Updating your hardware drivers in Windows 2000 is an important part of maintaining the system’s performance and overall stability. Many issues can arise by using out-of-date drivers, including hardware conflicts, decreased performance, and even system crashes.
Fortunately, there are several methods of locating and updating the appropriate drivers for your hardware. The following sections will teach you how to find and install new drivers in Windows 2000.
Identifying Your Hardware
Before attempting to update any hardware drivers, you should first identify your exact hardware components. This identification process can be done using the Device Manager or the System Information tool. Both methods will give you detailed information about your system components.
Using Device Manager
Device Manager is a built-in application in Windows 2000 which displays all of the installed hardware within your computer. To open Device Manager:
1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > System.
2. Select the “Hardware” tab, then click on “Device Manager”.
3. A list of installed hardware will be displayed.
Using System Information
Windows 2000 includes a utility called the System Information tool which can be used to discover detailed information about your system. To access the System Information tool:
1. Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools.
2. Double-click on the System Information icon.
3. When the program opens, click on the “Components” tab.
4. A list of installed hardware will be displayed.
Finding Drivers
Once you’ve identified the necessary hardware, you’re ready to locate and download the corresponding drivers. There are two general methods of doing this:
Using the Manufacturer’s Website
The easiest way to locate the correct drivers is to visit the manufacturer’s website. Every major hardware manufacturer hosts their own website which contains the most up-to-date drivers for their products. To find these drivers:
1. Open your web browser and navigate to the manufacturer’s website.
2. Search for the product name or number.
3. Click on the product and locate the downloads section.
4. Download the latest driver for your exact model and operating system.
Using Windows Update
Windows Update is an automatic service in Windows 2000 which can be used to download and install the latest device drivers. To use this service:
1. Open your web browser and navigate to the Microsoft Windows Update page.
2. Select the “Drivers” option from the left menu.
3. Enter the model name or number into the search box.
4. Download the latest driver for your exact model and operating system.
Installing Drivers
The last step of the process is to actually install the new device driver. Depending upon the type of driver, there may be more than one method for installation. Generally speaking, there are two different types of drivers that you may encounter:
Self-Installing Drivers
Many device drivers are self-installing, meaning that they will install themselves without requiring any user interaction. To install a self-installing driver:
1. Locate the downloaded driver file and double-click on it.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Manual Installation
Some device drivers require manual installation. This means that you must tell Windows where to look for the new driver file. To manually install a driver:
1. Locate the downloaded driver file and right-click on it.
2. Select “Install” from the context menu.
3. Browse to the location of the driver file and click “OK”.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
After installation is complete, you should restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Once the system has rebooted, your hardware should now be utilizing the updated drivers.
Updating your hardware drivers in Windows 2000 is an important task to ensure the performance and stability of the system. By regularly checking for and installing new drivers, you can ensure that your system continues to run smoothly and efficiently.