Driver Magician


Driver Magician — Free Download. Driver backup utility

Driver Magician Lite identifies all hardware in the system, extracts associated drivers from the hard disk, and backs them up to a chosen location. After reinstalling or upgrading the operating system, saved drivers can be restored as if original driver media were available. The program includes a database of latest drivers, supports updates via the Internet, and detects unknown devices through its built-in hardware identifier database.

5.0(1 ratings)
File size: 2.89 MB
The latest version of Driver Magician is: 5.83
Operating system: Windows
Languages: English
Price: $0.00 USD (Freemium product)
  • Four backup modes. The software can back up device drivers using four distinct approaches. Users may select a full backup of all installed drivers, a backup of only third-party drivers, a backup of drivers for specific hardware categories, or a custom selection of individual devices. Each mode stores driver files, registry entries, and associated configuration data into a structured folder or a compressed archive for later restoration.
  • One-click restoration. Driver restoration from a previously created backup is executed with a single action. The utility reads the saved driver package, verifies file integrity, and places every driver into its correct system location. After restoration, the operating system recognizes hardware components without requiring manual installation through Device Manager or original installation media.
  • Driver update mechanism. The built-in update function connects to an online database containing current driver versions for a large set of hardware devices. The program compares installed driver versions with available releases, displays a report of outdated entries, and downloads updated packages directly. This process reduces the time spent searching manufacturer websites and minimizes the risk of installing incorrect driver versions.
  • Driver uninstaller. This function removes selected device drivers from the operating system completely. All associated files, registry keys, and service entries are deleted to prevent conflicts during hardware replacement or system troubleshooting. After uninstalling a driver, the device appears as an unknown or unconfigured component until a fresh driver is installed.
  • Live database updates. The program maintains two databases: one for hardware identifiers and one for driver update information. The live update feature downloads the latest versions of these databases from the developer server. Regular database updates allow the software to recognize newly released hardware and provide accurate driver update suggestions without requiring a full program upgrade.
  • Unknown device detection. Hardware components without installed drivers are flagged as unknown devices in Device Manager. The utility reads device vendor and product identifiers, compares them against its hardware identifier database, and reports the manufacturer name, model, and suggested driver source. This removes guesswork when dealing with unrecognized PCI, USB, or ACPI devices.
  • Additional data backup. Beyond device drivers, the program can back up user directories such as My Documents and Desktop. This function copies selected folders to a backup location while preserving folder structure and file attributes. It serves as a supplementary safety measure before formatting a system partition or performing a clean operating system installation.
  • Additional data restoration. Backed-up folders created by the additional data backup function can be restored to their original locations. The software reconstructs directory paths and overwrites existing files according to user-defined rules. This feature works independently of driver backup and is available during post-installation recovery tasks.
  • Hardware driver information. A detailed report view displays technical data for every installed driver. Information includes device name, manufacturer, driver version, driver date, digital signature status, and associated hardware IDs. This data helps system administrators verify that correct driver packages are active and assists in auditing hardware configurations across multiple machines.
  • Auto-setup package creation. All backed-up drivers can be compiled into a single executable file with an integrated installation routine. The resulting package runs on a target computer without requiring Driver Magician to be installed beforehand. When executed, the package automatically installs every contained driver and reboots the system if necessary, making it suitable for rapid deployment on identical hardware setups.

Driver Magician originated in the early 2000s as a utility designed to solve driver preservation problems during Windows reinstalls. The development team focused on creating a small, dependency-free application that could operate on older Windows versions with limited system resources. Early versions introduced basic backup and restoration functions, with driver database support added after several major releases.

Alternatives to Driver Magician:

Driver Talent — Free Download. Driver update manager

Driver Talent

Driver Talent is a specialized driver updater and management application designed for Windows-based computers and servers.
Price: Free   Size: 79.57 MB   Version: 10.1.37.102   OS: Windows
Driver Fusion — Free Download. Driver management suite

Driver Fusion

Driver Fusion is a comprehensive software utility for updating, backing up, cleaning, and monitoring the drivers and devices of a PC.
Price: Free   Size: 26.4 MB   Version: 14.0   OS: Windows