D:)

See available drives in Microsoft Windows 7 and earlier

3 1/2 Floppy (A:)

Local Disk (C:), New Volume (D:), and New Volume (E:)

Compact Disc (F:)

See drives in Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11

See drives in MS-DOS and the Windows command line

Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10 command line users

Show Drivers On This Computer Windows 10

Other Windows co