Other Device
 |
Updating High Definition Audio Device Drivers Using Device Manager
If your computer's high definition audio device drivers are out of date or are no longer working as they should, you may be able to update the drivers using a built-in tool in your Windows operation system. The Device Manager is a Windows utility used for enabling and disabling devices, troubleshooting problems with devices, and updating device drivers – including high definition audio device drivers.
Launch Device Manager by either locating it in the Control Panel or typing "Device Manager" into the Windows Vista or Windows 7 Search bar and then clicking the link that appears. Once launched, you'll see a categorized list of device types. Your high definition audio device drivers will be contained in the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers section. Click the symbol (it looks like a triangle or a plus sign depending on your operating system) next to the category to expand the list. You'll then see a list of audio devices installed on your system. Double-click the device that needs new high definition audio device drivers.
A small box will appear with several tabs labeled General, Driver, and Details. The General tab will tell you if the device is working properly or if it has encountered an error. Oftentimes, the Device Status area will provide you with specific instructions or error messages. It may even tell you that the high definition audio device drivers are missing or corrupt. The Driver tab is the tab you want for working with your high definition audio device drivers.
First, it displays information about the driver provider, driver date, driver version, and digital signer. This information is useful when you want to check to see if you have the latest version of high definition audio device drivers installed for your device or not. Next, you'll see a series of buttons labeled Driver Details, Update Driver, Roll Back Driver, Disable (or Enable), and Uninstall. Before you click the Update Driver button, consider the possibility that your audio device isn't working because it's been disabled. If you seen an Enable button, this is possible. In this case, click the Enable button and see if your audio device starts working once again.
If you have downloaded high definition audio device drivers for your device and they are not self-installing, use the Update Driver button to install them. You'll be prompted to either allow Windows to search for new high definition audio device drivers or to browse your computer for the desired files. Make your decision and follow the prompts. If you want Windows to search, choose that option and make sure that you have an active Internet connection. Windows will check a massive Microsoft database for updated device drivers.
Once the high definition audio device drivers have been installed, the audio device may not work as expected. It's not unusual for device driver updates to need a system reboot before the changes are finalized. Reboot your computer after updating to complete the process.
About the Author
If you want to learn more about updating high definition audio device drivers, visit DeviceDriver.org, a technical website dedicated to providing users with information, tools, and software reviews.