Windows 7 Operating System Lesson # 7

Windows 7 Operating System Lesson # 7:

Device Drivers - Troubleshooting Hardware

Devices are items of equipment attached to your computer, either externally (mouse, keyboard, monitor, flash drives, printers, etc.) or internally, inside the computer case (memory modules, video cards, sound cards, Ethernet cards, USB ports and even some software objects).

Each device has its own set of commands for its various functions, its own “language.” The commands vary between devices and generally are different from those used by the operating system. A device driver acts as a “translator” between the device and the operating system. Most devices need drivers to operate. A driver for a device has to be compatible with the operating system of the computer to which the device is attached.

Drivers for internal devices are generally installed by the computer manufacturer. If an external device needs a driver, it usually comes packaged with the device and needs to be installed either before or after the device is attached to the computer. Device drivers commonly get corrupted and need to be reinstalled. In this lesson we will uninstall the sound device driver on the computer, find a replacement for it on the Internet and install it.

Turn on Computer I as instructed in Lesson 1.

(1) Locate Drivers

If a Found New Hardware wizard window opens now or at any time later in this exercise, close it and continue with the lesson.

· Click on Start, click on Control Panel Device Manager Link

(set to Small icons view).

· Click on System (scroll, if needed).

· At top left click on the Device Manager.

· Click on the right pointing triangle (, + on some computers) in front of some of the devices.

· DOUBLE click on several of the devices and review their Properties description, particularly the Driver tab.

Note the entry indicating that the device is operating properly.

· Click on Cancel to close each description window, but do not close the Device Manager.

(2) Find and Remove Realtek High Definition Audio

· Click on the triangle () in front of Sound, video and game controllers.

· DOUBLE click on High Definition Audio.

· Click on the Driver tab at the top.

· Click on Uninstall.

· To confirm, check the Delete box and click on OK.

· Wait for the device to be uninstalled and close all windows.

The driver is still loaded and the device may not be disabled until you reboot the computer.

· Click on Start, click on the down triangle next to Shut Down, click on Restart.

You should see the message Installing device driver software at lower right.

(3) Identify Driver Problems

When new devices are first attached to the computer, or when device drivers get corrupted or deleted, Windows 7 will look for backup copies of the driver on the computer or on the Internet. Generally, the system will find the correct driver and install it automatically. Once the computer has been configured, it is difficult to demonstrate missing drivers since most are reinstalled on boot up. But they will often be missing with new computers or when installing a new operating system.

When drivers are missing, or not properly identified or installed, the entry of Other Devices appears in the Device Manager. A yellow question mark is shown in front of the affected device. A red icon there indicates that the device is malfunctioning.

When a device is not working properly you have several directions in which you can proceed

(a) Try to locate the driver on the installation materials that came with the computer, usually a CD. Driver CDs are sometimes provided with the computer or can be obtained from the computer manufacturer.

(b) Contact the web site of the manufacturer of the computer. Try to locate the driver on the site, and download and install it.

Option (a) is not useful in this exercise, as the driver installed automatically.

In following option (b) we will identify the computer to the manufacturer, which is Dell, and look for the driver on the Dell site. Dell computers have a unique Service Tag and Express Service Code. The Service Tag is on a sticker on the back or the top of the computer. Other manufacturers have a similar identification system. On Computer I the Service Tag is located on the back and for Computer I it is CDT9LM1.

(4) Install a Driver

· Close all windows.

· Log onto www.dell.com. Look for links like Support (sometimes Home and Home Office, etc.) and then View All Support.

On the Customized Support screen you may be asked to select the model of Computer I, Vostro 230.

· Enter the Service Tag (if not already entered).

· Click on Submit or Go.

· Scroll down, at left, click on Get drivers and then on View All Drivers.

· Select the Operating System (Windows 7 - 32 bit).

· Click on the down arrow next to Audio and verify that it is for Realtek Audio.

· Click on Download File.

Note: Several devices may be listed. You may be then asked to select between different sound cards or an integrated device. To determine if you have integrated sound, check the back of Computer I. The sound port is located with the rest of the motherboard ports; it does not occupy a separate card slot. Therefore it is integrated audio. AS above, select the correct Operating System and device.

· Find the security notice at the bottom of the screen and click on Run.

· If the User Account Notice appears, click on Yes.

· Wait for the installation screen to appear. Follow the directions.

· If you get a notice that the file already exists, click on Yes to All.

· Follow the directions for the InstallShield Wizard to install the file.

· Place a dot in Yes for restarting the computer and click on Finish.

(5) Restart the computer thereby saving the changes.

You should not see the notice about installing devices presented on P. 3. After the computer restarts, open up the Device Manager as instructed in Step (1) above and verify that Realtek High Definition Audio appears there with no yellow question marks and that the device is operating correctly.

(6) If you cannot obtain the driver from the computer manufacturer, you must resort to option (3 c) and try to identify the manufacturer of the device.

· Open the device properties window in the Device Manager (See Step 1).

· Click on the triangle () in front of Sound, video and game controllers.

· DOUBLE click on Realtek High Definition Audio.

· Click on the Driver tab at the top.

Note that the driver is for Realtek High Definition Audio and the driver was provided by the Realtek Semiconductor Corp.

· Click on the Details tab.

· Click on the down triangle (▼) to the right of Device Description.

· In the drop down menu click on Hardare IDs.

· In the Value window RIGHT click on the second entry and click on Copy.

· Open the Internet Explorer, RIGHT click in the Google search box and click on Paste. You should see -

HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0662&SUBSYS_1028043E

· Click on the Search.

· Click on the various entries to find one that lists the device you are looking for, in this case Audio Realtek.

· Find the correct entry for your operating system, Windows 7, 32 bit on this computer.

You then download the driver and proceed the same way as with the one downloaded from Dell.

Observe all other routine cautions when browsing the web. Some sites offering drivers will ask you to install their software or provide detailed information about your operating system and your computer so that a matching driver can be selected. Do not download unidentified programs or disclose personal information, credit card numbers, etc.

· Close all windows.

· Turn the computer off.

What you learned: Most devices attached to the computer need drivers to operate. Devices are listed in the Device Manager accessible through the System, Device Manager entry in the Control Panel. Malfunctioning devices appear there in red and improperly installed devices are preceded by yellow question marks. You can find the appropriate device drivers on the computer’s hard drive, on removable media, on the web site of the computer manufacturer, on the web site of the device manufacturer, or by searching the web.

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