How to install and update drivers on a computer

In the process of assembling a computer, in addition to the operating system, software and application programs that are preinstalled by the manufacturer, there is an additional set of software that function using device drivers. Drivers have been specifically designed to provide an interface between the operating system software and the installed software, interpreting different actions such as printing, playing audio, video, and so on. However, due to technical problems that may arise while using the computer, you may have to format the hard drive and lose all system settings.

This article provides you with a helping hand on how to install and update drivers on your computer.

Steps

Step 1. Insert the recovery disc into the CD-ROM and wait until the installation menu appears on the screen

However, manufacturers currently provide this as an additional partition on the hard drive. If you also have, then back up the recovery partitions to a CD or DVD.

Step 2. In the setup menu, click on "Drivers"

A list of all drivers installed in the system will be displayed, that is, sound, video, Ethernet LAN, and so on.

Step 3. Start by installing the first driver in the list, for example, Sound

Click on the name of the driver. Follow the installation procedure by selecting the appropriate installation folder. Click Next until the installation process is complete.

Step 4. After the installation is complete, you will be prompted to reboot the system for the changes to take effect

After restarting your computer, the installation process will continue. Follow the same procedure to install the rest of the drivers.

Step 5. Alternatively, you can download the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website

To do this, visit the manufacturer's website and go to the support section. In the new page, select the driver you need and download. A list of all drivers supported by the manufacturer will be displayed. Click on the name of the driver, download and save it to your local drive.

To update installed drivers

1. Due to technological advances in hardware technology, the hardware that is installed on your system may be more advanced than the files it supports. Therefore, it is important to update your drivers so that incompatibilities are avoided.
2. Click on the "Start" button and go to "Control Panel".
3. Open "System".
4. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab. Then select "Device Manager".
5. In the Device Manager dialog box, you will see a list of all installed drivers.
6. Click on the name of the driver. Select "Update Driver" from the drop-down menu.
7. Select "Install automatically" and click the "Next" button.