How to Update Any Device Driver
Driver software tells a computer how to communicate with and control peripheral devices, such as scanners and printers. Upgrading to a new operating system or other software may cause conflicts with existing drivers. Sometimes device manufacturers create new drivers, which can solve problems when installed.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Figure out which driver version you currently have. On a Windows computer, right-click My Computer and click Properties; select the Device Manager tab. Click the plus sign to the left of a specific device to find the drivers that are currently installed for it. On a Macintosh, use the Apple System Profiler program to check driver versions. (If the Profiler doesn't list a device, check the Extensions Manager control panel.)
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2
Find out whether a newer driver exists by visiting the Web site for the manufacturer of your device. A newer driver will have a later creation date than the one you have.
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3
Follow instructions to download a newer driver.
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4
Make sure you have the original drivers. If there are problems with the new driver, you want to be able to restore the old one.
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5
Double-click the icon for the downloaded driver.
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6
Follow installation instructions that appear. Look for a file named readme.txt or readme.doc.
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7
If the installation didn't remove the old driver, remove it. On a Windows computer, right-click the driver in the Device Manager and select Remove. On a Macintosh, drag the old driver file out of the Extensions folder in your System Folder, and either save it elsewhere or delete it.
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8
Restart the computer.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If upgrading the driver doesn't solve problems with the device, replace the device or remove the new software from your system.
Attempting to change video drivers could make your computer inoperable. Get professional help if you need it.
These instructions are intended for Windows 95/98 and do not apply to Windows NT or Windows 2000.
