subject: How to Troubleshoot and Fix Driver Problems in Windows [print this page] How to Troubleshoot and Fix Driver Problems in Windows
Drivers serve an important function in your computer. These are small programs that translate information between the software and the hardware of your computer. They act as relay stations between these two parts of your computer that give them a common thorough fare for information. Without these drivers, your computer's devices will not function.
Even though you already have drivers for your computer, these may still cause problems. Drivers that are outdated or corrupted can cause errors like lagging performance, glitches when using some programs, freezing display and even "blue screen" for your display. Here are some tips for troubleshooting your drivers.
1. Uninstall problematic drivers - sometimes there are errors that occur during installation and these can be resolved by re-installing drivers. Run the command devmgnt.msc to open your device manager and check your drivers and uninstall them if necessary.
2. Update your drivers - outdated drivers can develop glitches along the way. Some driver configurations are also rendered obsolete by newer devices. Updating your drivers can address this problem.
3. Update Windows - on the other side of the spectrum, it may be that your Windows is outdated and does not completely support the programs you are using. Check to see if your Windows need updating.
4. Check for incorrect registry entries - Driver's configurations is added to the registry. If there are corrupted entries then error can occur with your drivers.
The task of maintaining drivers can some times prove tedious and time-consuming. You can avoid all the hassle and get a driver scanner and update software or just grind it out by updating them manually.
Of course, the recommended solution is to go for driver update software. The time you spend reading reviews to help you choose the best driver update software will save you ten times the time you'd spend poring over those drivers yourself. There are quite a few product review sites available today. Just look for one with a long history of thorough and impartial reviews. This will go a long way towards making those driver problems a thing of the past.
