How to know what drivers to install? Multiple choises. Please help!

On my newly received Lenovo laptop I have wiped my harddrive and made a clean Windows 8 install in order to avoid all the bloated stuff.

Now... how do I know what drivers I need? On Lenovo's website, when I enter my exact serial-number to get the specific drivers for my specific laptop I still end up with multiple choices for several items.

Audio:
1: Lenovo HID HW Radio Driver for Windows 8 (32-bit , 64-bit) - ThinkPad
2: Realtek High Definition Audio Driver for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit), 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), XP - ThinkPad

How do I find out which one should I use?


Camera and Card Reader
1: Ricoh Media Card Reader Driver for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit)
2: SmartCard Reader Driver for Windows 8 (64-bit)

How can I know which one to use?


Networking: Wireless LAN:
1: Intel Wireless LAN (11abgn, abg, bg) for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit)
2: Intel WiMAX 6250 AGN for Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), XP
3: ThinkPad Wireless LAN (11bgn, bg) for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit)

How can I know which one to use?


The story goes on for almost every device (as there are multiple options). How on earth can I find out which ones to use?

Here is the most detailed description I have of my computer but it doesn't help me that much:

---
System Type Notebook
Operating System Windows 8 Pro 64-bit / 7 Professional 64-bit Edition downgrade
Preinstalled OS Windows 7
Manufacturer Warranty 3 years warranty
Processor / Chipset
CPU Intel Core i7 (3rd Gen) 3720QM / 2.6 GHz
Max Turbo Speed 3.6 GHz
Number of Cores Quad-Core
Cache 6 MB
64-bit Computing Yes
Chipset Mobile Intel QM77 Express
Platform Technology Intel vPro Technology
Features Hyper-Threading Technology, integrated memory controller, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Memory
RAM 32 GB ( 4 x 8 GB )
Max RAM Supported 32 GB
Technology DDR3 SDRAM
Speed 1600 MHz / PC3-12800
Form Factor SO DIMM 204-pin
Slots Qty 4
Empty Slots 0
Storage
Hard Drive 500 GB Solid State HDD
Interface Serial ATA-300
Optical Drive DVD-Writer - removable
Display
Type 15.6"
LCD Backlight Technology LED backlight
Resolution 1920 x 1080 ( Full HD )
Widescreen Yes
Image Aspect Ratio 16:9
Features 95% color gamut, anti-glare
Audio & Video
Multi-GPU Configuration 1 single GPU card / integrated GPU
Graphics Processor NVIDIA Quadro K1000M / Intel HD Graphics 4000 - 2 GB
Video System Features NVIDIA Optimus
Camera Integrated webcam
Capture Resolutions 1280 x 720
Camera Features Face-tracking technology
Sound Stereo speakers , stereo microphone
Codec Realtek ALC3202
Compliant Standards High Definition Audio, Dolby Home Theater v4
Input
Type Keyboard, TrackPoint, UltraNav
Features Volume control, backlighting, spill-resistant, multi-touch touchpad
Communications
Wireless 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0
Wireless Controller Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 - PCI Express Mini Card
Network Interface Gigabit Ethernet
Ethernet Controller Intel 82579LM
Wireless Broadband (WWAN)
Generation 3G upgradable
Battery
Technology 9-cell lithium ion
Installed Qty 1
Max Supported Qty 2
Capacity 94 Wh
Run Time Up to 12.8 hours
AC Adapter
Input AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Output 170 Watt
Connections & Expansion
Expansion Bays 1 x Ultrabay Enhanced
Slots 1 x ExpressCard/34 ( 1 free )
Interfaces 2 x USB 3.0
USB 2.0
PoweredUSB 2.0
VGA
Mini DisplayPort
LAN
4-pin FireWire
Headphone/microphone combo jack
Memory Card Reader 4 in 1 ( SD Card, MultiMediaCard, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card )
Software
Software Included ThinkVantage Access Connections, ThinkVantage Power Manager, Fingerprint Software, Skype, ThinkVantage System Update, Norton Internet Security (30 days subscription), ThinkVantage Product Recovery, Corel WinDVD, Corel DVD MovieFactory Lenovo Edition, Corel Burn.Now Lenovo Edition, Lenovo Simple Tap, Lenovo Message Center Plus, Lenovo Solution Center, Lenovo Cloud Storage by SugarSync, Password Manager
Microsoft Office Preloaded Includes a pre-loaded image of select Microsoft Office 2010 suites. Purchase an Office 2010 Product Key Card or disc to activate preloaded software on this PC.
Miscellaneous
Case Material Carbon fiber, glass-fiber, glass-fiber reinforced plastic
Integrated Options ThinkLight
Security Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip , fingerprint reader
Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), administrator password, hard drive password, power-on password, ThinkVantage Active Protection System, ThinkPad Roll Cage, Intel Active Management Technology (iAMT)
Compliant Standards RoHS, GREENGUARD, Nordic Ecolabel
Localization English

 

"How on earth can I find out which ones to use?"

You did a clean installation of Windows 8 without knowing what to do next? You can "avoid all the bloated stuff" by simply uninstalling a number of applications -- no need to go through this kind of confused frustration.

You must know your notebook's hardware configuration (which you blindly dumped out above) and install the drivers that match the devices in that configuration.

Wireless Controller - Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 - PCI Express Mini Card
Driver needed: Intel Wireless LAN (11abgn, abg, bg) for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit)

Memory Card Reader - 4 in 1 ( SD Card, MultiMediaCard, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card )
Driver needed: Ricoh Media Card Reader Driver for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit)

Codec - Realtek ALC3202
Driver needed: Realtek High Definition Audio Driver for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit)
(Unfortunately, Dolby Home Theater v4 enhanced audio is only included in the factory image)​

Alternatively, you can go down the list of devices and, for each device that is unresolved, tell Windows to search for the appropriate driver in the folder where you keep the downloaded Lenovo-supplied drivers.

W530, i7-3720QM, Quadro K1000M, 32GB RAM (4 x 8GB), 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) screen, Windows 8 Pro 64-bit... I hope you knew what you were buying.

 

Lenovo's answer to this is "System Update" utility. Install that, and it will install drivers (and will keep them updated too).

 

That could be considered "bloated stuff."

 

Ah, that sounds like a good way of doing it! Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

I'm trying it out right this minute. Thanks!

 

HAHA ..true! However, as long as it's useful and not annoying like Norton it may be worth it! :thumbsup:

 

I also suggest using System Update. However, I noticed I have crazy CPU usage with the Lenovo Power Manager driver during idle periods , so I took it out.

(Referring to Lenovo System Update. Windows Update is OK as well, but can sometimes install older drivers).