How to Reinstall a Driver

• To Update a Driver, first retrieve it from the device manufacturer's website. You'll need to know the exact make and model of the device you are updating.
  
  
• To Figure out the Make and Model, check the manual. If the device is an internal sound or video card, you can find out what it is under System Information.
  Click on Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools.
  
  
• At the Manufacturer's Website download the driver package to your desktop. If you need help finding the site, try windrivers.com or driverzone.com
  
  
• Now go to your Control Panel. Click Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.
  Double-click the System icon and choose the Device Manager tab.
  Click the plus sign next to the category of the device whose driver you want to update.
  You'll see the name of your specific device.
  Click on it, then on Properties, and then on the Driver tab.
  
  
• Click the Update Driver Button and follow the prompts to update it. All you have to do now is reboot your machine so the new driver can take effect.

Plugs & Ports

• Is the back of your computer a land of mystery to you? Use our handy-dandy road map, and discover what goes where.
  
  
• PS/2 Mouse Port The port where your mouse or pointing device is designed to go. Despite an appearance similar to the keyboard port, the two are not interchangeable.
  
  
• PS/2 Keyboard Port Looks like the mouse port, but it's for your keyboard. Both this and the mouse port are serial ports, which translates into slower data connection.
  
  
• USB Ports Featuring fast data-transfer rates, the port is used by digital cameras, mice, CD burners, TV tuners and a variety of other "plug and play" devices.
  
  
• Ethernet Port This is where your network connection goes. People on local area networks at work use it. As do broadband users at home on DSL or cable modems.
  
  
• SCSI-2 Port Pronounced skuzzy, this port is faster than serial and parallel ports, and it can be configured to accommodate several devices at the same time.
  
  
• Video Port For your monitor. To connect a second monitor, you need to install a second video card (which gives you an additional port, among other things).
  
  
• Serial Port The most basic kind of port, with the slowest data transfer rate on your computer. Can work with many devices, including modems, mice and printers.
  
  
• Parallel Port Faster than a serial port, but slower than a SCSI or USB. Until the advent of the more versatile USB port, the parallel port was the printers favourite.
  
  
• Joystick Port An option for connecting your game pad, which is used to play PC games. Note that some pads and joysticks plug into the USB port instead.
  
  
• SCSI-3 Port Another variant of the "skuzzy" , this one is faster than the SCSI-2. It can also accommodate multiple devices, such as disk drives, printers and scanners.