It is pretty common for manufacturers to continually update their device drivers. They do this to fix any problems or to take better advantage of new operating system features.

When running Windows 7, you may find it necessary to update your HP drivers so your printer will work with your operating system. A printer driver is a software program that communicates between your printer and your operating system, like a translator. When your drivers are outdated, you can run into a lot of problems when trying to print.

How Do I Install HP Drivers?

The best place to download product drivers is the company’s official web site. Whenever you download anything to your PC, you want to be sure that it is a legitimate and safe file. So if you’re looking for an HP driver, you want to go to HP’s web site.

Updating with HP's Website

Open your browser and go to HP’s Main page. Under the Tab titled Support & Drivers you can enter your printer’s product name and number in the search field or use the How Do I Find My Product Name/Number link beneath for advice on the most likely locations to try.

1) Choose Download Drivers and Software (and Firmware).

2) Write in the name of your device, be it a printer scanner or whatever, and click Go. Alternatively, you can use HP's auto-detect feature to find the HP device attached to your computer.  This may or may not work, but notice that HP provides a link in the right that will help you find the make and model number of your device if you're having trouble.

3) When you have your device selected, select your operating system from the drop down menu on the next screen, likely Windows 7.  It's important that you choose the right system type, either 32 or 64 bit versions of windows.  To find out which type you have.  Check the system settings by clicking the Windows Key + Pause|Break button. It'll have a display of which system type you're computer is running:

3) The final screen provides a list of available downloads for you to choose from. Click on the driver and click the Download button.  Once you download the driver, you will be able to simple click it and activate an automated update and install process.

4) After the installation, you will probably be asked to reboot the system.  Once the install is complete, you'll be able to check to see if the driver is working correctly by referencing the Device Manager.

Updating with the Device Manager

The Windows Device Manager is a graphical look at the hardware that is installed on your computer. This is where you will find the drivers for your printers and devices. To access your PC’s Device Manager:

1) Right click on My Computer.
2) Click on the Manage button.
3) Open Device Manager.

To look at the info and drivers within device manager:

1) Double click on the kind of device you want to look at.
2) Right click on the device.
3) Find the Driver tab and click on Driver Details.

You can also utilize Device Manager to download new drivers for your hardware.

1) Open your Device Manager.
2) Double click on the type of device you want to open.
3) Right click on the specific device.
4) Click on Update Driver, which will launch the update wizard.
5) Follow the instructions from the Hardware Update Wizard.

This should download any new and needed drivers for your printer or any other devices.