Windows 7 / Getting Started

Using Device Manager to Update Drivers

After you've downloaded new driver, it is time to install using the Update Driver Software window. To access the Update Driver Software window, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Device Manager. (If you are not logged in with Administrator privileges, the Device Manager box will not open without additional input.) You can also type device manager in the Start Search box and select it from the results list.
  2. In Device Manager, locate the device, right-click it, and choose Update Driver Software.

The Update Driver Software window gives you two choices.

  • Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software-Gives permission to Windows to search and locate any drivers on your computer and on the Internet. After Windows searches your computer and the Internet for drivers, if it finds a new driver, it automatically installs it. If no new drivers are found, Windows tells you that your current driver is the most up to date.
  • Browse My Computer for Driver Software-If you've already downloaded the driver or want to use a specific driver, enables you to choose to browse and locate that selected driver. When you choose to find the driver by yourself, Windows again gives you options. The first option is to manually locate the driver. To locate the driver you can either type in the location or click Browse. The second option is to choose a driver from a list of device drivers on the computer. When selecting to choose the driver from the list, a selection of device drivers is generated. You can decide which driver you want and install it.

Tip Downloadable drivers are usually stored in compressed form on the manufacturer's website. If the file is an EXE (executable) file, you will need to open it before you can use its contents; opening it might also install the driver for you. If the driver is in a ZIP archive file, you will need to uncompress it. Fortunately, Windows 7 can uncompress ZIP files for you. You won't need to download a separate unzipping utility.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Windows 7 and Other software Up to Date
  2. Understanding Windows Live
  3. Updates versus upgrades
  4. Why updates are important
  5. Windows Update
  6. Windows Update: The essentials
  7. Types of Updates
  8. Completing an Update
  9. Configuring automatic Updating
  10. Windows Update Applet and Functions
  11. Manually Install Updates Using Windows Update
  12. Action Center
  13. Updates Do Not Install Properly
  14. Other Windows Update Settings
  15. Configuring Windows 7 Update to Use a Proxy Server
  16. Can't Find Hidden Update
  17. Viewing and Changing Installed Updates
  18. Can't Uninstall Current Update
  19. Upgrade Windows Anytime
  20. Understanding Windows Server Update Services
  21. Windows Update Policies
  22. Updating Drivers
  23. Using Device Manager to Update Drivers
  24. Windows Update Driver Settings
  25. Windows 7 Service Packs
  26. Basic Service Pack Information
  27. Installation of Service Packs
  28. Installing and Removing Software
  29. Installation via CD or DVD
  30. Problem Installing from Disc
  31. Installation via Downloaded Program
  32. Viewing and Changing Programs
  33. Uninstalling Software
  34. Compatibility Issues in 64-Bit Version
  35. Upgrade Issues with 64-Bit Windows 7
  36. Other Program Compatibility Issues
  37. Side-by-Side Installs and Virtual Registries
  38. Removing Updates from Windows 7
  39. Thwarting Exploits with DEP
  40. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
  41. Picking Computers to Scan
  42. Vulnerability Checks
  43. Installing MBSA
  44. Running the MBSA
  45. Running the MBSACLI
  46. MBSACLI Location
  47. Running in an Isolated Environment
  48. Using Windows Server Update Services
  49. WSUS Updates
  50. WSUS Requirements
  51. Installing, Configuring, and Using WSUS
  52. Adding the Application Server and Web Server (IIS) Roles
  53. Installing the Report Viewer
  54. Installing WSUS
  55. Configuring Group Policy Settings for WSUS
  56. Creating a GPO to Configure Clients to Use WSUS
  57. Verifying That Clients Are Using GPO Settings for WSUS
  58. Verifying That Clients Are Using GPO Settings with GPResult
  59. Creating Computer Groups on WSUS
  60. Approving Updates in WSUS
  61. Viewing WSUS Reports