Can't install drivers

[BRI_T]

My HDD failed on my Notebook. I replaced it with a new one and installed a copy of windows 8.1 downloaded from Microsoft via another computer. Its now working partially but I cannot install the HP drivers, it is currently running on microsoft generic drivers for screen, sound, mouse pad etc. I have the HP drivers which I downloaded again onto a thumb drive via another computer but they won't install, I get the message installed successfully, but they aren't there, for instance I do not have the Synaptics gestures on the touchpad, it just says generic ps/2 mouse. Screen display is not up to scratch etc etc.

I have deleted the microsoft drivers for each item and manually selected the HP drivers, but everything just reverts to the generic set of drivers. Does anyone have help they can suggest please.

[WAWood]

@BRI_T 

An alternative is using something known as HP Support Assistant (HPSA) -- as this is a utility furnished by HP, which when installed on your PC, can be used to contact HP, find the drivers, download them, and install them.

You can download HPSA from here:  

https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/hpsupport.html#.VhKKXD720-V

[BRI_T]

Thanks I'll give your link a try, although I do have something on the computer called HP support assistant, don'tknow if its the same thing. But if it is, then it was no help when I tried it originally.

[BRI_T]

I have now solved most of the issues. I have the taskbar icon for support assistant, and it was telling me everything was installed correctly. I went to the download drivers page at HP and manually searched for drivers for my laptop. When I clicked on the link for the Synaptics touchpad it brought up an auto install window. Using that and the drivers installed correctly. Previously I had just downloaded the drivers to my computer and attempted to manually install the .exe files which for some reason were not installing.

[WAWood]

@BRI_T 

Glad to see it's mostly working now.