Microsoft's Windows 7 validates drivers using compatibility testing. Every device driver in the Windows 7 driver store is roofed since it passed extensive testing through the Windows Hardware Quality Lab. Once a device driver continues to be tested, Microsoft makes it possible to authenticate drivers by digitally signing these phones prevent them from being tampered with.
Because any changes to a signed driver void the digital signature, you can make sure that any device driver digitally signed by Microsoft is valid and authentic. Further, any device driver with a valid digital signature signed by Microsoft should not cause your system to crash or become unstable.
Drivers may also be digitally signed by their manufacturers. When a manufacturer digitally signs a driver, the maker is giving evidence of the driver's authenticity but not necessarily that it's 100 % suitable for Windows 7. Still, just like drivers signed by Microsoft, any changes to a device driver signed by a manufacturer invalidate the digital signature, giving you a definite indication that a tool driver continues to be tampered with.
Because unsigned drivers have been neither validated nor authenticated, they're much more likely than any other device driver or program you've installed to cause the operating system to freeze or your PC to crash. This is why Windows 7 warns you by default when you attempt to use a device with an unsigned device driver.
Windows 7 runs on the feature called Windows Update to maintain the operating system, its components and services, and related Microsoft software up to date. You can configure Windows Update to obtain updates for device drivers. If you do this, Windows 7 checks for driver updates included in the normal update process.
Because Windows Update updates only device drivers included with the operating system, any devices you've installed that have their very own device drivers are not necessarily updated in by doing this. Still, driver information files do contain details about particular classes of devices or related teams of devices, so it is possible that as manufacturers introduce new models of hardware devices, support for these newer devices is going to be added with the update process. This is one from the reasons that whenever you connect a new device, Windows 7 checks for a matching driver automatically using Windows Update.
So long as your PC is attached to the Internet whenever you use a new device, this check is automatic and transparent. If you don't want Windows 7 to check on for drivers automatically, or else you want Windows 7 to inform you before checking for drivers, you can change the default Windows Update Driver settings by completing the next steps:
Click Start and then click Control Panel - System and Security - System. On the System page, click Change Settings under PC Name, Domain, and Workgroup Settings. Or click Advanced System Settings in the left pane. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab - Device Installation Settings button. Choose the desired update setting. The choices on offer are ::
Click OK to save your settings.
Most of the time, you will want to allow Windows to automatically download driver updates, because this will help ensure your hardware works properly. Keep in mind that even if Windows Update downloads driver updates, Windows won't necessarily install a driver update. Most driver updates will appear as optional updates that you'll need to set up. You can look for optional updates that are available by completing the next steps:
In the User interface, click System and Security - Windows Update. Before you install updated drivers, you should ensure that System Restore is enabled. This will ensure that System Restore creates a restore point before Windows installs the motive force. If you have a problem with your PC after installing the driver, you can recover your PC while using restore point.
On the Windows Update page, determine whether any optional updates can be found. If optional updates can be found click the link provided. On the Select updates to install page, review the available updates, choose the checkbox for updates you want to install and then click OK.
Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Articleinput.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.
Note: This article was sent to us by: Landon C. Meyers at 03112011
1. How to create a bootable VHD in Windows 7
All articles are property of their respective authors. Please read our Privacy Policy!
© 2009 ArticleInput.com.
Partners: Damenmode