DriverStoreExplorer

Driver Store Explorer, also called RAPR, is a Windows desktop tool for viewing and managing the driver store: a folder on Windows where the operating system keeps copies of hardware drivers that have been added to the system. Over time this folder can accumulate old driver versions that take up disk space but are no longer needed. Driver Store Explorer makes it easier to see what is there, remove outdated versions, add new ones, and back them up.

The README opens with a clear warning. Modifying the Windows driver store can cause serious problems if done incorrectly, including preventing the system from booting or making hardware stop working. The tool is aimed at advanced users and system administrators who understand what they are doing. Ordinary users are discouraged from using it.

The main features include browsing all installed third-party driver packages with details like size, version, and date; installing new driver packages with optional automatic device association; removing single or multiple drivers including drivers that are currently in use; exporting drivers to a backup folder; and automatically identifying old driver versions that have been superseded by newer ones. The tool can also work on offline Windows installations, not just the currently running system.

Installation is straightforward. The easiest options are downloading a ZIP from the releases page and running the executable, or installing through Winget, the Windows package manager, with a single command. Building from source using Visual Studio is also documented. The application requires Windows 7 or newer, a version of .NET Framework, and administrator privileges.

The interface supports over 20 languages and includes features like live search filtering, color-coded status display, and CSV export. The project is written in C# and is available under an open source license.