Reference number: CH000546
What hardware
device drivers should be updated?
Question:What hardware device drivers should be updated?
Additional information:Below is a listing of general reasons why computer hardware
devices should have drivers updated or why updated versions of
drivers may need to be installed.
- Enable the device to function with a computer.
- Compatibility with a new or different operating system.
- To correct issues that may exist with older versions of
drivers.
- Updated reliability for the hardware device.
- Work around hardware issues that may exist with the hardware
device.
- Improve the overall stability of a computer.
- Additional information about how to install a computer driver
can be found on document CH000834.
Answer:Below is a listing of our recommended hardware devices that you
should make sure are updated. Updating your computer's drivers and
other updates can resolve problems you may be having with your
computer and help improve the performance and overall stability of
your computer and/or hardware devices. Note: If you are
running Microsoft Windows and are looking for software updates and
not drivers, please see document CH000545.
BIOS updates
Computer BIOS updates should
only be run when you are having compatibility issues with your hardware
or you feel that your computer hardware is not performing as it
should. Visiting your computer
manufacturer or motherboard
manufacturer page will enable you to quickly see if any BIOS
updates are available for your motherboard and what the updates
will fix. We also recommend you review document
CH000236 for additional information about BIOS updates.
CD or DVD drive drivers
and firmware
Updating the drivers for your CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, or
other CD device may help with the overall performance and
compatibility of the drive. We recommend you visit our CD
driver page for a listing of manufacturers and their driver
update pages to obtain the latest drivers. Some manufacturers may also have
firmware updates available for their CD drives. Firmware updates will help
resolve any hardware related issues you may be experiencing with
the CD drive such as being unable to read some CD Discs or may
update the region code on your DVD drive. Unlike a driver update,
these updates should only be performed for users who are
experiencing hardware related issues with their drives. Most
firmware updates are accessible through the manufacturer's CD driver
page, see our CD driver page
for a listing of these links.
Controllers
Updating or installing the latest drivers for your computer
controllers can help with the reliability of the computer as well as
reliability and performance of the drives connected to the
controller. If you are using a controller separate from your
computer motherboard, see our controller
driver page for a listing of controller manufacturers and
drivers. If you are not using a separate controller card and are
using the controller on your computer motherboard, you can obtain the
latest controller drivers from your motherboard and/or computer
manufacturer. See our motherboard driver
page for a listing of motherboard manufacturers and links to
their drivers.
Display drivers
Unlike other hardware devices, display devices such as a
computer monitor, or flat panel displays are often automatically
detected and setup by the operating system. Additional information about drivers for your video
card can be found on document CH000437. If
you are looking for a video driver, see our below video
drivers section.
Keyboard drivers
Unless your computer keyboard
contains special function buttons such as an e-mail button,
Internet button, etc. your keyboard should not require any drivers
and should be setup by the operating system. If your computer keyboard contains special function
keys or you need a different keyboard layout for your keyboard,
please refer to document CH000547. Note:
Users using a USB or Firewire keyboard may need drivers for their operating system for the keyboard to work and/or may need to
verify that USB and/or Firewire is properly working in their operating system.
Mouse drivers
Unless you are utilizing a unique mouse
that contains additional buttons or features not found with a
standard one or two button mouse, you should not require any
drivers and the mouse should be automatically setup by the operating system. If you are using a USB mouse, trackball mouse, a
mouse with more than two buttons, wireless mouse, or a mouse with
a wheel and
are looking for drivers, it is recommend you see
document CH000548.
Modem drivers
Updating the computer modem drivers can help improve the
reliability of the modem and in some rare cases may even improve
the speed of the modem. We recommend you visit our modem
driver page for a listing of manufacturers and their driver
update pages to obtain the latest drivers.
Some modem manufacturers may also have firmware updates that
upgrade the modem to support new standards such as V.90 or correct
hardware issues with the modem. Firmware updates should only be
run if your computer or modem manufacturer recommend you update
the modem or if you believe a firmware update will correct your
issue. When updating your modem's firmware, verify you are using a
firmware update designed for your modem. Updating the firmware
with an incorrect version may cause the modem to no longer work.
Firmware updates are usually also available through the modem
driver page.
Motherboard drivers,
firmware, and
updates
Updating the computer motherboard and/or motherboard chipset
drivers can help with the compatibility, reliability, and/or
performance of the motherboard and the hardware installed in the
computer. See our motherboard drivers
page for a listing of links to motherboard chipset drivers as
well as links to many of the motherboard manufacturers drivers
pages.
Network card drivers
Updating or installing the latest drivers for a computer network
card may help with the reliability of the network card in the
computer. A listing of computer network card drivers can be found
on our network drivers page.
Some network card manufacturers may also have firmware updates.
Firmware updates may resolve issues relating to the compatibility
of the network card or resolve other hardware issues. Firmware
updates should only be run if your network card or computer
manufacturer recommends an update. These updates can also be found
through the manufacturer's network
driver page.
Printer drivers
Updating or installing the latest drivers for a computer
printer may help with the reliability and compatibility of the
printer. A listing of computer printer drivers can be found on our
printer drivers page.
Removable media drivers
Updating or installing the latest drivers for a removable media
device such as a tape drive may help with the reliability of the removable
media device. A listing of computer removable media drivers can be
found on our removable media /
tape drive drivers page.
Scanner drivers
Updating or installing the latest drivers for a scanner may
help with the reliability and compatibility of the scanner. A
listing of computer scanner drivers can be found on our scanner
drivers page.
Sound card drivers
Updating or installing the latest drivers for a sound card will
help with the compatibility, reliability, and/or the performance
of the sound card. A listing of computer sound card drivers can be
found on our sound card drivers
page.
Video drivers
Updating or installing the latest drivers for a video card will
help with the compatibility, reliability, and/or the performance
of the video card. A listing of computer video card drivers can be
found on our video card drivers
page.
Some video card manufacturers may also have firmware updates. Firmware
updates may resolve issues relating to the compatibility of the
video card card or resolve other hardware issues. Firmware updates
should only be run if your video card or computer manufacturer
recommends an update. These updates can also be found through the
manufacturer's network driver page.
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