The odds are, if you own a PC you’ll be faced with driver errors, which impair your computer’s ability to function properly. The question is: how do I get around a driver update error?

What is a Driver?

Drivers are little files that help keep your PC functioning properly by creating a pathway of communication between your operating system and the hardware installed on your computer. A driver acts as an instruction manual, if you will, for your computer, telling it how to use the new video card or web cam or printer, etc. It is able to explain the capabilities of that particular part of hardware and how it will interact with your operating system.

When you buy new hardware, your PC doesn’t actually automatically learn how to operate it. Those instructions are contained as a driver that is usually housed on a disc that comes with the purchased product.

Driver Problems

If you begin to experience driver errors, such as the picture to the left, it often comes down to two situations. Usually either the original driver was corrupted or you now need an updated version of the driver. So there are a few good ways to get around driver update errors.

Fixing Drivers

You can fix your drivers in a variety of ways, including:

• Reinstall your program’s drivers

• Use your Device Manager to update your existing drivers

• Download driver updates from manufacturer web sites

Reinstall Drivers

Most new hardware comes with a disc that handily contains the drivers you will need to communicate between operating system and device. You should always keep these discs so that if you ever start getting driver errors you can reinstall the proper drivers to get around the errors on your PC. Use this option if your driver becomes corrupted. It is still the appropriate version of the driver, you just need to reinstall it.

Update Drivers Using Device Manager

If it’s not a question of simply reinstalling the original driver, manually installing a driver is pretty easy, even if you’re not a technological genius.

1. Under your Start menu, select “Control Panel”


2. Click on “Systems” and then “Hardware”


3. Click on “Device Manager” and look for the device you need the updated driver for. Double click on it.


4. Click on your “Driver” tab and select “Update Driver”


5. Choose “Install for a list or specific location” and click Next. Uncheck “search removable media” and check “Include this location in search.” Then click the browse button to go to the directory where you saved your new driver.


6. Click “Next” and your PC will attempt to install the new driver.

Download Driver Updates

When you go online to search for updates to your existing drivers, we recommend visiting the actual manufacturer’s web site and searching for updates there. This is the safest way to ensure that you are getting a valid driver from a trustworthy source.