Not Another Tech Blog
Posts tagged Windows
Windows Xp Driver Updates are Easier Than You Think!
Oct 3rd
Windows Xp Driver Updates are Easier Than You Think!
Obtaining the most recent Windows XP driver updates can have an extremely beneficial effect on the performance of your personal computer. Many people don’t realize that outdated drivers are often the culprits behind errors, slowdowns, and overall poor performance. As a matter of fact, many people do not even realize what drivers are!
Windows drivers are code interfaces that allow your computer to communicate with external hardware devices. This includes your mouse, keyboard, video card, sound card, printer, monitor, and more. All these things utilize device drivers in order to properly run with your Windows computer.
Finding the proper Windows XP driver updates for your hardware and operating system can be a big hassle. First you have to figure out which hardware needs new drivers (which is not always clear), and then you have to go on a hunt over the internet to find the appropriate driver for your operating system and hardware version.
There is an easy way to update drivers, however, and it’s in the form of automatic driver update software. One excellent program is called Driver Detective, and it draws on a database of over 2.2 million different device drivers, including special drivers for computers manufactured by Dell, Toshiba, Compaq, and other brands.
Another excellent program you can check out is Driver Genius. It’s very similar to Driver Detective. Basically these programs scan your computer for all installed drivers and then compares that data with their company’s databases of the latest drivers. If yours are out of date all it takes is a few simple clicks, and the software will download the latest driver updates automatically.
Keeping your Windows XP drivers up to date is important if you want to ensure that your computer is running at peak performance. It’s a basic part of computer maintenance, as well as a first step in troubleshooting any sort of computer error or problem.
For more information on the best automatic driver update software, as well as how to get proper Windows XP driver updates, check out EZDriverUpdates.com!
Windows Xp Driver Updates are Easier Than You Think!
Oct 3rd
Windows Xp Driver Updates are Easier Than You Think!
Obtaining the most recent Windows XP driver updates can have an extremely beneficial effect on the performance of your personal computer. Many people don’t realize that outdated drivers are often the culprits behind errors, slowdowns, and overall poor performance. As a matter of fact, many people do not even realize what drivers are!
Windows drivers are code interfaces that allow your computer to communicate with external hardware devices. This includes your mouse, keyboard, video card, sound card, printer, monitor, and more. All these things utilize device drivers in order to properly run with your Windows computer.
Finding the proper Windows XP driver updates for your hardware and operating system can be a big hassle. First you have to figure out which hardware needs new drivers (which is not always clear), and then you have to go on a hunt over the internet to find the appropriate driver for your operating system and hardware version.
There is an easy way to update drivers, however, and it’s in the form of automatic driver update software. One excellent program is called Driver Detective, and it draws on a database of over 2.2 million different device drivers, including special drivers for computers manufactured by Dell, Toshiba, Compaq, and other brands.
Another excellent program you can check out is Driver Genius. It’s very similar to Driver Detective. Basically these programs scan your computer for all installed drivers and then compares that data with their company’s databases of the latest drivers. If yours are out of date all it takes is a few simple clicks, and the software will download the latest driver updates automatically.
Keeping your Windows XP drivers up to date is important if you want to ensure that your computer is running at peak performance. It’s a basic part of computer maintenance, as well as a first step in troubleshooting any sort of computer error or problem.
For more information on the best automatic driver update software, as well as how to get proper Windows XP driver updates, check out EZDriverUpdates.com!
Find More Driver Find Articles
How to Remove & Uninstall Windows Live Messenger with the best uninstaller?
Oct 1st
How to Remove & Uninstall Windows Live Messenger with the best uninstaller?
Do you got to uninstall Windows Live Messenger but you really don’t know how you can do this? Whether you need to get rid of version 8, 8.1, 8,5, 2009 or 2010, I will personally help you to do this by giving out a step by step Windows Live Messenger removal plan. This way, you will be able to easily remove Windows Live Messenger from your computer.
How To Uninstall Windows Live Messenger
1) Click on the “Start Menu” and find and click on “Control Panel”.
2) When you are in the “Control Panel”, find the “Add / Remove Programs” tab and click on it.
3) Now you’ll see a huge list with programs, applications and software programs. Now you’ve got to find the Windows Messenger and select it.
4) Once you’ve found it, hit the uninstall button and confirm that you want to uninstall the program.
5) Now the uninstall will start. Keep in mind that this can take a little while.
This is exactly how you can uninstall the Windows Messenger from your computer. However, sometimes the uninstall fails, or people don’t really know how apply these steps. If for any reason the uninstall failed, then you can only do 1 more thing…
Uninstall The Messenger By Using An Automatic Uninstaller Software
If the uninstall has failed then you can only do one more thing. You use an uninstaller software to do the job for you. This way, you will be able to basically uninstall Windows Live Messenger on auto-pilot.
A great uninstaller software is called the Perfect Uninstaller. The Perfect Uninstaller will uninstall any program, application or software that you want. It works like this:
Firstly, the Perfect Uninstaller will uninstall the Messenger. Once that has been done, it will scan through your drivers and your registry to make sure that every single file has been removed from your computer.
Why don’t you take a look at this program yourself? Visit: Perfect Uninstaller. So, in order to uninstall Windows Live Messenger from your computer you simply have to follow the 5 steps above. If these steps fail to work then the best option is to get the Perfect Uninstaller software.
Click here to get your PC protected with the best security program!
Updating Device Drivers on Windows
Sep 13th
Updating Device Drivers on Windows
Occasionally, hardware devices require updates in order to function properly. While the reasons are various, it typically relates to updates by the manufacturer that result in compatibility issues. In addition, if you install a new piece of hardware, the installation could overwrite an existing driver and create conflict with another device. In this scenario, the existing device driver may require an upgrade. When a hardware device starts to act awry, updating the corresponding driver often solves all the problems.
Updating 101
The easiest way to update a device driver on a Windows operating system is via the Device Manager utility. There are numerous ways to open this utility, including accessing the “Start” menu, clicking on “Control Panel” and selecting “Device Manager” from the list of items. Regardless of how it is accessed, the purpose of the Device Manager is to list all the hardware devices present on your computer. If you notice that a device is listed with a yellow question mark, this usually indicates that the device isn’t functioning properly.
You can choose the device you want to update by right-clicking it and selecting Update Driver Software from the sub-menu. From here, you have two choices: you can select the option that automatically scans the internet for updated drivers, or choose the option that allows you to use an updated driver stored or a disk or folder. Simply make a selection and follow the proceeding instructions.
Automatically vs. Manually Updating
If you want to view details about a particular driver before making updates, right-click the device and then hit “Properties.” Next, click the “Driver” tab. You should see information pertaining to the driver, as well as options for making updates, disabling and enabling the driver, uninstalling the driver, and utilizing a roll back feature. Rolling back the driver allows you to revert back to the previous status if an update doesn’t function properly.
If you prefer to manually update a device driver, you will need to find a new driver and also save a backup copy of the old one just in case. There are many software applications available that will scan your system, automatically download, install and backup new drivers. These programs work quickly and tend to be very easy to use.
Tips and Factors to Keep in Mind
There are some drivers that may cause your system to become unstable if not they are not installed properly or installed for the wrong device. You can launch the Device Manager to find out if a particular device is working properly. If not, an error code will be displayed. If you notice that a device isn’t working properly, click on the “troubleshoot” button in the Device Manager to initiate the troubleshooting process.
Another option you have is writing down the given error codes and trying to get technical support from the company who manufactured the device. If you update a driver and it doesn’t work, uninstall any software applications you recently installed. Because it could be the software that is creating the conflict, check with the vendor to see if an update or patch is available to fix the issue.
Adam K Smith is an eminent author on Device Drivers for all types of Computers. To Safely Update All Your Drivers and Fix Your Drivers Problem Instantly Visit: http://www.fixyourdrivers.com/
Find More Driver Find Articles
Finding and Installing Device Drivers for Windows Vista
Sep 12th
Finding and Installing Device Drivers for Windows Vista
As a relatively new operating system, Windows Vista offers functionality that towers over its predecessors. Unfortunately, it can also present problems when you are attempting to integrate your old hardware devices. It is common to encounter a situation where a printer that performed seamlessly on XP doesn’t work at all on Vista. This could be for a number of reasons, but more than likely, it is something simple. Before cashing out on new hardware, you should first look for an updated driver to see if that solves the problem.
Start with Microsoft’s Website
The first place you want to search for updated printer drivers compatible with Vista is the Microsoft website. Microsoft tends to keep its website updated with the latest patches and drivers for the most commonly used applications and drivers. If you don’t have any luck here, head over to the site of the company who manufactured your printer. This could be either the Epson or HP website. Even if there isn’t a device driver update section, you should be able to find the same information in the support area of the website. After finding the appropriate driver, download it to your computer.
How to Install the Updated Device Driver
Close down any applications you have open and install the driver. There is typically a wizard that will guide you through each step that is required. In most cases, you will need to reboot the system before the changes go into effect.
After restarting your computer, fire up the printer and see if it is working properly. If there is a problem, open the Control Panel and click “Printers” to find out if Vista recognizes it as the default printer. This is important, as the printer will not function if it is not designated as the default device. If it isn’t, simply right-click the printer, select “Set as Default” and give the printer another try.
If the printer still isn’t working properly, you might have to make a few minor adjustments. This calls for you to go back to the Control Panel and select “Printers.” Right-click the printer, and this time, select “Properties.”
Next, choose the “Advanced” tab and go to the section that displays the driver. If you don’t see the driver you downloaded, use the drop-down menu and see if it is listed there. If it isn’t, click on “New Driver” and try to install the driver again. This should direct you to the “Add New Printer Driver Wizard.” Select your printer manufacturer from the provided list to see if the driver shows up in the subsequent pane. If it does, select the listed driver to see if solves your problems. If it doesn’t show up, choose the “Have Disk” option along with the location where you previously downloaded the updated driver. Follow the instructions and restart your computer before testing the printer again.
Tip: Although you may not be prompted to do so, always reboot your computer after installing updated drivers. By rebooting, you can assure that the needed changes have taken place.
Adam K Smith is an eminent author on Device Drivers for all types of Computers. To Safely Update All Your Drivers and Fix Your Drivers Problem Instantly Visit: http://www.fixyourdrivers.com/
Installing AMD Drivers on Windows Vista
Sep 11th
Installing AMD Drivers on Windows Vista
Vista is far more advanced than the Windows systems that came before it. It offers more power, enhanced stability, and ease of use once you grow familiar with the environment. Just like XP, adding hardware devices to Vista is as simple as a plug-and-play procedure. After you connect devices to a computer, the operating system detects the new hardware and installs the appropriate device drivers.
However, there may come a time when you need to manually install device drivers because they are not already installed on the operating system. For example, you may want to install an AMD motherboard on your computer. In order for it to function, you would also need to install the appropriate AMD drivers.
How to Start Installation
As with any hardware, you should follow the provided instructions when installing an AMD device. After making sure all the connections are properly seated, turn on your PC and let the operating system boot up. If the device isn’t recognized, it might not be a certified Windows Vista component. In this case, you should be presented with a display prompt asking that you manually select the type of software you want to install. This calls for you to insert the installation drive that accompanied the AMD hardware into your CD/DVD drive.
From here, simply follow the instructions on the screen, as each step will walk you through the installation process. Keep in mind that some AMD devices require multiple drivers. If this is the case, you will be instructed to install each one. However, if the AMD device is recognized, the new hardware should be automatically detected and take you through the setup process.
Performing a Manual Installation of AMD Device Drivers
There are times when Vista will not offer to automatically install the AMD device drivers, meaning you will have to install them manually. On such an occasion, head to the Control Panel and select the “Device Manager.” Locate the appropriate AMD device and right-click it. Next, select “Update Driver Software.” Assuming that you have the installation disk that came with the hardware, choose the option that browses your computer for the driver and select the appropriate location.
Once the AMD drivers are installed, you may want to check to see if there is an updated version. This can also be done from the Device Manager utility. Right-click on the AMD device and choose “Properties.” Next, click “Update Driver” and select the option that allows you to automatically search the internet for updated device drivers. If a driver is found, you will be prompted to perform the installation. If not, a message will be displayed stating that you currently have the most recent driver available for the device.
Whether you are installing new drivers for AMD hardware or any other device, it is important to make sure you choose a version that is compatible with your operating system. Although some drivers are universal and compatible with all systems, others are specific to certain platforms. Choosing the correct drivers is essential, as installing the wrong one could stir up major problems.
Adam K Smith is an eminent author on Device Drivers for all types of Computers. To Safely Update All Your Drivers and Fix Your Drivers Problem Instantly Visit: http://www.fixyourdrivers.com/
After escaping from Chicago, Tanner and Jones head for Havana, where they hope to find Pink Lenny and find out where Vazques is in the process. After asking several people for leads, they come across a tatooed brazilian that will lead them to Pink Lenny. Tanner and Tobias tail him to the location…
The Easy Way to Update Your Drivers in Windows XP or Vista
Aug 5th
The Easy Way to Update Your Drivers in Windows XP or Vista
Drivers are software programs which tell your computer how to “talk to” your hardware and devices, such as monitors, keyboards, scanners and printers. Without the correct version of a particular driver, your hardware cannot communicate with software (Windows) and your hardware can’t function properly.
Common Scenarios Where You Need To Upgrade Drivers
Upgrading to a new OS or upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista may often cause conflicts with your existing drivers. Sometimes your device manufacturers such as Logitech, HP, Toshiba will create new drivers and these will make the old ones useless. Unless you update your drivers, you might find that your devices don’t work.
Installing new software or hardware can also result in the need to update your drivers.
Finally, just plain everyday computer use can cause drivers to become damaged or out of date. This causes the hardware connected to the driver to malfunction.
How to Update Drivers in Windows Vista or XP
Firstly, find out which driver versions you currently have. On a Windows XP or Vista computer, right-click My Computer and click Properties; select the Device Manager. Click the Plus sign to the left of a specific device. This will tell you to the drivers that are currently installed.
Secondly, do a search on the web to see if a newer driver exists by visiting the website of the manufacturer of your device. A newer driver will have a more current release date than the one installed previously. Many people complain that it is very difficult to find driver updates on the manufacturers websites.
If you manage to find it, proceed to download the latest version of the driver you need.
Important Things To Consider
Please be aware that finding the driver you need is not a simple process and can be very frustrating. You will need to know in 95% of cases the model number, serial number, and revision of your device. If you replace the wrong driver, you may damage your hardware.
Needless to say, you need to be 100% certain that these drivers will work and not cause any problems with your computer hardware.
Furthermore, you will need to make sure you download official drivers only. Installing the wrong drivers will crash your system. Also, if there are problems with the new driver, you want to be able to restore the old one.
Finally, if the installation didn’t remove the old driver, remove it. On a Windows XP or Vista PC, right-click the driver in the Device Manager and select Remove.
Finally, you may restart the computer and your drivers should be updated.
The Easy Way To Replace Old Drivers
If you don’t have time to mess around with searching the internet for drivers and guessing which driver you need for your hardware, there are websites out there which automatically install the latest and official versions of Windows drivers.
They will save you a lot of time and headaches and ensure you don’t waste money sending your computer away for repair.
by Giselle Sanchez – Freelance technology writer. Want to automatically update your drivers? Download the latest official drivers for Windows XP or Vista at http://www.officialdrivers.net/
Related Driver Find Articles
Testing of Windows Drivers
Aug 3rd
Testing of Windows Drivers
1. Introduction
As we know, Windows drivers can run and work in either user mode or kernel mode.
Kernel-mode drivers run as part of the operating system and possess the privileged abilities. The drivers reviewed below are the drivers of kernel level. As any software testing procedure, driver testing includes automatic and manual testing, but in this article we will focus mainly on the last one.
Later we will review testing process for the followings types of drivers:
File System Filter Drivers Network Redirection Drivers Virtual Storage Drivers USB Client Device Drivers
2. General aspects of driver testing
First of all, I would like to say “Don’t install the driver to be tested on your working system!” However, there are some exceptions on this occasion, for example:
You are looking for a reason to reinstall your system… You don’t want to waste time on searching bugs on the clean test systems… You are sure that the driver is stable… You have to test the work of the connected devices…
Secondly, driver tester must have a virtual machine installed on the working computer and at least one real test computer.
Thirdly, before starting the testing procedure, it is necessary:
1. To define the number of operating systems for which it is necessary to check the driver functionality. Usually, first of all you use the OS confirmed by the specification. Let’s suppose that a driver must successfully work under Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista accordingly to the requirements. Applying our experience in driver testing, we extend this list to the following:
Windows 2000 Windows 2000 sp4 Windows XP_sp0 Windows XP_sp1 Windows XP_sp2 Windows XP_(Windows is installed on FAT32) (obligatory system) Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Windows Vista
Additionally:
Windows Server 2003 Small Business Windows Server 2003 Enterprise EditionSp1
At that, it’s desirable for all of these systems to be Checked Build versions. Using the Checked version slows down Windows functioning, but multiplies probability of finding bug in the driver functioning. If there is no a single Checked Windows, it is necessary to purchase the Checked version of at least one system, for example from the Windows XP series.
Thus Windows XP_Chk is added to the OS list. But you shouldn’t limit you work only to this list: the more the number of OS, under which driver passed the complete testing successfully, the better quality of product guaranteed.
2. If possible, select test computers with as different hardware and configurations as possible. I recommend obligatory test on machines with single processor, single processor with Hyper-Threading, two-core processor and dual processor machines.
3. To make the following settings for each OS where driver testing will be performed: in System Properties\Advanced\Startup and Recovery Settings\Write debugging information it’s necessary to select Kernel memory dump or Complete memory dump, and uncheck Automatically restart option for the case of you won’t be nearby in the moment of Blue Screen appearance.
4. To set verification by standard Driver Verifier Manager of the system with all options, except for Low resource simulation. This is determined by the fact that at first you must obtain stable functioning of driver without the option of Low resource simulation, and then test the functioning with this option on smoke tests.
5. To select antivirus software with which it is desirable to test the driver performance. Usually it’s recommended to take the most commonly used antivirus programs, such as DrWeb, Kaspersky Antivirus, V3, Symantec Norton Antivirus, NOD32. The list is not limited to these names, of course. The more programs you will test, the better driver performance will be; this will only increase the quality of product.
6. To verify compatibility of your driver with other drivers, the system ones and the drivers by other producers. It is desirable for the last ones to be stable enough – in this case it will be easier for you to discover reasons for improper work of the system or Blue Screen appearance, and to expose bugs in driver performance.
The next general aspect of driver testing is verification of driver loading and unloading, i.e. you set the group of tests that are relevant to each driver:
Driver installation. The script for driver installation can be written by programmer, but the tester verifies whether it’s done correctly. Here we check the following: Has the system crashed after driver installation or not? Has *.sys file been written in the C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers directory? Have necessary keys been registered in Registry, if they are presented in our case?
The driver installation not always supposes its start – it depends on implementation of driver. Some of them run after system restart and cannot be stopped during the process of work (usually these are File System Filter Drivers), therefore the following questions arise: Does system start correctly with installed driver? Does system crash when the driver is started manually? System Restart while the driver is working. System must be normally rebooted without Blue Screen; after system start, the driver and its settings must comply with the statuses described in the specification. System Reset while the driver is working. System must perform the Reset operation and start without Blue Screen; after system start the driver and its settings must comply with the statuses described in the specification. System shutdown while the driver is functioning. System must perform the Shut down operation successfully without Blue Screen. System Start with the pre-installed driver. System must be rebooted without Blue Screen; after the system starts, the driver and its settings must comply with the statuses described in the specification.
Further work of driver tester includes functional testing of the testing object and search of BSOD, which features depend on the type of testing driver.
3. File System Filter Drivers Testing
The drivers of this type are designed for enhancement of the file system functionality, for example for catching operations of OS in order to watch, forbid or permit certain processes, operations, files in certain disk space. The set of tests to verify the driver functionality is formed in accordance with the type of driver and here you have to pay special attention to the software products workings with network places.
Let’s consider an example when we use a database with the multi-users connection status. Let’s suppose that the real multi-users DB1 is on the computer N1 and we can work with DB1 on the computer N2 without problems. Let’s install some File System Filter Driver on the computer N1 and computer N2. When trying to get access to DB1 from the computer N2 we can get such results:
DB1 on the computer N1 is not accessible for the computer N2; N1 computer has crashed with BSOD; N2 computer has crashed with BSOD; DB1 remained accessible for using on the computer N2.
It is necessary to test an access to Shared Folders from one machine to another. Thus you have to test standard operations of creation, deleting, copying, renaming, moving of small and large folders and files in Shared Folders.
An insidious test is the starting of some *.exe file both from network space and locally.
On the test system, it’s useful to run software products which perform file system indexing (for example, Google Desktop). BSOD or Dead Lock of system with installed File System Filter Driver can occur when such programs are started or functioning.
System can work inadequately after installation of new Virtual Storage Driver (these drivers are developed for creation of virtual encrypted disks) or while it’s functioning. BSOD or noticeable slow down in system performance can happen as a result of File System Filter Driver and Virtual Storage Driver interaction – naturally, it’s not good.
In my opinion, this type of drivers is the hardest from the view of covering full set of tests, and the most unforeseeable in system crashes while driver is functioning.
4. Network Redirection Drivers Testing
Network Redirection Driver is a network file system which gives access to the resources of remote computer. In practice, such drivers are used for creation of network disks, and we will examine such drivers in this paragraph.
First of all, it’s necessary to select test data, so we will take:
Files and folders of small size (to 10Mb); Files and folders of large size(more than 600Mb); Folders containing some nested files and folders (one folder for one file); Folders containing a great number of nested files and folders (nesting is equal to 5; the number of files (size to 1K) is more than 100 in each folder).
In this case main tests are divided into the followings groups:
Group #1 is “Verification of network disk displaying”. After connecting network disk that is implemented on the base of Network Redirection Driver, this disk must be displayed in all of the file managers.
Group #2 is “Verification of functionality”
Testing the standard operations (opening, change, hiding, creation, deleting and other) with files and folders on a network disk. Testing the operations of copying, saving files and folders to/from a network disk from/to a local disk. It’s necessary to pay special attention to all of applications included in MSOffice package, MindManager and also to verify saving project of MS Visial Studio from local space to a network disk and compiling this project. Testing the operations of copying when size of copied files is changed and also when an operation of copying/saving files is interrupted incorrectly. Testing software product on the different language versions of OS, for example under English and Korean OS, and performing tests from the first three points of Group #2. The driver must automatically pick up the language of the system and successfully perform all available operations with files and folders. Testing search function on a network disk. Checking the data integrity when moving them from a local disk to a network one and vice versa.
Group #3 is “Verification of data exchange speed”
Testing speed on every set from the group of test data when downloading to Network Disk from Local Disk. Testing speed on every set from the group of test data when unloading from Network Disk to Local Disk.
At that, it is necessary to take into account the capabilities of data transfer over the local network and capabilities of network protocols both with data cashing and without it. If you can get an analogue product, then compare its speed with the speed of your product.
Group #4 is “Disconnect”
Checking the reaction of the system to disconnecting the network cable with the network disk connected: during uploading of each set from the group of test data; during downloading of each set from the group of test data. Testing the reconnect of network disk after plugging connecting network cable to the computer.
Group #5 is “Users sessions”
Testing network disk performance for different users in the terminal session of Windows Server2003. Testing network disk performance for different users with Switch option on Windows XP. Testing network disk performance for different users with Login switching on Windows Server2003.
5. Virtual Storage Drivers Testing
Virtual Storage Driver is virtual data storage (for example, it can use random-access memory or file). Usually it is used for implementation of virtual encrypted disks.
Main points when testing this type of drivers are:
Standard operations (opening, change, hiding, creation, deleting and other) over files and folders on a virtual disk. Creation of image of maximum possible size; its formatting. Data safety when working with different encrypting algorithms. Driver speed (reading / writing to/from a virtual disk). Place of images localization (USB memory, Network Disk, Local Disk) and ability to access it. Data integrity on repeated connection of image after incorrectly disabled access to image had happened.
6. USB Client Device Drivers Testing
USB Client Device Driver manages USB device, interacts with it by means of USB packages (URB), for example, for redirecting requests to another computer. The real USB devices are always involved in testing of such drivers; therefore the critical errors occur mostly during interaction between the driver that is tested and devices’ drivers. For example, BSOD can happen on a computer with USB Client Device Driver installed when the following actions are performed:
connecting new USB device; correct removing of USB device; incorrect removing of USB device; installing drivers for USB devices; working with USB device.
7. Conclusion
Remember that correctly chosen set of tests for the certain type of driver helps your to improve the quality of your product.
You can learn more details about how the software driver testing is performed in Apriorit here.
Related Driver Find Articles
