Automatic installation of drivers during installation of the operating system

A system and method for identifying and locating drivers for a target system 12 before the operating system is installed, (a pre operating system environment) uses a non-volatile memory unit 14 located in the target system which is read by an operating system installation resource 20. The memory unit stores a driver locator 16 which is used by the installation resource to identify at least one driver that is needed. The driver locator may be a URL or may also include a system identifier 18 or service tag 17 associated with the target system. The URL may also comprise a link to a support site. The installation resource may also communicate with a driver database 50 from which identified drivers can be retrieved. Alternatively, the installation resource may comprise a "look up" table 22 which lists a plurality of target system identifiers and corresponding locations of their drivers over a network 40. The non volatile memory may be installed to the target system as part of a factory installation 110.