My Vista Won't Load the Audio Hardware Driver

Use tools native to Windows Vista to install up-to-date drivers for a sound card.

Every hardware device to be used on a computer running Windows Vista needs a specific driver to work properly. A driver is a group of files that promote communication with the rest of the PC. (See Reference 1.) If you have recently installed a new audio hardware device, otherwise known as a sound card, and Windows does not load the driver use the "Device Manager" tool to make Windows locate and install the most up-to-date driver available. (See Reference 2.) If the sound creating device previously worked fine an upgraded driver may fix the problem.

Things You'll Need

• Windows Vista

Instructions

1. Open the "Start" menu by clicking the "Start" button on the Windows Vista desktop. Click "Control Panel" to open the "Control Panel" window.

2. Click "System and Maintenance" in the "Control Panel" window followed by clicking "Device Manager." The "Device Manager" window comes into view. Inside this window is a list of all hardware devices installed on the PC ordered into groups according to what purpose they serve.

3. Expand the "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers" heading. Double click on the name of the sound device for which you wish to install a updated driver. A "Device Properties" windows opens.

4. Click the "Driver" tab within the "Device Properties" window followed by pressing the "Update Driver" button. The Windows "Driver Update Wizard" starts.

5. Click "Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software" to prompt Windows to search the Internet and the computer for the newest driver available for the sound device. Once Windows locates the new driver it is installed automatically. Close the "Driver Update Wizard," the "Device Properties" window, and the "Device Manager" window to resume normal computer functionality.

References

• Windows: What Is a Driver?
• Microsoft: What Is Device Manager?