How to Set Up Sound Drivers

A sound card requires the correct driver in order to function properly. Without the correct driver, the operating system will not recognize and communicate with the device. Sound card drivers are pre-installed in new computers. However, should you need to install a new sound card, or if the operating system needs to be reinstalled, then the correct sound card driver will need to be loaded or reloaded. The process will take approximately 10 minutes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Access the drivers for your sound card. These will be included with the sound card on the installation CD-ROM. If the CD is not available, visit the sound card manufacturer's website to download the correct driver. Ensure that you select the driver that is made specifically for your model of sound card and your operating system. The download site will display the driver details. If the sound card was pre-installed on the computer, the driver may can also be obtained from the manufacturer's site for reinstallation.

2. Begin installation of the driver software. If installing from a CD, insert the CD and follow the installation prompts. If installing from a downloaded program, extract the files to a temporary location on your hard drive and run the Start, Install or .exe file associated with the driver to begin the installation.

3. Click the "Next" button to start the installation.

4. Accept a terms-of-use agreement to install the driver if prompted.

5. Reboot the computer. Once the wizard has finished, the screen will display a message saying that installation is complete. If the wizard does not restart the computer automatically, reboot the computer to ensure that the sound card is properly configured.

Tips & Warnings

• An improperly installed driver may cause the computer to malfunction. If this is the case, uninstall or roll back the driver to the previous version.

References

• Ibibo
• Windows Driver Help