Where are Dell Drivers on Directory Tree?

Is this yours?  XPS 8300 Downloads and Drivers.

EDIT:  Apologies, I misinterpreted your question.  New machines directly from Dell often do not have the driver files in C:\Dell\Drivers.  Sometimes it is simply C:\Drivers.  The C:\Dell\Drivers path is the default for the driver files that you would install if for some reason you had to reinstall your operating system.

I believe all Dell drivers will extract to the C:\Dell\drivers folder (unless you change the path).  But the folder won't exist until you download and run it to extract the files.  The drivers are not in this folder when you install from a Dell DVD ... only after downloading and running to install them.

If reinstalling the OS, then you will need all of them listed on the Drivers and Downloads page that apply to your system.  For example, you will need:

• Both chipset drivers (install these first)
• Audio (add-in or onboard, whichever matches your system configuration)
• Video (add-in or onboard, whichever matches your system configuration)
• Network and/or wireless (whichever matches your system configuration)
• Modem or USB 3.0 card (if configured with them)

Generally, the best place to check to see which devices need drivers is Device Manager (right-click Computer, Manage), but it is best practice to install the Dell drivers even if Device Manager shows the device as ok and it seems to be working.  It can add system stability and/or additional functionality.

If you need assistance determining which devices your system is configured with, you can find it in a couple different ways:

• In Device Manager, right-click the device, Properties, Details tab, change dropdown to Hardware Ids, and look up the DEV and VEN ID's ... or post them here.
• Look at your original invoice/order details.  This can sometimes be cryptic, so you can post it here if something doesn't make sense.

I am trying to ascertain what Dell drivers are on my computer so I will know what drivers need to be updated.  Should I download the download manager?  I cannot find any drivers under C:\DRIVERS or C:\DELL\Drivers\.  This is the first time I have ever used an operating system installed by Dell that did not have any driver folder.  

Dell used to have a utility that told you when your drivers were outdated.  It seemed like it was with Windows ME or possibly with XP.  It looks like they no longer have it.  When you turned on your computer a display came up stating that new drivers were available.  With my Inspiron 530 running Vista SP3 I know I never received any update notices.  But I would go to Dell's folder in the directory tree and write down all the files which started with R______.   Then I would pick out the ones that were outdated by matching the those files with the files listed as updates from Dell's driver update site.  Each new update had a new R____ number.  I have tried going to device manager.  I know there is an update for my Western digital HD in Dell's site.  But in device manager when I click update, it says the latest driver is installed.  Is this because it is checking on-line from Microsoft's site?  It obviously is not checking Dell's site.  I remember using a utility from Dell's site that would scan my computer and automatically tell me what updates were needed.  I am not interested in reinstalling my system.  The last time I tried a clean install I had the hardest time getting Dell's drivers to work.  I ended up pressing F11 to do a restore and then proceeded from that point.  They also used to give you a CD with all the drivers on it, but those days are past.  At this point I wonder if any Dell drivers are even installed on my computer.  Somewhere in the directory tree a list of the drivers should appear.  

It wasn't clear exactly why/what you were asking ... it sounded like you were looking for drivers after reinstalling.  (On the subject of reinstalling, should you ever need to - it is a whole new ballgame with Windows 7.)

Keep in mind, OS's from Dell are installed with a special image which has all the software and drivers integrated into the image using various deployment tools for that purpose.  From Dell, it has all the drivers installed that are found on the support site ... they are integrated into the image Dell created at the factory, so the install directory isn't necessary.  In Windows 7, I believe drivers are stored in C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\, but they will not be stored under the Dell driver file names like ones you install manually would be.

When you update via Device Manager, the automatic update will check Microsoft's Windows Update site only.  To get the driver files from any where else, you would need to have the files on the computer and tell Device Manager where they are located.  Alternatively, you can run the driver update utility that all Dell drivers use.

I don't know if such a tool exists to automatically check and/or update drivers on your system - there do not appear to be any such utilities on the drivers and downloads page for the 8300.  If that is the case, then you will need to just check the support site periodically, downloading and installing any newer versions from there.  They are all listed for you ... no need to hunt down R_ numbers from a list.

I see the Windows\System32DriverStore file, but it doesn't look like any Dell drivers are in it.  I don't see any need to update any drivers yet, but when I do, I would need to choose the location in which the files are to be stored.  This is the first Dell computer I have ever had that did not have the Dell driver folder in it.

Thank you.  You have answered all my questions.  There is a learning curve with Windows 7, but it is a better system once you master it.  

Agreed.  Good luck!