Driver Issues

Many hardware-related problems can be attributed to drivers.  When you insert a new device into your PC Windows relies on software called drivers to run the new device.  If Windows does not find a specific device driver for the new device, Windows will use its own generic version.  This is most often not the best choice for the new device. If windows is unable to locate a compatible driver for the device, it will be unable to communicate with the hardware and the device won’t work.

To check a devices driver in Windows XP:

     Right-click My Computer
     Click Properties and choose Hardware tab
     Click Device Manager

You will see a list of all the types of devices install on your PC, and by clickin the plus(+) sign beside each device type, you’ll find an individual listing for each device.

Look for any yellow question marks that overlay the icons.  This symbol indicates that there’s a problem with the device. Click the plus sign to expand the category and double-click the device that has a yellow warning symbol on it.

Double click the device to bring up its properties window. Click the driver tab. You can now try reinstalling the driver.  This usually doesn’t do much be it is worth a try.  If you are connected to the internet, you can also try to get an update for the driver. These are drivers at Microsoft that have been submitted by manufacturers to Microsoft.  These drivers usually are not the most recent drivers.  To get the most recent driver, visit the devices manufacturer for the updated driver.

To install a new driver from the manufacturer (Windows XP):
     Click on the Update Driver… in the devices property window.
     Choose “No, not this time” and then Next.
     Choose “Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) and then Next.
     Now use the Browse button to locate the driver you downloaded from the manufacturer  

Tips:

- Make sure the driver you are installing is for your operating system.
- If you are unable to solve the problem using the above methods, try booting into Windows Safe Mode by repeatedly pressing F8 immediately after starting your computer. Only necessary drivers are loaded in Safe Mode, the rest are disabled.  You may now be able to uninstall or replace the faulty driver.