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How to install device drivers in Windows XP?

What is device driver?
Device driver is a piece of program code, which is used by Operating System to handle all control operations on a particular Hardware device.

• Some Hardware device will have built-in drivers in Windows, but it is good to install device driver which is come along with the device.

• Always we should update the latest drivers from the manufacturer website to get the device functionality improvement.

• Do not install wrong drivers, device may malfunctions, Always install correct drivers depends up on make and model of the Hardware device.

• Always keep a backup of device drivers; it is useful when you reinstall the OS.

• Before reinstalling Windows, make a note of all installed device drivers with their versions.

How to install device drivers in Windows XP

After installing Windows, device which does not have built-in drivers in windows will listed as unknown device in Device Manger.

Most of the device driver comes with setup file, once you run setup file, device driver installation wizard will start and automatically install the device driver.

Manually Installing Device Driver

1. Click on Start-->Settings--->Control Panel--->Performance and Maintenance-->System. System properties Window will open.

2. Click on Hardware Tab and click on Device Manager Button.

3. Right click on Unknown device and click on Update Driver.

4. Hardware Update wizard will open.

5. Select No, not this time Radio button and click Next.

6. Select Install from a list or specific location [Advanced] Radio Button and click Next.

7. Click on Browse button to select the folder that contains drivers for the hardware.

8. Click Next button to install the driver.

9. Driver will install and click Finish button to complete the Update.