Many computer hardware components, like a video card, sound card, or motherboard, require drivers to be installed to function properly. How a driver is saved and packaged determines how it is installed. Below is information about each of the methods developers use to distribute their drivers and install them in Microsoft Windows. Additionally, there are some general insights to help prevent frustrations during the process.
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TipIn most situations, the drivers are installed after the hardware has been installed or connected to the computer. If you need help installing hardware, see: How to install computer hardware.
Drivers from a CD or DVD
Almost all computer and hardware manufacturers include a group of drivers for different hardware devices and often for each of the supported versions of Windows. For example, the driver CD you receive with your printer likely contains the drivers for many different printers and may not have the printer you purchased. When installing the drivers, make sure you are install the drivers for your printer and not another printer model. Also, make sure you are installing it for the version of Windows you are running on your computer.
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Below is an example of how a file structure may look on your disc.
For example, if you had a PrinterA200 and were using Windows XP, you would find your drivers in the PrinterA200WinXP folder. Once the location of the drivers is found, you must determine how the drivers are packaged. If the folder contains executable files or a setup file, you can install the driver using an executable. If the directory contains .inf files, you can install the driver using an inf or use the 'have disk' option during the install.
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- DriverDownloader will help you fix these PC problems. Drivers for IT/ office users. Network problems and slow computer issues are the main reasons IT professionals will install a Driver Update Tool. Updating all Drivers on a number of PCs requires an automatic Driver Update Tool.
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If you have a CD with drivers, but the computer has no functioning disc drive, you can also download the drivers. Or, if you have access to another computer, you can copy the drivers from the CD to a USB flash drive. For help with copying files, see: How to copy files.
Installing drivers from a USB drive or floppy
After the drivers are copied to a USB flash drive, floppy, or another drive, they can also be installed from that drive. Once the drive is connected to the computer, open Windows Explorer and then the drive letter for the computer drive. For example, if you have a USB drive that is assigned the E: drive when connected, you would open the E: drive.
Once the drivers are found on the drive, you must determine how the drivers are packaged. If the directory contains executable files or a setup file, you can install the driver using an executable. If the directory contains .inf files, you can install the driver using an inf or use the 'have disk' option during the install. If the drivers are compressed into a .zip file, you need to uncompress the file.
Downloading and installing a driver
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TipIf you have not yet downloaded the drivers, you can find drivers for your computer through the computer or device manufacturer. For links to the websites of prominent computer hardware manufacturers, see our hardware drivers index.
TipIf you're downloading drivers to install on another device, you can copy or extract the files to a USB flash drive and connect it to the other computer.
After the drivers are downloaded, you must determine how the drivers are packaged. If the directory contains executable files or a setup file, you can install the driver using an executable. If the directory contains .inf files, you can install the driver using an inf or use the 'have disk' option during the install. If the drivers are compressed into a .zip file, you need to uncompress the file.
TipWhen extracting the drivers, remember where the folder containing the drivers is located since it needs to be known during the driver installation process. We recommend extracting files to a folder on the Windows desktop, as it's an easy place to remember.
Installing a driver from an executable
Today, many computer and hardware manufacturers are pre-packaging their drivers into executable files or have the drivers installed through the setup file. Double-clicking the executable or setup file should install the drivers to the computer for you.
NoteThe executable may be packaged in a compressed file, which means before looking for the setup file, it needs to be uncompressed. For help with uncompressing a file, see: How to extract or decompress a compressed file. If, after uncompressing the file, it still doesn't contain an executable file, setup file, or doesn't install your hardware device, continue with the below recommendations.
Finally, if you're successful with installing your drivers and the computer asks to reboot the computer, make sure to reboot the computer after the driver is installed.
Using the 'have disk' option to install drivers
A computer or hardware manufacturer may place the drivers on a CD, diskette, or folder on the hard drive for Windows to find and use during its hardware detection. Below are steps on how to install drivers for a new device and upgrade a device's driver for this setup.
Installing a new device
- Open the Windows Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager, make sure the device you are attempting to install is not already listed from past install attempts. If the device is found, highlight and remove it from Device Manager to prevent any conflicts during the install.
- Once Device Manager looks okay, reboot the computer.
- As the computer is rebooting, an Install new hardware wizard should appear if Windows detects the new hardware. Using this wizard, point Windows to the folder containing your drivers on the CD, diskette, USB flash drive, or the folder containing the files you downloaded.
If Windows does not detect any new hardware, open the Control Panel and double-click the Add hardware icon to run the hardware detection wizard. During the steps, you have the option to install custom Windows drivers from a location on disk. Choose to load drivers, then select the folder containing the drivers for your device.
NoteThe 'Add hardware' icon is only available in Windows XP and prior versions of Windows.
Once drivers are installed, reboot the computer.
Upgrading drivers for a pre-existing device
- Open the Windows Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager, locate the device you want to update.
- Right-click the device and click Properties.
- In the Properties window, click the Driver tab.
- Click the Update Driver button.
- In the Hardware Update Wizard, point Windows to the location of the updated driver files on your hard drive.
Once drivers are installed, reboot the computer.
Install a driver using a .inf file
Finally, if the above recommendations don't work, the installation instructions for drivers and hardware devices can be contained in the driver .inf file.
Locate the .inf file for your version of Windows. Right-click that file and choose the option for install.
NoteMake sure you install the correct .inf file and not a .inf file for another device or a different version of Windows.
Once you have right-clicked and installed the driver, reboot the computer.
One of the above three recommendations should have installed or updated the drivers successfully onto the computer. If you are still having difficulties getting the device to install, it is possible you are not encountering a hardware issue and not an issue with the drivers. Refer to the troubleshooting steps for your hardware device for additional help and information.
Additional information
- See the driver definition for further information and related links.
Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020
We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.
You can have Windows automatically download recommended drivers and detailed information for your hardware and devices. This is a good way to make sure all your hardware and devices work properly.
Drivers and information
Windows can find and download two kinds of updates for devices connected to your computer:
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Drivers. A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware devices. Without drivers, the devices you connect to your computer—for example, a mouse or external hard drive—won't work properly. Windows can automatically check if there are drivers available for new devices that you connect to your computer.
For hardware that you've connected to your computer in the past, updated drivers might become available at a later date; but those drivers aren't installed automatically. To install these optional updates, go to Windows Update in Control Panel, check for updates, and then view and install driver updates that are available for your computer.Information. Windows can download high-resolution icons for many hardware devices that you connect to your computer, along with detailed information about them, such as product name, manufacturer, and model number—even detailed information about the sync capabilities of a device. These details can make it easier for you to distinguish between similar devices that are connected to your computer, such as different mobile phones.
To have Windows automatically download recommended drivers and icons
You can check Windows Update at any time to see if it found new drivers and icons for your hardware, especially if you recently installed a new device. If you want to have Windows Update automatically check for the latest drivers and icons, here's how:
Open Devices and Printers by clicking the Start button , and then, on the Start menu, clicking Devices and Printers.
Right-click the name of your computer, and then click Device installation settings.
Click Yes, do this automatically (recommended), and then click Save changes. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
If Yes is already selected, click Cancel to close the dialog box.
To turn on and configure Windows Update
To get all important and recommended updates for your computer and your devices, make sure that Windows Update is turned on and configured properly.
To install drivers and other optional updates from Windows Update
Even if you have Windows Update set to automatically download and install all important and recommended updates, you still might not be getting all of the updated drivers available for your devices. For instance, optional updates might include updated drivers that become available for hardware or devices you've already installed. Windows doesn't automatically download and install optional updates, but you will be notified when optional updates are available.
To get all the available updates for your devices, periodically check Windows Update for all available updates, including optional updates. You can review the available updates and then select them from the list of updates that Windows finds for your computer. Here's how to do this:
Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Update, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.
In the left pane, click Check for updates, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.
If there are any available updates, click the link in the box under Windows Update to see more information about each update. Each type of update might include drivers.
On the Select the updates you want to install page, look for updates for your hardware devices, select the check box for each driver that you want to install, and then click OK. There might not be any driver updates available.
On the Windows Update page, click Install updates. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Notes:
Windows Update tells you if an update is important, recommended, or optional.
Some updates require you to restart your computer.
Windows Update will tell you if the updates were successfully installed.
If Windows can't find a driver for your device
It's best to let Windows install drivers automatically. Occasionally, Windows might not be able to find a driver for your device. If this happens, you might want to check the manufacturer's website for a driver or update for the device, or try installing any software that came with the device.
If Windows can't find information about your device in Device Stage
Device Stage is a new feature in this version of Windows that displays details about a device and tasks you can perform with that device. When you connect a device that's compatible with Device Stage to your computer, Device Stage will automatically open. Occasionally, Device Stage might open but not display any or all tasks and information about the device. Here are some reasons why that might happen, and what to do if it does:
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Note: If you connect a device to your computer that reportedly supports Device Stage (but only AutoPlay opens), check with the manufacturer of the device. Find out if there are any software or firmware updates available that will make the device work with Device Stage, and confirm that the device actually supports Device Stage.
Device Stage might need your permission to download information about your device. Check to see if there's a message in Device Stage telling you that updated information is available, and then follow the instructions.
Your computer might not be connected to the Internet. Device Stage can't download information about your device if you're offline. Try connecting the device later when you're online.
Device Stage might be trying to download information about your device. Wait a few minutes and see if Device Stage is able to find the information, especially if this is the first time you've connected the device to your computer. Device Stage will keep trying to download information about your device, even if the location where that information is stored is busy. If you don't want to wait, try connecting the device again later.