More on updating a device driver

Let’s use the HP OfficeJet d145 All In One printer as an example of the process of locating and downloading the appropriate driver for your system (let’s assume you’re using Windows XP).

  • Go to http://www.hp.com
  • Click on the ‘Software and Driver Downloads’ link
  • Type in your product name/model number in the appropriate box and click the search button (or use the Automatic Detection feature)
  • Select your operating system
  • Click on the link for your driver package and download it to a known location on your hard drive
  • Double click the name of the file you’ve downloaded to begin the installation process and follow the prompts of the installation wizard

It’s interesting to note that if you had selected Windows Vista rather than Windows XP, you’d discover that the required driver is already incorporated into your Vista OS, and there is no need to download anything further.

As you have probably experienced, software and hardware technologies within the computer industry are developed along different timelines. So that printer that you purchased several years ago may have worked just fine under Windows XP, but may not be supported under the Windows Vista operating system. While OS developers work to ensure a reasonable period of backward compatibility, it’s impossible to continue to support the myriad of devices and models available.

So when and why should you update your device drivers? Here’s a quick guide:

  • Whenever you add new hardware, install the latest version of the device driver available.
  • If you upgrade your operating system, you’ll need to upgrade your hardware device drivers as well. This process may occur automatically during the installation of your new OS (as the hardware is scanned), but you’ll have to manually update any drivers that were not automatically updated.
  • If you’re experiencing any problems or compatibility issues with your hardware device, check to see if there is an updated driver available.

To easily update the drivers on your computer, open up Device Manager (as described in the Expansion Card section of this tutorial), double click on the device whose driver you wish to update, select the Driver tab, and click on the Update Driver button.

If you’re looking for an older driver and you’re not able to find it at the manufacturer’s website (older, or legacy, drivers, are not always supported), an excellent online resource to search for the driver you’re looking for is the top-rated http://www.driverguide.com . Their database of drivers is one of the most comprehensive on the web.

 

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