XP-Drivers

Once you get Windows XP up and running, chances are everything on your computer won't be working perfectly. Are you connected to the internet? Can you play music? Is your screen resolution unusually large? The answer is probably no to all those questions, except the last one. Do not panic. This is the part where you install the right drivers for your hardware. What are XP Drivers? Each hardware unit that is attached to a computer, has to have software (programs written to provide an interface to the operating system - Windows XP, in this case). This software is called a Driver. Here, we will discuss where to find these drivers, and how to install them.

First, get a list of what Windows doesn't have installed correctly.

From Control Panel, go to System, then Hardware, and click on the Device Manager. Chances are it'll look something like mine did after my XP install:

Those yellow question marks/exclamation points are Windows' way of saying "I know this hardware is here, but I don't know what it is or how to control it."

• XP Driver Sources: (best source of free drivers, and the right drivers)

• drivers folder you copied (You did copy drivers from your old PC, didn't you?
• Driver Disk provided from the manufacturer (If you can't find that, don't feel alone, my customers rarely find theirs!)
• manufacturer website ( ie Dell.com/Support or hp.com - Support etc.)

See Drivers-Windows for more info.

• That other computer available to you! get on that other machine you've got next to you, and Google up the brand and model of each of the components for which you need a driver, download, burn to disk and install on your fresh Windows machine. (you don't have another PC next to you? Why am I not surprised?)
• Those two handy hardware audits you printed out in Step 2 will be your friend for installing XP drivers, but without the discs that came with your machine, it will be a bit of a guessing game, matching up the yellow question marks with the items on your reports. Take educated guesses. Good luck.

I normally manually install drivers for my video card, sound card, network adapter, and printer.

need professional help, see Computer Support