Device drivers are very important software for computer hardware to run properly under operating systems, including Windows®. Every good manufacturer provides a CD or DVD containing the drivers for the most used operating systems (Windows XP®, Windows® 7 and Windows Vista®, in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions), along with some additional tools and useful software.
Windows® 7 usually finds the necessary drivers in the Microsoft® database and install them automatically, but if a driver is not found, you have to use the provided manufacturer disk. It is recommended to use drivers provided by the manufacturer, particularly for the chipset and graphic card, which usually provide better performance. In the instructions below, learn how to use the CD or DVD that came with your piece of hardware in Windows® 7.
Installing Windows® 7 drivers:
- Insert the driver disk into your optical drive.
- Click “Start”, right-click on “Computer” and select “Properties ”.
- In the left menu, select “Device Manager”.
- Find the hardware with a yellow exclamation mark or a device you want to install new drivers for from the CD or DVD. Right-click on it and select “Update Driver Software ”.
- Click on the “Browse my computer for driver software” button.
- Click on the “Browse” button and select the optical drive.
- Click on the “Next” button. The drivers are being installed.
- Wait until the process finishes and then click on the “Close” button.