CNET Editors' review
Driver Magician Lite lacks frills and showmanship, but the simple layout makes backing up your device drivers much easier than pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
The quick install and small memory footprint would lead you to hope that the rest of the program runs the same way. That's no sleight-of-hand: Backing up every driver on my computer, from Bluetooth and tablet controllers to Intel chip sets, took less than five minutes. Users can select drivers individually or hit the Select All button at the bottom of the spreadsheet-style layout. Hitting the Start Backup button opens a directory window, so you can choose where the drivers will be saved to, and then another click begins the process.
We recommend creating a designated folder for backing up your drivers, since Driver Magician will mimic your computer's folder tree and save each driver to an appropriate folder. Saving those to your desktop would be harder to clean up than splaying a deck of cards across a stage. It doesn't do much else. If you need to use the drivers it's backed up for you, you'll need to install them yourself. However, you'll be hard-pressed to find such a useful tool that's as easy to use as this, and that's no trick.
Publisher's Description
From GoldSolution:
Driver Magician Lite identifies all the hardware in the system, extracts their associated drivers from the hard disk, and backs them up to a location of your choice. Then when you format and reinstall or upgrade your operating system, you can restore all the saved drivers just as if you had the original driver diskettes in your hands.
More Popular Backup Software downloads
- Easeus Todo Backup Free
30,027 downloads
- Macrium Reflect Free
9,035 downloads
- Easeus Disk Copy
6,247 downloads
- Paragon Backup & Recovery Free
5,680 downloads
- DAEMON Tools Pro
5,116 downloads
-
All versions:
3.1 starsout of 34 votes
-
Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
Write review
-
"Excellent product, could not do without it."
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.81
Pros
small size
quick installation
clear instructions
fastCons
none, it does what is advertised
Summary
I carry it on a flash drive and use it when I have to reinstall the non-Windows drivers. I work with a company that restores donated computers and this is best way to get all of the drivers needed that do not come with Windows:
1. create a folder on the flash drive and name it the model of the computer
2. install DML
3. select the drivers in red, we ignore the printers and monitors.
4. start the backup and select the folder you created on your flash drive
When it is done you have a copy of the drivers for that model of computer and it makes restoring much quicker. No it won't install the drivers for you, but it never said it would. Just go into Device Manager and update the drivers manually by navigating to the folder you created. All of the driver folders inside are clearly labeled.
Best bit of software I have come across in a long time. -
"It backs up, but can't restore drivers"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.7
Pros
It identifies no-system drivers and can back them up. I'm not sure how useful this is.
Cons
It can't restore drivers in case of a problem - I suppose a copy using a file utility might help.
Summary
It has some functionality and is free, and it does what it does properly.
-
"Am hopeful Driver Magician Lite is working well."
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.7
Pros
On the basis of ''No news is Good news'' this product is alright as no adverse effect was noticed.
Cons
None whatsoever.
Summary
My comment is not worth the while as am daft teckwise.
Thank you. -
"ease of use"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.7
Pros
easily finds new or non backed up file. back them to which ever drive /file you choose to.
Cons
not enough control / options
-
"Who cares about backing up already downloaded drivers?"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.56
Pros
it's free but...
Cons
it's practically useless
-
"Not a free software. Only back-up drivers. Big deal!!"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.56
Pros
Nothing unless you pay
Cons
Not a free software
-
"a useless program and a waste of time"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.52
Pros
I liked nothing about it.
Cons
t just backs drivers up but doesn't restore them. You have to buy the paid version in order to be able to restore them. Wnat can you do with backing up without restoring.
-
"Very good and Fast...Does what it says"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.51
Pros
Excellent Driver Back up. Quite Fast and Simple. Have not used the Registry backup option but its there if someone wants to use it.
Cons
Noe at the moment.
Summary
Try it. Safe to use. Works with Vista.
-
"Driver Magician limitations - not worth installing"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.49
Pros
Simple
Easy to use
Good potentialCons
only one out-of-date driver was found
Summary
mmm... only one out-of-date driver was found. No good, I have at least 6 old drivers in my PC. I do not recommend this utility. There are other, free, and better:
RadarSync
Filihippo
DriversMax
Driversguide.com -
"Scary to restore"
Version: Driver Magician Lite 3.47
Pros
simple look
Cons
hard to understand what to do
scarySummary
scary - what if it does not backup well? What if the restore will "forget" an INF or two or somekind of latest settings/configurations?
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
