Questions tagged [drivers]

Drivers are the middleware that allow computer programs to use resources of a specific hardware device.

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87 votes
4 answers
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Windows 10, 'System' process taking massive amounts of RAM

Since I upgraded to Windows 10, my system has been consuming RAM excessively I've been reading a bit and determined it's likely a driver leaking memory. So I got myself the Windows Driver Kit and ...
Nayncore's user avatar
  • 1,048
13 votes
3 answers
25k views

Make Windows 10 stop installing driver software automatically

I've upgraded my PC from Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 10 Pro; overall it seems to be working fine, with small bugs here and there. One thing that I find really annoying is that Windows seems to think ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 375
11 votes
5 answers
39k views

Windows 10 100% Disk Usage after Startup [duplicate]

After startup for 5 minutes, my system is very slow. The Task Manager shows that the disk usage is at 100%. (Later this number is around 2-4 %, but sometimes for 1-2 minutes goes up again at 100%.) I ...
SiGe's user avatar
  • 215
10 votes
2 answers
5k views

How do I go about backing up/saving installed device drivers in Windows?

I want to reinstall Windows on a machine which has some very obscure drivers. I don't much fancy having to hunt round for them (that's if I'm able to locate them at all). Is it possible to save or ...
Umber Ferrule's user avatar
22 votes
3 answers
34k views

How to diagnose Blue Screens in Windows 7 (64bit)

Using programs like WhoCrashed and BlueScreenView you can see the BSOD and the errors but how do you tell exactly what's causing the BSOD? I'm not sure if it's because of bad hardware, bad driver ...
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36 votes
9 answers
382k views

How can I disable my laptop's built-in keyboard in Windows 7?

I have a HP Compaq Presario C700 laptop with Windows 7 installed on it. My laptop's keyboard is not working properly; some keys never work and some keys will keep on pressing. I've formatted the OS ...
sam's user avatar
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22 votes
6 answers
62k views

Where should I find drivers for my Windows computer if it didn't come with a driver disk?

I had to reformat my machine because I had a virus. My machine did not come with a driver disk. How can I install drivers after having reinstalled Windows?
ishara's user avatar
  • 221
15 votes
2 answers
24k views

How to find vendor and model of unknown drivers

I reinstalled windows on a new machine and the drivers are not present for the product network card. When in device manager all I get is the question mark and I am unable to figure out the actual ...
Duncan Krebs's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Win8 downgrade - Windows 7 installation "Driver not found" [duplicate]

I have an Asus R500VD laptop which came with the preinstalled Windows 8. As actually this computer will be used by my grandmother (and she's only using win 7) I'd like to downgrade it. Thanks to ...
Przemyslaw Borkowski's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
15k views

High CPU usage by "System" and "System interrupts" (caused by ACPI.sys)

I have a laptop, which was running Windows 8.1 x64 without any problems. Now with Windows 10 x64 installed, Task Manager constantly shows unusual CPU usage by "System" and "System interrupts". To ...
Brane's user avatar
  • 569
9 votes
5 answers
45k views

Bypassing "Found New Hardware Wizard" / Setting Windows to Install Drivers Automatically

My motherboard finally died after the better part of a decade, so I bought a used system. I put my old hard-drive and sound-card in the new system, and connected my old keyboard and mouse (the rest of ...
Synetech's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
47k views

Add Network Printer drivers in Windows 7/Server 2008 R2?

I'm running a 64 bit Windows 7 / Windows 2008 R2 workstation that I just installed. I need to add a printer that is shared on the network from a 32bit Windows 2000 print server. This is an HP ...
Matias Nino's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
3k views

Disable automatic driver update for only one device in Windows 10

Is there a way we can disable automatic driver update for a specific device in Windows 10? The updated driver for that device (Intel Management Engine Interface 11.x in particular) causes problems on ...
user avatar
44 votes
3 answers
183k views

How to mount read-write an ext4 partition on Windows? [duplicate]

I want to use ext4 on my external HDD, but it must be cross-platform. (At least Linux, Win7 & WinXP). Unfortunately, I haven't found any proper driver allowing Windows to WRITE to ext4. I've ...
antivirtel's user avatar
33 votes
5 answers
64k views

Difference and relation between firmware and device driver

How are firmware and device driver different and related? I think both control devices? Is firmware always self-booting, while driver must be run/booted by OS?
Tim's user avatar
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29 votes
1 answer
99k views

How do I delete folders from the Windows 7 DriverStore?

I am having a problem getting a specific device to work, and I am trying to start from square one by making sure there are absolutely no leftover files from driver installs on my system. Specifically ...
Charles Randall's user avatar
29 votes
15 answers
160k views

Why does Windows 7 ask for additional drivers when installing from a USB 3.0 drive?

I just bought a new config ( ASUS p8z68-v lx, i5-2500k + ram and new graphic card ). Coming back and installing it in my old computer, I just saw that my DVD player was on IDE (yup…). So, I needed to ...
Shikiryu's user avatar
  • 305
27 votes
6 answers
41k views

Why should I install hardware drivers if my computer is working fine?

I've just installed Windows 7 on my PC. I went online to look for drivers. For my motherboard, Foxconn offers LAN drivers, on-board audio drivers, and chipset drivers. And for my graphics card, ...
callum's user avatar
  • 1,843
26 votes
3 answers
168k views

Windows: how to install driver from recovery command prompt?

I'm trying to enable Intel SRT on my laptop. To do this, I need to change SATA controller mode from AHCI to RAID. The problem is that windows has no drivers for RAID and I can't install it while ...
Oleg Titov's user avatar
21 votes
8 answers
51k views

Play audio over network with Windows 7?

I have seen software for Linux systems that allows me to send the audio from one system to another over the network, is there such a software (a driver likely) for Windows, specificly XP but Vista and ...
Unkwntech's user avatar
  • 575
7 votes
5 answers
32k views

Nvidia graphics card no longer works in Windows 10 (error: Code 43) but works in Ubuntu

Currently, when I boot into Windows, one monitor stays black (undetected), and the other can only display 800x600 resolution. When I look at Device Manager > Display Adapters > NVIDIA GeForce ...
Ryan's user avatar
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39 votes
8 answers
110k views

What's the reason behind "Stereo Mix" becoming a missing option?

Several newer computers I've worked on (Dell, mainly) are using IDT or Realtek drivers which lack the Stereo Mix option in audio recording devices. I've tried all kinds of methods including ...
JYelton's user avatar
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37 votes
3 answers
73k views

Enable/disable Windows 7 device via command line

I have a device that I often enable and disable using the Device Manager. I'd like to write a script to do this programmatically (that is, using the command line). I saw a program called devcon that ...
corsiKa's user avatar
  • 981
18 votes
4 answers
46k views

How to restart a video card driver in Windows 7?

Some times my video card driver (Intel GMA X4500HD) crashes and gets restarted automatically. But more often (almost every time I watch a flash-powered online video for a period of time) it just gets ...
Ivan's user avatar
  • 7,503
17 votes
4 answers
84k views

Use an unsigned driver in Windows 7 x64

I'm trying to use the RBC9 SpaceNavigator TEST x64 build drivers for my SpaceNavigator 3d joystick so that it can work as a normal joystick in games like Quake. Unfortunately, I get the error "This ...
rjmunro's user avatar
  • 1,366
16 votes
7 answers
221k views

How to enable AHCI in Windows XP without reinstalling

This question is part of a larger list of things I'll need to do before installing a new SSD drive, but I think it deserves its own question. Current setup: A dual-boot machine with Windows XP ...
Mister Smith's user avatar
13 votes
5 answers
4k views

Automatic driver search & update on Windows? [closed]

I have a Dell laptop issued by my employer, and I always find it a real pain to search for, download and maintain their drivers. It baffles me that there does not seem to be a nice way (product, ...
Ben's user avatar
  • 439
10 votes
2 answers
117k views

How do I disable audio jack detection In Windows 10 without using Realtek HD Audio Manager?

I have a headphone jack with a broken sensor. The headphones are normally supposed to turn on when they're plugged in. Because the jack is broken, however, my computer only detects that my headphones ...
Strill's user avatar
  • 912
10 votes
3 answers
117k views

Is it possible to use a 32-bit driver on 64-bit Windows 7?

I know it's not possible to install a 32-bit driver in the traditional way, but I really cannot find a 64-bit driver for my memory card reader. Is there anyway I can somehow use this device with a 32-...
JL.'s user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
9k views

Should I install graphics card drivers from Windows Update?

Today I see that there's an update to my graphics card driver (NVidia GT 220) available on Windows Update. Should I install that, or stick to the drivers provided by the manufacturer? (Re-asked here ...
Jonas's user avatar
  • 407
2 votes
1 answer
895 views

Corrupted graphics, crashes, and noisy GPU fan after updating NVIDIA GeForce drivers to 364.xx

I recently updated the drivers for my NVIDIA GeForce video card to version 364.72 (or other version in the 364.xx series), and I'm now experiencing issues such as the following: Games or other ...
bwDraco's user avatar
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16 votes
3 answers
59k views

Prevent Windows 10 from installing/updating a specific driver?

It seems that the recent Synaptics driver update for Synaptics SMBus TouchPad on Windows 10 (build 100049) somehow doesn't see my middle-button. Uninstalling, and installing an older driver for ...
Igal Tabachnik's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
23k views

How do I enable "Momentum" (aka "Inertia") on a notebook with an Elan touchpad?

I have a Lenovo notebook (Win 8) with a touchpad that's manufactured by Elan (aka Elantech). I've previously used a Synaptics touchpad on my old notebook and have gotten accustomed to its features ...
Vinayak's user avatar
  • 10.7k
5 votes
7 answers
54k views

Windows 10 on asus x44h touchpad scolling not working

I have just updated Windows 7 to Windows 10. My touchpad scolling (right-side) is not working anymore. I have no idea how to fix this in Windows 10. I have hit the start button and typed "...
Dean Spicer's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Cannot find ECS 945GCT drivers [duplicate]

I reinstalled windows xp sp3 In device manager I have two yellow marks: - PCI Simple Communication Controller - SM Bus Controller CPU-Z says my MB is ECS 945GCT-M2 chipset i945G. I visited so many ...
qadenza's user avatar
  • 272
32 votes
10 answers
82k views

How to print documents to pictures (gif, bmp etc.) on windows

What is the easiest way to capture the printout of a document in a picture (i.e. GIF, BMP etc.)? Making a screenshot does not help, since the printout is different and larger than the screen. Is there ...
Dr. Hans-Peter Störr's user avatar
23 votes
4 answers
41k views

Is there any point in installing a monitor driver?

I'm guessing that most of the world's PCs are running with a default "Plug & Play Monitor" driver which seems to work well enough, and having just swapped to a 2005FPW, installed the driver and ...
Lunatik's user avatar
  • 5,521
16 votes
3 answers
120k views

How to add drivers to Windows 7 installation DVD?

How I can bundle newer or missing drivers to Windows 7 DVD?
raspi's user avatar
  • 941
15 votes
3 answers
18k views

50 USB webcams in a single computer. Is that really possible?

Theoretically an USB HD webcam working at 15 FPS consume a bandwidth nearing 18MB/s - 1280 (width) x 960(height) x 3(RGB channels) x 15(FPS) - without compression. An USB 2.0 controller have a ...
Ian Medeiros's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
5k views

What are the Requirements for Fullscreen Consoles in Windows 7?

When you try to switch a console to fullscreen in Windows 7, it gives the error This system does not support fullscreen mode. Of note is the part about “this system”, intimating that some systems do ...
Synetech's user avatar
  • 68.8k
11 votes
2 answers
27k views

Turn Windows 7 desktop into grayscale

Is there a universal way to turn Windows 7 Aero desktop, all windows, etc into grayscale? I had an option to do this in Intel video drivers on my old laptop, now I have NVIDIA and don't know how to ...
Axarydax's user avatar
  • 1,237
9 votes
3 answers
45k views

Drivers for headphones with in-line mic and remote control

Is there a way to get the in-line microphone and remote controller on headphones to work on Windows? I've got Koss iSpark designed to work with iPhone, but also other smartphones. It has in-line ...
SysGen's user avatar
  • 247
8 votes
1 answer
18k views

Changing from RAID to AHCI and Windows 7 will not boot

I had a RAID0 array that for all intents and purposes went to hell. I put a new SSD (same on-board Intel controller) and installed a new copy of Windows on it and all the drivers (Intel Rapid Storage, ...
S16's user avatar
  • 249
7 votes
1 answer
67k views

What is roaming sensitivity?

For my Signal King SK-999WN Wifi adapter, I installed the Ralink 3070 driver package IS_Setup_ICS_081414_1.5.38.101.exe available from MediaTek. The driver has an option Roaming Sensitivity, which by ...
feklee's user avatar
  • 1,654
7 votes
3 answers
3k views

Showing no audio output devices installed

Asus in search in incredible A555L i installed audio drivers but not working . I tried allot but i cant find solution. i given to asus service center they are solved issue but its worked only one day ...
Kondal's user avatar
  • 123
5 votes
2 answers
29k views

Can I prevent a driver from being installed with windows 8.1?

I have a Mid 2011 27" Imac with Windows 8. It works mostly fine with the latest bootcamp drivers, I don't have sound in the integrated sound card since I upgraded from Windows 7, but I use bluetooth ...
Néstor Hernández Ojeda's user avatar
4 votes
5 answers
14k views

How can I identify hardware components in a laptop?

I just reinstalled my Windows and now I don't have all the hardware components recognized. I have an laptop and website seems to have all the necessary drivers for my model. The problem is that I ...
dole doug's user avatar
  • 1,683
3 votes
2 answers
43k views

AMD Graphics Drivers won't install properly

Windows 8 x64 I have an MSI Frozr II AMD Radeon 7850 2GB. I bought it maybe about two weeks ago and upon installing it I've been having problems with the HDMi audio from it. I have another question ...
Mark Kramer's user avatar
3 votes
12 answers
20k views

Compatibility of Linux with Samsung series 7 Chronos

I want to buy a Samsung Chronos notebook and install Ubuntu alongside Windows. Will there be any trouble with the hardware? I'd hope all the ports should work fine, keyboard special buttons, lights ...
foxy's user avatar
  • 133
1 vote
5 answers
71k views

How to install AMD driver for ATI Dynamic Switchable Graphics in Windows 7?

I have a ATI Dynamic Switchable Graphics on a HP Pavilion g7 (hp pavilion g7-1246ef). I had some graphics problems with this VGA card in Linux and I found (here) that I have this double-VGA type of ...
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