Secure a Driver for Printer, Sound
Card or Other Device Before an UpgradeMake sure you download a
driver for printer, for your sound card, and any other device
before you upgrade your operating system.
I have seen the
unfortunate happen to quite a few people. You should include this in
the general
planning of an upgrade
operation.
If you ever intend to upgrade your operating system (OS), make
sure you have the updated drivers before you make the upgrade - or, at
the very least, have a way to get them.
What device drivers do you need?
You may not be changing your printer, but bear in mind that the
Windows 98 driver for printer A is different from the Windows 2000
driver for the same printer A.
The operating systems are, simply, different. There is no
guarantee that a driver that works in one OS will function in another.
For example, my hp printer driver that worked with Windows 98 SE is
different from that used in Windows 2000. Good news is - most of the
more popular printers will have drivers included on the OS
installation media.
Before you launch an upgrade (or even do a refresh of your
operating system), make sure you can find compatible sound card driver,
modem driver, driver for your monitor, and any other device driver,
or hardware driver that you computer system needs to function.
Definitely Get All Drivers for Internet Connectivity
Before you upgrade, get the appropriate driver(s) for your Internet
connection.
If you have DSL connection and you are upgrading your system
from, say, Windows 98 to Windows XP, you may need to download the
updated XP drivers for your connection manager (or DSL modem) from
your ISP web site.
The updated drivers might be on your installation disk, but you
should check this out first before you put yourself in a quandary.
It is a pain to have to make a connection by dialup modem in order
to have to download drivers that could have been downloaded at
broadband speed before you did the upgrade.
More painful (torturous, in fact) if you have to wait until your
ISP sends you a disk by mail. You could be sidelined, counting the
ticks of impatience while you wait for that CD to come.
Where to Get Hardware Device Drivers
The manufacturer's website is the first choice. I always go
to hp.com to get an updated hp printer driver for my hp printer.
Although it is difficult to navigate those huge, high trafficked sites
sometimes, you are sure to find the latest drivers at the
manufacturer's website.
Another place you can get your driver for printer, modem, monitor,
etc. is at DriverGuide.com. Just click the login link, type in the
word drivers for the login ID and the word all for the
password.
You can then search for your special printer, CD, modem or other
device drivers.
Remember to get drivers for printer, modem, and any other device
before you do an upgrade - you will be driving more smoothly
afterwards, if you do.
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