How do I install a computer driver?

Microsoft Windows users

Depending on how the driver has been packaged is what determines how the driver will be installed. Below is additional information about each of the methods developers use to distribute their drivers and how you would install the drivers in Microsoft Windows.
General driver tips

Below are some general insights to help prevent any additional frustration that may be encountered while installing drivers.

Drivers on CD or floppy diskettes:

Almost all computer and hardware manufacturers include a group of drivers for different hardware devices and often for each of the supported versions of Windows. For example, the driver CD you receive with your printer likely contains the drivers for dozens of different printers. Not just the printer you purchased, which means when installing the drivers make sure you're installing the drivers for your printer, not another printer model and that you're installing it for the version of Windows you're running on your computer.

Below is an example of how a file structure may look on your disk.

CD Example:
-PrinterA100
--Win9x
--Win2k
--WinXP
-PrinterA200
--Win9x
--Win2k
--WinXP
-PrinterB100
--Win9x
--Win2k
--WinXP

If for example you had a PrinterA200 and were using Windows XP you would find your drivers in the PrinterA200\WinXP directory.

Downloading drivers:

Almost all drivers you download are going to be a single file if the file is not an executable file it is almost definitely a compressed filethat contains all the driver files. In order to install the driver you will first need to uncompress the file.

When extracting / uncompressing the drivers make sure to remember where you place the folder containing the drivers as you will need to point Windows to this folder when installing the drivers. We usually recommend users install the driver files in a folder on their desktop as it's an easy place to remember and locate.

Finally, the single file or the files extracted from the compressed file can be deleted after you have finished installing the drivers.

Executable

Many computer and hardware manufacturers today are pre-packaging their drivers into executable files or have the drivers installed through the setup file, which means double-clicking the setup file or the file you download should install the drivers to the computer for you.

Note: Many developers may package their drivers in a compressed file, which means before looking for the setup file you may need to uncompress the downloaded file. Information about doing this was explained above. If after uncompressing the file it still does not contain an executable file, setup file, or does not install your hardware device continue with the below recommendations.

Finally, if you were successful in installing your drivers make sure to reboot the computer after the drivers have been installed.

Using the have disk option

Often computer manufacturers and hardware manufacturers will also place the drivers on the CD, diskette, or download for Windows to find and use during its hardware detection. Below are steps on how to install drivers for a new device and upgrade a devices driver for this setup.

Installing a new device
Upgrading drivers for pre-existing device

Installing a new device

1. Open Windows Device Manager.
2. In the Device Manager make sure the device you're attempting to install is not already listed from past install attempts. If the device is found highlight it and remove it from Device Manager to prevent any conflicts during the install.
3. Once Device Manager looks ok reboot the computer.
4. As the computer is rebooting an install new hardware wizard should appear if Windows detects the new hardware using this wizard you should be able to point Windows to the folder containing your drivers either on the CD, diskette, or the folder containing the files you downloaded.

If Windows does not detect any new hardware open Control Panel and double-click the Add hardware icon to run the hardware detection wizard. During the steps you will have an option to tell Windows you have a disk containing the drivers for your new hardware device, at this point Windows to the directory containing the drivers for your device.

Once drivers have been installed reboot.

Upgrading drivers for pre-existing device

1. Open Windows Device Manager.
2. In the Device Manager locate the device you wish to update the drivers for.
3. Right-click the device and click Properties.
4. In the Properties window click the Driver tab.
5. Click the Update Driver button.
6. In the Hardware Update Wizard point Windows to the location of the updated drivers on your hard disk drive

Once drivers have been installed reboot.

Install through the .inf file

Finally, if the above recommendations do not work the installation instructions for drivers and hardware devices are always contained in a .inf file that is located within the drivers