How to Detect IDE Drivers
Device drivers are crucial to the proper operation of a computer, though many users never interact with the majority of them. A device driver is a set of instructions used by the computer to control the hardware that is installed, and every piece of hardware has a driver associated with it. Check the device drivers for your computer's IDE controllers if you are experiencing performance or reliability problems with your computer's hard drive after a recent change or upgrade.
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Instructions
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1
Visit the Windows Update website to determine whether there are new Microsoft-approved drivers available for your IDE controllers. This website is only compatible with the Internet Explorer web browser. Download any available updates. They will be installed automatically. If you are still experiencing a problem with your IDE drivers, continue to Step 2.
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2
Click the "Start" button, and then click "Control Panel." Double click "Device Manager" to launch the Device Manager.
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3
Scroll down the list until you find "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers," and click the plus sign next to it. This will tell you the maker of the IDE controller (generally the same as the motherboard chipset manufacturer). Intel, VIA and NVIDIA are three common names to see here.
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4
Scroll down to "System Devices," and click the plus sign. You should find more entries here with the same manufacturer name as that of your IDE controller, along with a name or number indicating your motherboard chipset. Some examples include "Intel 82801," "NVIDIA nForce 9" and "VIA VT8251." If you do not see any names or numbers to help you identify your motherboard's chipset, the information can be found in the instruction manual for your motherboard or computer.
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Visit the website of your motherboard chipset manufacturer. Use the information that you gathered in the previous steps to locate the most recent IDE controller drivers for your motherboard. In most cases, these drivers will be bundled with all of the other drivers for your motherboard. There is no harm in installing all of the drivers at once. Double click the downloaded driver file, and it will be installed automatically. Upon rebooting your computer, the IDE controller drivers will be updated.
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Tips & Warnings
Some computers have IDE controller expansion cards installed, often because the motherboard is older and does not support the latest hard drives. If this is the case, the manufacturer of your computer's IDE controller will most likely differ from the motherboard chipset manufacturer. Some names that you might see in the Device Manager if this is the case include Promise, HighPoint and Adaptec. These drivers are updated in the same way as the motherboard chipset drivers.
