Install Drivers From Cab File !new! -
pnputil /add-driver <path_to_cab_or_inf> /install :
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expand driver.cab -F:* C:\ExtractedDrivers This paper serves as a complete reference for system administrators, support engineers, and power users seeking to master driver installation from CAB files in Windows environments. install drivers from cab file
# Install all CAB files in a folder and subfolders Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\DriverRepo" -Filter *.cab -Recurse | ForEach-Object Write-Host "Installing $($_.FullName)" & pnputil /add-driver $_.FullName /install if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) Write-Error "Failed: $($_.FullName)"
Abstract The installation of device drivers from Cabinet (CAB) files is a common yet often misunderstood practice in Windows system administration. This paper explores the structure of CAB files, the technical underpinnings of driver installation, manual and automated methods, security considerations, and enterprise deployment strategies. By examining command-line tools, PowerShell cmdlets, and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), this work provides a definitive guide for IT professionals and advanced users. 1. Introduction Drivers are essential software components that allow the operating system to communicate with hardware devices. While standard driver installation often involves executable installers ( setup.exe ) or INF files, the CAB (Cabinet) file format provides a compressed, archive-based distribution method. CAB files are widely used by Microsoft for driver packages, firmware updates, and offline servicing. pnputil is simpler
CAB + pnputil offers the best balance of control, automation, and reliability for IT pros. Scenario : Deploying Windows 10 to 500 NVMe-equipped workstations. The Windows image lacks native NVMe drivers.
Expand-Archive -Path .\driver.cab -DestinationPath .\extracted Add-WindowsDriver -Path C:\ -Driver .\extracted -Recurse For online installation (running OS), pnputil is simpler; PowerShell is more useful for offline images. When servicing an offline Windows image (WIM, VHD, or running OS offline): and reliability for IT pros.
pnputil /enum-drivers Using Add-WindowsDriver (requires DISM module):