subject: How to download a new driver successfully [print this page] How to download a new driver successfully
Since there are myriads of computer products, both hard ware and software, and hundreds of manufactures around the world, everyone with their own systems and requirements,
I guess it comes as no surprise that people often download the wrong driver, which then leads to a device not running at its optimum capacity or even worse, leads to a complete failure of the device.
In order to avoid problems like the ones described above, here are a few tips that will help you download and install drivers successfully.
Before you do anything else, set a system restore point
Since it always possible you might do something and make things worse instead of improving them, always set a system restore point before downloading and installing a new driver.
What you do is go to your control panel, choose system, then system protection and create a restore point.
With this little trick, you will be able to restore your computer to its previous state,
(the way it was before you installed the wrong drivers and made thing worse :-) )
so if you make things worse when you download and install the wrong driver,
you just go back to the previous state of the computer, like this:
Go to start, then to the programs, then accessories, system tools system restore and choose the restore point you had just created before.. easy huh?? :)
Now that we have your back covered, lets see how we do this the RIGHT way.
In order to choose the correct driver for your system and device,you have to make sure it is for the correct operating system, otherwise it will fail. so if you have a 64 bit operating system and download a driver for a 32 bit operating system, it will not work.
The reason for this is that all drivers are operation system specific, so that they only work with the operation system they are designed and created for. Clear?
Same goes for the device model number. Always make sure you download the right driver for your specific device, because drivers are usually written for specific devices, and don't work with other devices, even if they are from the same manufacturer.
So now when you have found and installed the CORRECT driver on your computer(hopefully),you have to reboot (restart) your computer.
Even if the manufacturers don't always tell you to do so, it is often necessary in order to get the files of the new drivers in place and make it work right. this little tip here can save you tons of frustration, so don't forget to restart your computer when you have installed a new driver.
