How To Update Your Driver

A driver is a file on a Windows-based personal computer that controls an internal or external device, such as a modem, video card, scanner or printer. Hardware manufacturers release new versions of their drivers to fix bugs, increase performance, increase stability on your computer, or add new features. When these drivers are released it is recommended that you upgrade your driver to take advantage of these new enhancements.

There are 3 methods to update your driver:

1. Manually Update Driver:
- In Windows Vista click on Start then on Control Panel. Click on Device Manager and in Vista click Continue. Select a device you want to update. Click on the device and highlight it. Right-click and select Update Driver Software. Windows will ask if you want to search automatically or browse for the driver. It will now ask if you want to search every time, just this time, or never. Make your selection. Windows will search the Internet for a newer device driver.

2. Windows install drivers for your hardware automatically. You should avoid manually updating a driver unless Windows is unable to find a driver for one of your devices but you were able to obtain one some other way, or if technical support personnel ask you to install drivers from a disc or from the device manufacturer's website. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.? Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. In the left pane, click Check for updates. To see if updated drivers are available, click View available updates. Windows Update will list any updated drivers that are available for devices installed in your computer.