Downloading and Extracting Device Drivers

Sometimes the new component you need isn't actually part of Windows, but rather a device driver. This is particularly true if you install a new piece of hardware, and Windows can't locate a driver for the hardware through its normal means.

If you need a new device driver for a particular piece of hardware, there are several places you can look for that driver.

• Windows might have its own driver for that device.

• A driver might exist on any installation CD or disk that came with the hardware.

• The hardware manufacturer might have new drivers available for downloading from its official Web site.

• Microsoft might have drivers available at its Web site.

• There may be other sites on the Web that might have the necessary file.

When it comes to finding drivers online, you can't go wrong with DriverGuide.com (www.driverguide.com). This site, which requires (free) membership, offers you several different ways to find the drivers you need, including links to the manufacturer's official site, as well as links to other official and unofficial sites. Even better is the mammoth user-created driver database. All you have to do is search for a particular manufacturer and model number, and you'll see a list of drivers that helpful users have uploaded for your downloading pleasure.

Even though going to the official site is certainly the recommended way to proceed, I've found that I can almost always find the right drivers faster on DriverGuide.com.