Finding Compatible Device Drivers for Windows XP
Published: October 14, 2002
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If you're relatively new to computing, you may not appreciate just how much Windows XP has improved device compatibility.
Admittedly, if your printer won't print, or your camera won't capture, it's cold comfort to know that such problems for computer users were once far worse. But it's true.
The Universal Plug and Play technology in Windows XP makes it a great deal easier to add devices to your PC. The Windows XP operating system includes drivers for thousands of the most common devices. And the Windows Update online service is regularly making new device drivers available to your system via the Internet. In most cases, when you plug in a device, Windows XP recognizes it and it just works. Frankly, to those of us who struggled through the bygone days, this is nothing short of amazing.
Nevertheless, hardware compatibility issues continue to be among the top questions facing Windows XP users. Because there is a wider variety of hardware in existence than ever before, and because more users are building their own systems, piecing together hardware in unique combinations.
Back in the old days, we learned some troubleshooting tricks that occasionally come in handy even now when we're trying to make Windows XP run on a stubborn old laptop, or trying to get a few more prints from an outdated printer.
We also need to recognize that sometimes the best answer might be: "Don't bother." It's not an easy decision, and I'll offer some advice on how to determine when new hardware is the best decision.
Hardware compatibility issues with Windows XP usually arise from one of two circumstances:
| • | Either you have an old device for which the manufacturer has not updated drivers for Windows XP |
| • | Or you have a new device, for which Windows XP has not yet added support |
Plan Ahead
If you're buying a new PC with Windows XP, and you have older devices that you want to keep, it pays to plan ahead. Use the Internet and find out if Windows XP drivers for your devices exist before you plug everything in. Don't find out the hard way that there's a problem. This is also true if you install Windows XP as an upgrade on your old PC.
Start by looking at the Windows Catalog Web site to see if your hardware has passed the stringent requirements for the "Designed for Microsoft Windows XP" logo. This site also lists software as well, so it can be a very useful resource. If your hardware isn't listed there, you'll need to see if you can find a suitable driver. But remember, it's a lot easier to line up your drivers before you starting plugging everything in, so spend the time up front.
Finding Drivers
If you do end up with a device for which you have no drivers, your first task is to find suitable drivers. The first and most obvious place, of course, is the CD or floppy disk that came with the device. If you have a new device, it most likely will have drivers for Windows XP. Sometimes, however, you may find the wrong disk in the box with your new device, or no disk. In this case, if you have an old device, or a new one, for which Windows XP has no drivers, you'll have to go searching.
There are a wide variety of sources for drivers, many more than I can cover here. But I can give you a starting point and discuss some of the best places to search.
Windows Update Catalog
The first place to look is the Windows Update Catalog. Windows Update automatically checks your PC and offers updates for your hardware. You can also turn on the Windows Update searchable database of driver updates. To turn this on:
1. | Go to Windows Update. |
2. | In the left pane, under other options, click Personalize Windows Update. |
3. | Select the Display the link to Windows Update Catalog under See Also check box. |
4. | Click Save Settings to enable the See Also link. |
Now whenever you're at the Windows Update site, you can click the Windows Update Catalog link to brink up a searchable database of thoroughly tested drivers for Windows XP. This can be useful if you know exactly which driver you need. The database is updated weekly.
Hardware Manufacturer's Web Site
The second source to check is the hardware manufacturer's Web site for updated drivers. Manufacturers often provide drivers that haven't yet passed the Designed for Windows XP compatibility testing. Many manufacturers will even post beta drivers for public download. This can be a source for a driver if you're desperate, but remember that there's a reason they're still beta drivers—they haven't been fully tested and can cause problems.
I recently built a brand new PC, with an Intel chipset-based motherboard that has a built-in network card. Great, but Windows XP doesn't have a driver for it yet. No problem, I downloaded a Windows XP-compatible driver from the Intel Web site before I assembled the PC. That way, if there were any problems with the CD included with the motherboard, I was prepared.
Alternative Drivers
If the manufacturer does not offer Windows XP drivers for your device, you can try installing a Windows 2000 driver. This is a common workaround. In most cases, it's sufficient to make your device operate at a basic level. Your device may not perform all functions, and most likely won't take advantage of all the new features in Windows XP. You should try to find a Windows XP driver first.
Driver Compatibility Warning
If you attempt to install a driver on your Windows XP computer that hasn't passed the rigorous compatibility testing for Windows XP, you'll get a warning message during the installation. You'll see this message when you install a Windows 2000 driver, for example. You really should stop here and contact the manufacturer for a certified driver. If you do choose to install the driver anyway, be aware that it may cause other problems with your computer. Check regularly for updated, certified drivers, and don't forget to urge the manufacturer to make certified drivers available.
There are a number of ways to apply gentle persuasion to manufacturers to provide certified drivers. The obvious ones are e-mails and phone calls to the company's product support staff, asking for the drivers. Both of these may be useful. But I'm enough of a cynic to suspect otherwise. One of my favorite tricks, as a former IT director and the person in my company responsible for computer purchasing, was to pressure my vendors, the folks who sold me the hardware. When a company such as CDW or MicroWarehouse calls a manufacturer, they listen. Even if you're not purchasing computer hardware for your company, you can corner the office IT pro and ask her to raise your printer driver issue with vendors.
But keep in mind that manufacturers are in business. They don't make money by developing drivers. If they have resources to develop drivers for only five devices, will they update drivers for the five devices they sold last year, or develop drivers for the five new devices they sell this year? As a customer, you can have an impact. But businesses must weigh such decisions.
Third-Party Web Sites
There are a many third-party Web sites dedicated to helping you find drivers. I've listed several in the Related Links section below. Some of these sites also have a community forum, a discussion board, or a regular newsletter. These can be excellent places to learn about drivers that have just been released, and about drivers that are still in development. Perhaps you're wondering whether a camera manufacturer will ever update drivers for your old camera, or if you should just buy a new camera. third-party sites can often provide information to help you make that decision.
These sites also provide information about known compatibility issues for drivers. This can help decide whether to install a beta driver, Windows 2000 driver, or other driver that hasn't yet passed certification for Windows XP.
These sites are especially useful if you're trying to make older hardware work with Windows XP and there aren't certified drivers for that hardware. Not only do they provide a far greater range of drivers than Microsoft, they also have recommended drivers for devices whose manufacturers are out of business.
If the manufacturer released Windows XP drivers before going out of business, you may find those available on third-party sites, even if the manufacturer's Web site is gone.
If they went out of business before updating drivers, you may find a generic driver for a specific chipset. In many cases, different manufacturers start with the same chipset, or integrated circuits, when they build hardware. For example, modems from many different manufacturers used the same Intel chipsets. You may be able to find a generic driver for that chipset on the Intel Web site and get your modem to work.
These drivers should always be considered the driver of last resort. There are often subtle differences between the generic driver and the specific one that supports the exact device that you have.
Similarly, drivers from a different manufacturer may work with your device. Video adapter cards, which run your monitor, are notorious for this. I once had an old H-P laptop, that didn't have an updated driver from H-P. But a driver from the video chipset manufacturer worked and I was able to get some more life from the laptop.
These are workarounds. But this does not provide you with certified drivers. If you want a smooth-running system, you should always be looking for certified drivers - they're far more thoroughly tested. Personally, if it came to using a generic driver, or one from a different manufacturer, I'd start looking for new hardware as soon as economically feasible. I really don't like running uncertified drivers. It leaves you open to all sorts of subtle differences that can cause random misbehavior that's difficult to track down.
Getting Out Of Driver Trouble
If you do wind up having problems with a driver, Windows XP has an escape clause—the ability to roll back to a previous version of the driver.
To roll back to a previous version of a driver
1. | Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Performance and Maintenance. |
2. | Click See basic information about your computer. |
3. | In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab. |
4. | Click Device Manager. |
5. | In the Device Manager console, right-click the device whose driver you want to rollback, and then click Properties. If the device is not working, it will likely appear with a red X or a yellow question mark. |
6. | Click the Driver tab, and then click Roll Back Driver. If a system reboot is required, you'll be prompted. |
Warning: Driver Rollback is only a single level deep—if you replace a driver, then replace it again, your original driver is gone and can't be recovered. I strongly recommend that if you have problems with a driver, first rollback to the original before trying a new one. This way you'll always have your original position to fall back to.
Cool Tip
With this column, I'd like to start what I hope is an ongoing section for my columns – a place for me to share what I think are some of the absolutely best tips I've seen. This one was prompted by a tip I received (see my email address below) from Dave Schwinn, who wrote on his trick for dealing with the fixed IP address his work environment imposed. When he took his laptop home, he simply plugged in an inexpensive (but Windows XP supported) PC Card network adapter he bought just for the purpose, and then plugged in to his home network. The card is set up to work with his home networking environment, and he doesn't have to do any re-configuration at all – it just works. I love it, and thanks again to Dave for a great suggestion.
Send in Your Questions
If you use Windows XP Professional at work, and you have a topic you'd like to see me cover in one of my columns, feel free to write me at Charlie@mvps.org. Please understand that it's impossible for me to acknowledge or answer individual e-mail messages, and I can't provide individual technical support by e-mail. But I really do want to hear from you and I will be happy to consider your topic request for a future column.
