SG Broadband Community

When it comes to hardware that requires drivers, is it best to install the drivers before you put in the hardware into a PC?

thx

i wouldnt think so, as some installer will look for the hardware then error out when it not there,

Depends on the hardware, "most" hardware can be done after the hardware is physically installed. I prefer this approach, when building a system. Motherboard...lay down the latest motherboard/chipset drivers to build a good foundation, and then I do the video, sound, NIC. You can usually take several approaches to this, I usually do it via the Device Mangler, properties of the device in its unknown state..update drivers, point to wherever I unbuckled the .infs.

Some hardware, such as a few USB printers, require you to run the setup routine first..and then plug in the printer, power it on..and follow the bouncing ball as it takes over the new hardware found weeezard. The instructions will state to do this first.

24giovanni wrote:When it comes to hardware that requires drivers, is it best to install the drivers before you put in the hardware into a PC?

thx

Its always best to put the hardware in..let it detect it and just ignore the install box to look for the drivers...then install the ones you have ready.

YeOldeStonecat wrote:Some hardware, such as a few USB printers, require you to run the setup routine first..and then plug in the printer, power it on..and follow the bouncing ball as it takes over the new hardware found weeezard. The instructions will state to do this first.

yup. i think the only times i can recall it being this way was with some USB devices. MFPs/printers in particular, some cameras/webcams.