How to Install Video Drivers
Video cards are computer hardware devices that allow for video output so that the computer's desktop can be displayed on a monitor. Video cards can also assist the central processing unit (CPU) and random access memory (RAM) with rendering graphics; many video cards contain their own graphics processing unit and memory. Video cards require driver software to function properly, and newer driver software can allow cards to run more efficiently.
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Instructions
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Automatically Update Drivers
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1
Click "Start," right-click "Computer" or "My Computer," and choose "Manage."
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2
Click "Device Manager."
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3
Double-click on "Display Adapters."
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4
Right-click on your video card in the list, choose "Properties," and then click on the "Driver" tab.
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5
Click the "Update Driver" button and choose have your system search for drivers automatically. Your system will search for and install driver updates for the device if they are available.
Manual Video Driver Installation
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6
Follow steps 1 to 4 of Section 1, and then click on the "General" tab in the properties window for your video card. Note the card's model (name) and manufacturer.
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7
Go to the website of the card's manufacturer and search for driver downloads made for that specific card. For instance, if you have an Nvidia card, go to the "Nvidia Driver Support" page (see Resources), and then use the drop-down menus to specify which video card you have, and click "Search" to pull up a list of driver downloads.
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8
Click on a download link for a driver that is compatible with your operating system and then run the driver-installation (.exe) file after the download is complete. A driver installation wizard will launch and guide you through the installation process.
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9
Restart your computer when prompted.
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1
Tips & Warnings
A bad video driver may cause display errors and system crashes. If these problems occur after you install a new driver, find a different driver to install or go to the "Driver" tab mentioned in the steps and choose "Roll Back Driver" to revert to your previous driver version.
Running Windows Update regularly can help keep drivers updated. Click "Start," "All Programs" and then "Windows Update" to start the Updater.
