Many computer hardware components, like video cards, sound cards, Wi-Fi, and motherboards, require drivers to be installed to function. Additionally, if an existing driver has problems, reinstalling it can be a good way to troubleshoot. How a driver is saved and packaged determines how it is installed. Below is information about each method developers use to distribute their drivers and install them in Microsoft Windows. Additionally, some general insights help prevent frustrations during the process.
Drivers from a CD or DVD
Almost all computer and hardware manufacturers include a group of drivers for different hardware devices and often for each supported version of Windows. For example, the driver CD you receive with your printer likely contains the drivers for many different printers, and may not have the printer you purchased. When installing the drivers, make sure you install the drivers for your printer and not another model. Also, make sure you are installing it for the version of Windows on your computer.
In most situations, the drivers are installed after the hardware has been installed or connected to the computer. For help installing hardware, see: How to install computer hardware.
- Drivers from a CD or DVD.
- Installing drivers from a USB drive or floppy.
- Downloading and installing a driver.
- Installing a driver from an executable.
- Using the “have disk” option to install drivers.
- Install a driver using a .inf file.
- How to know a driver is safe to install.
Below is an example of how a file structure may look on your disc.
CD Example:-PrinterA100–Win9x–Win2k–WinXP-PrinterA200–Win9x–Win2k–WinXP-PrinterB100–Win9x–Win2k–WinXP
For example, if you had a PrinterA200 and used Windows XP, you would find your drivers in the PrinterA200\WinXP folder. Once the location of the drivers is found, you must determine how the drivers are packaged. If the folder contains executable files or a setup file, you can install the driver using an executable. If the directory contains .inf files, you can install the driver using an inf or use the “have disk” option during the installation.
Installing drivers from a USB drive or floppy
After the drivers are copied to a USB flash drive, floppy, or another drive, they can also be installed from that drive. Once the drive is connected to the computer, open Windows Explorer and then the drive letter for the computer drive. For example, if you have a USB drive assigned to the E: drive when connected, you would open the E: drive.
If you have a CD with drivers, but the computer has no functioning disc drive, you can also download the drivers from the Internet. Or, if you can access another computer, you can copy the drivers from the CD to a USB flash drive. For help with copying files, see: How to copy files.
Once the drivers are found on the drive, you must determine how the drivers are packaged. If the directory contains executable files or a setup file, you can install the driver using an executable. If the directory contains .inf files, you can install the driver using an inf or use the “have disk” option during the installation. If the drivers are compressed to a .zip file, you need to decompress the file.
- How to extract or decompress a compressed file.
Downloading and installing a driver
- How to download an app, file, or program from the Internet.
- Where are the files I downloaded using my web browser?
After the drivers are downloaded, you must determine how the drivers are packaged. If the directory contains executable files or a setup file, you can install the driver using an executable. If the directory contains .inf files, you can install the driver using an inf or use the “have disk” option during the installation. If the drivers are compressed into a .zip file, you need to decompress the file.
If you have not yet downloaded the drivers, you can find them for your computer through its manufacturer. For links to the websites of prominent computer hardware manufacturers, see our hardware drivers index.
If you’re downloading drivers to install on another device, you can copy or extract the files to a USB flash drive and connect it to the other computer.
Installing a driver from an executable
Today, many computer and hardware manufacturers are pre-packaging their drivers in executable files or installing them through the setup file. Double-clicking the executable or setup file should begin the installation process.
When extracting the drivers, remember where the driver’s folder is located since it needs to be known during the driver installation process. We recommend extracting files to a folder on the Windows desktop.
Finally, if you’re successfully installing your drivers and a message to reboot the computer appears, make sure to reboot the computer after the driver is installed.
The executable may be packaged in a compressed file, which means before looking for the setup file, it needs to be decompressed. For help with decompressing a file, see: How to extract or decompress a compressed file. If, after decompressing the file, it still doesn’t contain an executable file, setup file, or doesn’t install your hardware device, continue with the recommendations below.
Using the “have disk” option to install drivers
A computer or hardware manufacturer may place the drivers on a CD, diskette, or folder on the hard drive for Windows to find and use during its hardware detection. Below are steps for installing drivers for a new device and upgrading a device’s driver for this setup.
Installing a new device
Open the Windows Device Manager.
In the Device Manager, ensure the device you are attempting to install is not already listed from past install attempts. If the device is found, highlight and remove it from Device Manager to prevent installation conflicts.
How to remove a device in Windows Device Manager.
Once Device Manager looks okay, reboot the computer.
As the computer reboots, an Install new hardware wizard should appear if Windows detects the new hardware. Using this wizard, point Windows to the folder containing your drivers on the CD, diskette, USB flash drive, or the folder containing the files you downloaded.
If Windows does not detect any new hardware, open the Control Panel and double-click the Add hardware icon to run the hardware detection wizard. During the steps, you can install custom Windows drivers from a location on the disk. Choose to load drivers, then select the folder containing the drivers for your device.
- Installing a new device.
- Upgrading drivers for a pre-existing device.
Once drivers are installed, reboot the computer.
The “Add hardware” icon is only available in Windows XP and prior versions of Windows.
Upgrading drivers for a pre-existing device
- Open the Windows Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager, locate the device you want to update.
- Right-click the device and select Properties.
- In the Properties window, click the Driver tab.
- Click the Update Driver button.
- In the Hardware Update Wizard, point Windows to the location of the updated driver files on your hard drive.
Install a driver using a .inf file
Finally, if the recommendations above don’t work, you can locate the installation instructions for drivers and hardware devices in its .inf file.
- Locate the .inf file for your version of Windows.
- Right-click that file and choose Install from the drop-down menu.
- Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
- Restart the computer.
One of the three recommendations above should have installed or updated the drivers. If you still have difficulties getting the device to install, you may have another hardware issue. Refer to the troubleshooting steps for your hardware device for additional help and information.
Make sure you install the correct .inf file and not a .inf file for another device or a different version of Windows.
How to know a driver is safe to install
The best way to know if any driver is safe to download and install is to get it from the manufacturer’s website. Drivers that come from the manufacturer’s website are official for their designated hardware, and not infected with viruses or malware.
Realize that downloading a driver from a website that’s not the original manufacturer can present a security risk, or the drivers could be illegitimate and could cause additional problems.
Related information
- What hardware device drivers should be updated?
- How to find the version of a driver in Windows.
- How to roll back a Windows driver to the previous version.
- How to find computer software and drivers.
- What order should I install my computer drivers in?
- See the driver definition for further information and related links.
- Computer drivers and driver help and support.
