Updating system drivers in Windows is an important task that can help improve the performance and reliability of your computer. It is important to keep drivers as up to date as possible, as newer versions may contain bug fixes and performance enhancements.
Updating drivers in Windows can be done manually or with a driver update utility. There are many websites that offer driver updates for Windows, such as Driver Easy, Driver Booster or Driver Agent. However, not all drivers will be available on these sites.
This guide will show you how to manually update your system drivers in Windows.
Step 1: Identify Your Drivers
The first step is to identify your system’s drivers. You can do this by going to the Device Manager.
To access the Device Manager, right-click on My Computer, select Properties, and then click on the Hardware tab.
Click the Device Manager button to open the Device Manager.
The Device Manager will show your system’s hardware in a hierarchical format. Look for devices with an exclamation mark or question mark next to it. These devices are not functioning properly and may need updated drivers.
If you are unsure what driver you need, you can use a Driver Identification software such as Driver Detective which will scan your system and identify the correct driver for your hardware.
Step 2: Find Updated Drivers
Now that you have identified your hardware, you need to find updated drivers. The best place to look is on the manufacturer’s website.
Search for the manufacturer’s name, followed by the model number of your device. If you have multiple devices, you may need to search for each one separately.
Once you have found your device, download the most recent driver available for it. It is important to choose the correct driver, as incompatible drivers can cause problems on your system.
Step 3: Install the Driver
Now that you have downloaded the driver, you need to install it on your system.
To install the driver, double-click on the driver file and follow the onscreen instructions.
If you are running Windows Vista or later, you may be asked to confirm that you want to install the driver. Click Yes to continue.
When the installation is complete, restart your computer if prompted.
Step 4: Verify Installation
Once your computer has restarted, you should verify that the driver was installed correctly.
To do this, open the Device Manager again, and check that the driver that you installed is now listed. If it is not, try reinstalling the driver.
You may also want to check the version number of the driver. This can usually be found by double-clicking on the driver in the Device Manager.
The version number should match the version you downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. If the version numbers do not match, you may need to download a different driver.
Conclusion
Updating your system drivers in Windows is an important task that can help keep your computer running smoothly. By following the steps in this guide, you can easily identify and update your system drivers.