subject: why downloading the latest drivers for your video card might save you from most of your video problems [print this page] why downloading the latest drivers for your video card might save you from most of your video problems
As you probably know, a good graphics card is essential if you want to play games as well as videos on your computer.
But did you know that having updated drivers is of equal importance?
You see, the older your drivers are, the bigger the chance is that your graphics card
don't operate at its best, since the communication between your computers operation system and your graphics card is compromised.
This could generate a lot of problems, up to the point that your videos are no longer playing!
However, downloading and updating your graphics card drivers is not that hard.
A quick lesson in updating your graphic cards driver
First of all, it is easy to understand if your graphics card is working correctly.
If not, the videos you try to run either skips, you may not hear the sound, or the videos
don't play at all.
If this is the case, don't panic, I will show you step by step what you should do right now!
First, open up your device manager.
(If you don't know where it is, then just search for it in the search tab of your computer that pops up when you press the start button)
Open up the device manager by double clicking on it, and see what the current status of your graphics/video card drivers.
If everything is in order, you should see a green check mark right next to it.
But if you see an exclamation point, then you have to do a little work :-)
The first thing you should try to do is click on the graphic cards action tab, and the update device button.
If the drivers are easily attainable via windows update this should be enough.
If, however, you added your video card at a later stage, things becomes a little more tricky.
In this case you have to download the newest drivers via the video cards manufacturers site.
first note down the making and model of your video card, as well as the manufacturer.
Then its time to go driver hunting!
Hit your favorite search engine and search for the manufacturers home page.
When you find it, look for downloads or support.
This is usually where the manufacturers have drivers for their products available for download.
Unfortunately every site is different, so you are on your own here.. :-)
When you find the downloads, make sure you download the correct driver for your video card, but also for your operation system (XP,VISTA).
Make sure that you remember where you download the needed driver.
(I always download it to my desktop, its always easier to find it there, and you can always move it later)
Now, all you have to do is to go back to the device manager and find the video card.
double click on it and then click on the upgrade driver button.
Browse to your desktop (or to where you downloaded your new driver) and update your drivers.
If your computer ask you to restart it, its always better you do it right away, to make sure all the new components are installed correctly.
Thats it, your done!
Hope you get to watch a couple of great videos today!!
