Drivers are computer programs that allow hardware devices to communicate with higher-level programs. The Device Manager lists all hardware drivers installed on a system, including display, network, sound, and USB drivers. To install a driver, it must first be uncompressed into a folder. The driver files or folder location must then be pointed to during the Windows installation process. Finally, the computer should be rebooted for the new driver to take effect. If a driver installation fails, the BIOS, jumpers, and cabling should be checked along with the manufacturer's website for troubleshooting tips.

1. Rico Williams
11-14-10
IT 210
Device Manager

2. “What Are Drivers”
(And how to install them)
• Drivers are a computer program allowing high-level
computer programs to interact with a hardware
device.
• Within a “Device Manager” are; computer, disk
drivers, display adapters, DVD/CD-ROM divers,
Human Interface Devices, IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers,
keyboards, mice and other pointing devices,
monitors, network adapters, other devices, ports
(Com & LPT), processors, sound, video & game
controllers, system devices, and Universal Serial Bus
(USB) controllers.

3. Inserting Drivers
• Driver Signing and Digital
Signatures
• At a command prompt enter Sigverif
with parameters.
• When a device driver or other software
is giving problems, use it to verify that
the software has been approved by
Microsoft.
• Driver Verifier
• Enter veifier.exe at a command prompt
screen.
• Use it to identify a driver that is causing
a problem. The tool puts stress on
selected drivers, which cause the driver
with a problem to crash.
In order to install any driver,
first you will need to
“Uncompress” the file. When
extracting /uncompressing
the drivers, make sure to
remember when you place
the folder containing the
drivers as you will need to
point Windows to the folder
when installing the drivers.
Finally, the single file and /or
the files extracted after you
have finished installing the
drivers. Remember to reboot
your computer after the
drivers have been installed.

4. Problems Installing
• If you are having problems installing your drivers to your
desktop/pc, then these are some steps that you will need to
check for;
• Has BIOS setup been correctly configured for auto detection?
• Are the jumpers on the drivers set correctly?
• Have the power cord and data cable been properly connected
? Verifying that each is solidly connected at both ends
• Check the Web site of the driver manufacturer for
suggestions, if the above setups don’t solve your problem.
Look for diagnostic software that can be downloaded from
the Web site and used to check the drivers.