Installing Supplemental Device Drivers

The Windows operating system comes with a number of device drivers installed by default. However, as you customize your computer to your needs, other device drivers have to be installed. For instance, in order to get your printer to function, you would have to install the device drivers from the installation disc that accompanied the hardware. However, there may also be times when you need to install additional drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

Devices that commonly require additional drivers include the following:

• Plug-and-Play devices
• Non-plug and play devices
• Third-party HALs (Hardware Abstraction Layers)

Most plug-and-play devices allow you to do just that: plug in the hardware and enjoy instant functionality. Others are not automatically recognized by the operating system and therefore require additional driver installations. For example, if you want to install a new soundcard or graphics card, there is a great chance that your operating system will not have a driver for that device. Fortunately, acquiring the appropriate device drivers is easy as finding them on the manufacturer’s website, downloading them to your computer, and performing the installation.

How to Find the Appropriate and “Safest” Drivers

When dealing with third-party devices, it is always best to install drivers that are digitally signed by Microsoft. A digital signature shows that the driver has been tested and proven to function efficiently on the Windows operating system. It also ensures that device drivers can’t be modified or overwritten when installing new hardware or software.

To find out if a particular driver has a digital signature, open the “Start” menu and click “Run.” In the command field, enter “sigverif.” When the new window opens, click “Start” to initiate the process that scans your system for unsigned device drivers. You can create a log of the results by clicking the “Advanced” tab.

Another option you have is checking device driver signatures in the Device Manager utility. To access this utility, open the “Control Panel” and select “Device Manager.” Select the device from the list, right-click it, select “Properties,” click the “Driver” tab, and choose “Driver Details.” Among other details, you should see information stating that the hardware is Microsoft compatible device.

Modifying and Updating New Drivers

The additional drivers you install can also be updated or modified in the Device Manager. Simply follow the instructions above to launch the utility and select your device from the list. Right-click the device and select “Properties.” This window allows you to view details, update the driver, enable or disable the driver and roll back the driver. Simply choose the option that best suits your needs and follow the prompts.

Tips: Keep in mind that there may be a few peripherals that cannot be found in the Device Manager utility. Some of the most common hardware devices include printers, scanners, modems and digital cameras. To update and modify these device drivers, open the “Control Panel” and click “Printers” or “Printers and Other Hardware.” Choose the device in question, right-click it, select “Properties,” click the “Advanced” tab and choose “New Driver.” From there, you will be presented with prompts that will help you search for and install the updated device drivers.