Answer is that you might need to perform a driver update in Windows for all kinds of reasons. Usually, a driver update is used as a solution to an issue with how Windows works with a piece of Hardware.
Updating a driver can also enable new or updated features for the hardware, which doubles the role of a hardware in a PC.
PC Supporter answering for this question in these words �Drivers are updated in Windows by using a driver update wizard from within Device Manager, which is available under the right click menu by clicking on �Computer� or �My Computer� icon on your Desktop. The driver update wizard walks you through the entire driver update process, making updating drivers a fairly painless task.�
Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP all have slightly different ways and processes to complete driver updates:-
Driver Update in Windows 7: Updating drivers in all versions of Windows is necessary when a hardware device doesn�t install automatically, as well as in Windows 7.
When the hardware is having some kind of problem, or as part of some other troubleshooting with the hardware. Updating a driver is many times the solution to a Device Manager error code, and also updating drivers for a piece of hardware will also sometimes enable additional features for the hardware.
Follow the steps to update drivers from within Device Manager in Windows 7:
1. Download the latest drivers from the hardware manufacturer�s website. Drivers from the manufacturer will be most current but there are several other driver download options.
As part of this driver update process, you can choose to update drivers from a hardware installation disc or from Windows Update but updating drivers manually (as described below) is usually more effective.
Before going to read the steps below, Note one thing that many drivers come integrated with software that automatically installs the driver. The manufacturer�s website will tell you if the driver download is packaged this way and if so, the steps below aren�t usually necessary.
3. With Device Manager open, locate the hardware device that you want to update the drivers for.
4. After finding the hardware you�re updating drivers for, right click on the hardware�s name or icon and choose Properties. In this Properties window, click the Driver tab.
5. Click the Update Driver button.
Note: The Update Driver Software wizard will begin.
6. On the �How do you want to search for driver software?� window, click the Browse my computer for driver software.
7. In the next window labeled Browse for driver software on your computer, click on Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer, located at the bottom of the window.
8. Click the Have Disk� button located under the text box.
9. Click the Browse� button on the Install From Disk dialog box that appeared. In the Locate File dialog box that appears next, navigate to the folder that you extracted as part of the driver download in Step 1 above. There may be multiple folders within the extracted folder so be sure to work your way to the one for Windows 7 if it exists. Don�t worry if you don�t find one labeled for Windows 7.
10. Click any INF file that displays in the file list and click the Open button.
Note: INF files are the only files that Device Manager accepts for driver setup information. See the tips at the bottom of the page for some INF file troubleshooting.
11. Click the OK button back on the Install From Disk dialog box.
12. Choose the newly added hardware in the text box and then click the Next> button.
If you are prompted with a message warning you about how the device driver may not be compatible with your hardware, click the Yes button to continue installing the driver. Many drivers are not Windows 7 certified but are still perfectly safe to install and use.
Important: If you are installing a driver obtained from anywhere other than the manufacturer of the hardware, click the No button instead and obtain drivers from the manufacturer directly.
13. The Windows 7 Update Driver Software wizard will now use the instructions provided in the INF file from Step 10 to install the updated drivers for your hardware.
14. Follow any additional instruction on screen to complete the drive update.
15. You may be prompted to restart your computer after the driver update is complete.
Make Sure:- Not all driver update require a restart of your computer. Even if you�re not prompted, I always recommend restarting anyway. The driver update process involves changes to the Windows Registry and other important areas of your computer and restarting is a good way to confirm that updating drivers hasn�t negatively impacted some other area of Windows.
If a driver update causes a problem, you can always roll back the driver.
Tips:
a. Couldn�t find an INF file in a folder from your driver download? Try looking in another folder.
b. Couldn�t find an INF file in any folder from the extracted driver files? The driver download itself may have been damaged. Try downloading and extracting the device drivers again.
c. Find multiple folders with INF files? Try each folder until you find the drivers for your specific hardware.
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