Device Drivers: Figure 105. Manage My Computer
Device Drivers: Figure 105. Manage My Computer
Device Drivers: Figure 105. Manage My Computer
Now that you successfully installed the operating system, you’ll need to
configure the devices such as Video Cards, Network Interface Cards, Sound
Cards, etc by installing the device drivers of each. In many cases, if Windows
recognizes the device, drivers will be installed automatically. In some cases,
generic drivers are installed so that the devices will work properly.
Drivers are small software programs that help the operating system use or
“drive” the device. Whenever a device doesn’t work properly, ask if the proper
driver has been installed.
The procedures listed below describe how to obtain and install drivers for
hardware devices on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer.
Step 1: Determine the Hardware Manufacturer
If you do not know the manufacturer of the device for which you want to install
the driver, follow these steps to determine the manufacturer:
1. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
3. In the right pane, expand the category of the device that you want to configure. For
example, expand Display adapters.
1. Right-click the device for which you want to install the driver, and then click
Properties.
If the device was installed by your computer manufacturer, contact the manufacturer of your
computer to find out how to obtain, download, and install the latest drivers for the device.
Device Manufacturer
Contact the manufacturer of the device to inquire about how to obtain, download, and install
the latest drivers for the device.
Chipset Manufacturer
Contact the chipset manufacturer of the device to find out how to obtain, download, and
install the latest drivers for the device. It is best to first contact the manufacturer of the
device for the drivers before you contact the chipset manufacturer. For example, if your
display adapter uses a NVIDIA chipset, first contact the manufacturer of the display adapter.
If you cannot contact the display adapter manufacturer or if the manufacturer does not have
a driver, contact NVIDIA. Some examples of chipset manufacturers (and their Web sites)
include:
NVIDIA (display adapters)
PCTEL, Inc. (modems)
Click Next.
7. Do one of the following:
o Click Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended), and then click Next.
-or-
o Click Display a list of the known devices for this device so that I can choose a
specific driver, and then click Next. Click Have Disk, click Browse, locate the .inf files that
you downloaded in Step 2: Obtain the Driver, click an .inf file, and then click Open.