• Windows 95, 98, Me -  Device Manager is accessed by RIGHT clicking on the "My Computer" icon. Select "Properties" from the menu. This opens Device Manager.

• Windows 2000, XP - Device Manager is accessed by RIGHT clicking on the "My Computer" icon.  Select "Properties" from the menu. Click the Hardware tab at the top of the page. Click the Device Manager button in the middle/right side of the page.

Installation

We'll use the video card as an example.   In Device Manager, click on the + sign to the left of the "Display Adapters." The "+" sign will open, revealing something underneath it. If it has a generic driver installed, it will read something like "VGA Display." Right click on "VGA Display," and left click on "Properties." Click on the "Driver" tab. Click the "Update Driver" button. Click "Next." Select "Search for a suitable driver for my device." Click the "Next" button. Choose the "Specify a location" button. (The other options should remain unchecked) Click on "Browse." Now, navigate to the folder where you extracted the video files. When you get to the correct folder, you' ll see a file highlighted file ending in .INF appear in the data box. Click OK, and the installation process will complete. You'll probably be prompted to reboot upon completion. Upon reboot, the driver should be installed, and operational.
That scenario described updating or replacing a generic driver. When you put a new device in a working system, when the computer boots, the Installation Wizard will appear on your screen automatically, and all you need to do is navigate to the appropriate folder and complete the process using the same method described above.

More Tips

Here are a few tips to help you realize the maximum amount of benefit when using our website. If you try to access a driver that appears to be a dead link, try refreshing the page contents. (F5)

For many reasons, it is always preferable to save the driver files to the hard drive on your computer, rather than attempt installation from running the download. Many of these files are packed, or zipped folders that contain multiple files. These files need to be extracted into a directory before they can be installed properly. Note the directory that is displayed when you open the file. It will read something like C:\WINDOWS\TEMP. In this case, the path (ie, C:\WINDOWS\TEMP) points to a common Windows folder, or, a folder that is not specific to the publisher of the device driver you are extracting. Here, it is preferable to create a unique folder for the extraction, and give it a name that you will associate with it. For instance, I might begin with a folder in the root of C:\ called "drivers." Inside of "drivers" will be various folders where I store the unpacked files necessary to install my computers device drivers. Let's say I make a folder called sound. Within the folder I've named "sound," I could extract the packed file for my sound driver. Use a hierarchy that you will remember and use consistently. I will now always know that if I need to install, uninstall, or reinstall my sound card's driver - that the installation will initialise in the path, C:\drivers\sound.

It is usually preferable to have more than one partition on your hard drive. For instance, you may only have one actual hard drive inside the PC. (This drive is referred to as a physical drive) However, you are free to divide this physical hard drive up into several smaller segments. For instance, you could set up, or partition and format your drive to be seen as three separate segments, they will be represented as your C:\, D:\, and E: drives. There are many benefits to having more than just a C:\ drive, even if in fact, you only have one actual, or "physical" hard drive. You will gain much greater control of your system this way. For instance, rather than storing your device drivers in a directory on your C:\ drive, like in our previous example, you could save them in a similarly named folders on your D:\ drive. (ie, D:\drivers) Within D:\drivers\, we'll have the folder named "sound," and one named "video," etc... Now, should your current Windows configuration become damaged in any way, you have made it possible to reformat your C:\ drive if necessary, completely reinstall MS Windows, and then have easy access to these folders on D:\ when MS Windows, upon the completed installation, begins to detect the hardware devices on your PC, and asks to be pointed to, or presented with the path in which to find the files needed to complete the installation of this hardware. (Like you sound card, video card, modem card, etc.)

We hope you enjoy Doc's Drivers ©.

_______________________________________________________