Bit of a pickle...

About two years ago when I was more ill informed, I bought a PC from PC World that was a make I didn't recognise called "Advent" and it's always had problems.
I've decided it's time to reformat again but I recently moved house and seem to have lost my recovery disk and any other useful disks in the move. I'm worried if I reformat I won't be able to find all the drivers I need to install because they don't even have a website.
I was wondering if there was a program or something I could download that would scan my PC and tell me exactly what I need.
Thanks for any help

majorgeeks.com has driver programs that back up your current drivers. I don't use them so don't know which one to recommend.

i personally wouldn't worry about that because you can find damn near anything on google. if you can't find a driver for your device on google on some site, then it probably doesn't exist. :shrug:

Is the problem that you do not know what specific hardware you have?

majorgeeks.com has driver programs that back up your current drivers. I don't use them so don't know which one to recommend.

I wouldn't do this because the drivers may be part of the problems he's having.

I wouldn't do this because the drivers may be part of the problems he's having.

Very good point.

Well, the only drivers you really need are the NIC drivers, find those and you can find the rest pretty easily, better than locking yourself off the net completely.

Is the problem that you do not know what specific hardware you have?Good question rathbone and the right one as I understand the OP...
If you want a profile/audit(list) of all software and hardware you presently have that also gives a list of latest versions and drivers and updates that you have before you reformat your rig so you know what to go get and install after, then use:

1. Belarc Advisor Audit/Profile(free) and print out: Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit (http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html)

then also:
2. WinAudit(free) and print out: WinAudit v2.27 - Free Computer Audit Software (http://www.pxserver.com/WinAudit.htm)

I think you know you should dn-load:install your updated/upgraded/patched latest drivers/firmware/versions after reformat from each respective Manufactorer's site if you can; if not supported for a long time then a google search, as already said, is a good way to go...

GL and lets us know how it goes so that we know and learn too, thanks..

Thanks a lot for all the help.
I successfully reformatted and have upgraded to Vista (bad move, so far). I got back on the internet and everything no problem but I'm having some trouble finding a driver for my audio. Annoyingly I don't even know what my sound card is. In device manager, it's just referred to as "high definition audio device". I'm increasingly beginning to think that it isn't compatible with vista, it'd just be annoying to have to spend more money. Any ideas?

edit:
and whilst I'm at it, wtf is up with this "azureus zune" bullshit. What was wrong with normal azureus?

Well i use PC wizard it will tell you what you have in your system from soup to nuts.