How to Find PC Driver Errors

Many times driver errors will occur when you install new hardware.

Drivers help the physical devices on a computer communicate with the operating system. Your keyboard, mouse and USB connections all have drivers installed to make sure they work correctly. Sometimes the wrong drivers get installed or there is a conflict between a driver and a program. Often a warning will pop up at the bottom of your screen telling you about the error (for instance, when you're installing a new device). If you want to be able to check all your drivers to see if there are any conflicts, check on them using the device manager.

Instructions

1. Select the "Start" button and click "Control Panel."

2. Select "System and Maintenance," then select "Device Manager." For XP users, select "Performance and Maintenance," then "System"; navigate to the "Hardware" tab to find the device manager.

3. Double-click on any of the expandable menus to see a list of devices. Any that have a driver error will be noted by a yellow exclamation point next to the device. You can select these devices and either reinstall drivers or search for updates.

References

• Microsoft Windows: The Hunt for Drivers
• Microsoft Windows: Explanation of Error Codes
• Microsoft Windows: How to Configure Devices By Using Device Manager in Windows XP