Installing USB hardware

Nine times out of ten, when you install a new USB device in a Windows XP computer that has all the latest fixes, everything works easily. The general procedure

1. Read the manual.
   Some hardware installs automatically: Plug it in, and it works. Most hardware needs a little help: You have to put a CD in the CD drive shortly after you plug it in, and let Windows pull the driver off the CD. Some hardware, though, takes a little extra help, and you have to run an installation program on the product's CD before you plug it in.
   The only way to know for sure which approach works for the specific piece of hardware that you bought is to read the furshlinger manual! Look for the section with instructions on installing the hardware on a Windows XP computer. Follow the instructions.
2. After you've read the manual and done what it says, plug the USB device into any handy USB slot.
   Windows realizes that you've just installed a new USB device, and cranks up the Found New Hardware Wizard.
3. Select Yes, This Time Only radio button to let Microsoft see if it has a new driver for the hardware, and then click Next.
4. Follow the rest of the steps in the wizard, and at least nine times out of ten, you'll end up with a functioning device.
5. If you can't get the device working, check Microsoft's Knowledge Base article for troubleshooting USB devices.
   It's at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310575.