Chapter 9: Installing and Troubleshooting Devices


Overview

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

  • Perform nearly foolproof device installations.

  • Deal with driver signatures and control their options.

  • Use Device Manager to get a handle on your hardware.

  • Install, update, and roll back device drivers.

  • Set up hardware profiles.

  • Troubleshoot devices with dexterity.

One of the roles an operating system must play is that of intermediary between your software, your hardware, and you. Any operating system worth its salt has to translate incomprehensible “device-speak” into something a person can make sense of, and it must ensure that devices are ready, willing, and able to carry out a user’s commands. Given the sophistication and diversity of today’s hardware market, however, that’s no easy task. The good news is that Microsoft Windows XP brings to the PC world substantial support for a broad range of hardware, from everyday devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, monitors, and video, sound, and network cards to more exotic hardware fare such as IEEE 1394 (FireWire) controllers, flash storage readers (CompactFlash, SmartMedia, and so on), and infrared devices. However, while this hardware support may be broad, it’s not all that deep, meaning that Windows XP doesn’t have built-in support for many older devices. So although many hardware vendors have taken at least some steps toward upgrading their devices and drivers, managing hardware is still one of Windows XP’s trickier areas. This chapter should help as we take you through lots of practical techniques for installing, updating, and troubleshooting devices in Windows XP.




Insider Power Techniques for Microsoft Windows XP
Insider Power Techniques for Microsoft Windows XP (Bpg-Other)
ISBN: 0735618968
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 126

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