How to Detect Your Audio Drivers

Sound cards or audio cards are computer hardware devices that allow for sound output and input. The sound that plays on speakers, headphones or that has been recorded using a microphone is made possible by the sound card. Hardware devices such as sound cards often require driver software to function properly. Drivers often are designed to be used with specific hardware devices and operating systems. Using the wrong driver software may cause errors, and in the case of sound cards can cause sound loss. Check your audio drivers to help troubleshoot sound issues.

Things You'll Need

• Audio drivers
• Sound card

Instructions

1. Click "Start," right click "My Computer" or "Computer" and then click "Manage."

2. Click "Device Manager" in the left-hand pane of the window that appears and then double click on "Sound, video and game controllers."

3. Right click on your sound card in the list of devices, select "Properties" and then click on the "Driver" tab.

4. Read the driver tab for information about your driver version. The tab may display information such as driver provider, date, version number and digital signer.

5. Click on the "Driver Details" button to view additional information about the audio driver.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is no sound card installed, there may not be any device listed under "Sound, video and game controllers."

• If your sound card does not have driver software installed or drivers are not working properly, it may be listed under the "Other devices" category in the device manager or it may be listed as an "Unknown Device."

• Click the "Update Driver" button in the "Driver" tab to make your computer search for and install driver updates.

References

• Microsoft: Tips for fixing common sound problems
• Microsoft: How to update a sound card driver in Windows Vista and in Windows XP