lostindark/DriverStoreExplorer

Driver Store Explorer (RAPR) 🌏: English | Türkçe | 한국어 | 简体中文 | 繁體中文

⚠️ Warning

Driver Store Explorer modifies the Windows driver store. Improper use can cause system malfunction, prevent Windows from booting, or result in loss of device functionality. Know the risks before proceeding. Always back up your drivers before deleting anything.

What is Driver Store Explorer?

Driver Store Explorer (RAPR) is a powerful tool for viewing, managing, and cleaning up the Windows DriverStore. It is intended for advanced users and administrators. If you are not familiar with Windows internals, use of this tool is discouraged.

Features

Core Operations

• Browse & List: View all third-party driver packages with detailed metadata (size, version, date etc.)
• Add/Install: Install new driver packages with optional automatic device installation
• Remove/Delete: Delete single or multiple drivers with force deletion for in-use drivers
  Note: The exact implications of removing or deleting drivers depend on system state and usage. Exercise caution, as removal may affect device functionality or require reinstallation of drivers for certain hardware.
• Export: Backup selected or all drivers to organized folder structures
• Smart Cleanup: Automatically identify and select old/unused driver versions

Advanced Capabilities

• Multiple APIs: Native Windows API, DISM, or PnPUtil backend support with auto-detection
• Online & Offline: Work with local machine or offline Windows image driver stores
• Device Association: View connected devices and their presence status
• Batch Operations: Multi-select for bulk operations with progress tracking
• Real-time Search: Live filtering and CSV export for analysis

User Interface

• Multi-language: 20+ languages with RTL support
• Customizable: Sortable columns, grouping, and flexible layout
• Visual Feedback: Color coding, selection highlighting, and detailed logging

Understanding Driver Status and Removal Options

• Old drivers: Drivers are considered as "old" when newer versions exist on the system. Removing these can help free up space and reduce clutter, but may impact compatibility with certain devices or configurations. Consider backing up drivers before removal. The "Select Old Driver(s)" can automatically identify old drivers, though results may vary.
• Unused drivers: "Select Unused Driver(s)" selects drivers without an associated device, not drivers proven safe to delete. Essential antivirus, network service, printer, and other software drivers may also be selected. Both the button and context menu show a warning before changing the selection; Cancel is the default. A yellow status reminder remains alongside operation results while any of these drivers are checked; errors remain red without hiding the reminder. Successful driver-package exports clear the reminder for the backed-up drivers; CSV exports and failed backups do not. Review the selected drivers and back them up before deletion.
• Grayed Device Names: Drivers shown with device names in gray are associated with devices that are not currently connected (such as cameras, phones, or external drives). If you remove these drivers, you will need to reinstall them if you reconnect the device in the future.
• Offline Cleanup: Automatic old/unused driver selection is disabled for offline stores because device usage cannot be established reliably. Drivers can still be selected manually for removal.
• Force Deletion: Use this option if you need to delete a driver that is currently in use. Note: This option may not work for print drivers.

Screenshot

Installation

Requirements

• Windows 7 or newer
• .NET Framework 4.7.2 or newer
• Administrator privileges

Option 1: Download Pre-built Binary (Recommended)

1. Go to the latest release page
2. Download the latest ZIP archive
3. Extract the files to a folder of your choice
4. Run Rapr.exe

Option 2: Install via Winget (Recommended)

winget install lostindark.DriverStoreExplorer

After installation, launch the tool by running:

rapr

Option 3: Install via Scoop

scoop bucket add extras
scoop install driverstoreexplorer

After installation, launch the tool by running:

rapr

Option 4: Build from Source

1. Clone or download this repository
2. Open Rapr.sln in Visual Studio 2022
3. Build the solution (Build → Build Solution or Ctrl+Shift+B)
4. Run the executable from the output directory

Project History

Originally hosted at https://driverstoreexplorer.codeplex.com/.

Credits

• ObjectListView
• Managed DismApi Wrapper
• FlexibleMessageBox
• Resource Embedder
• PortableSettingsProvider
• Strong Namer

Sponsors

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