That sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it?

Well, in a way it is, but still it is possible that a driver update program recommends a program that should not be installed on your system. We call this a false positive. There are two possible reasons for a false positive in driver updates, a device mismatch and a driver version mismatch.

Device Matching Logic

In order to understand, we need to look at how a device is identified in Windows. If we open the Device Manager, select a device and then right-click it to see the Properties, we can select the Details tab. In the list of properties, we select the Hardware Ids:

As you can see in the screenshot, a device can have multiple hardware ids. The top one in the list is an exact match of the device, where the brand, model, type and even revision number would match. Going down the list, the device match is broader, but still specific, that is why all these identifiers are present in the list of hardware ids.

But Windows allows for the use of compatible drivers, so that, if an exact match on the driver is not available, the device can still be used with a compatible driver. This may result in reduced support for the device, not all functionality may be available, but at least the device works.

If we select the Compatible Ids in the property list for the same device, we see:

Again, we see a list of identifiers, where the top one would be the preferred match, and the lower ones are broader matches.

When a driver is needed for a device, Windows will always first try to find a driver for the device based on a hardware id match. If none can be found, a driver match based on the compatible ids can be used.

So if an existing driver has a match on a hardware id, while an update is recommended that matches on a compatible id for the device, we consider that a false positive.

Driver Version Comparison

Apart from a list of devices that is supported by a driver, a driver also has a date and version. The date and version are actually combined in a single identifier, like:

“03/22/2010,6.236.0322.2010”

The first part is the date, and the second part is the version number. Windows checks for new drivers based on the driver date, the version is optional. So if a driver program recommends a driver update based on a newer version, while the date is older than the currently installed driver, this is again a false positive.

In the Device Manager, you can select the Driver tab to see the date and version of the currently installed driver:

Drivers do not always have complete date and version information, and even the date format is not always consistent. Driver programs obviously need to factor in these aspects when recommending driver updates.

In our tests, we found DriverFinder to have the best device driver matching logic.

So when you are looking for a device driver for a piece of hardware, it is useful to know the hardware id of the device. This can tell you which manufacturer made the device and help you find a device driver.

The Windows Device Manager

The hardware id for a device in Windows can be found in the Windows Device Manager. To check the hardware id for a device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Device Manager from the Control Panel. You can also type “devmgmt.msc” at the Run option in the Start menu.
2. In the Device Manager, right-click the device, and select Properties in the popup menu.
3. Next, select the Details tab.
4. Now select the Hardware Ids in the dropdown list.

As you can see in the screen shot, there can be multiple hardware ids for a device. The top one is the most specific identifier, and going down, the identifiers are more generic. The reason this is done is to allow a device driver to be selected based on a match to any of these hardware identifiers.

The hardware manufacturer in this example is Realtek, which is identified by VEN_10EC.

Obviously this is a device for which a driver is installed already, and the manufacturer and model for the device are shown, but the hardware id is also available for unknown devices and not recognized devices.

Driver finder programs use the hardware id and the compatible id to find a matching driver for a device as well.

So if you are getting unexpected errors indicating device not recognized, check the device path in the Windows registry. If the %SystemRoot%\Inf value is not present in the DevicePath, then change it or add it.

The DevicePath variable can also be extended with additional locations for drivers. If for example, you have a network location where you store device drivers for all PC’s and hardware devices, you can add that to the variable. Just separate the path with a semicolon. E.g.: %SystemRoot%\Inf;\\\\Drivers

OEM manufacturer’s also use this option to include additional drivers in the default Windows setup.

Of course, always make a backup of the Windows registry before you make any changes!

Still can not find a device driver? Use DriverFinder to locate drivers for you automatically.

As a result, you can experience a variety of device errors in Windows 7, one of which is device driver error code 10. In itself, error code 10 in Windows 7 means that the device cannot start, but there can be different causes for the error.

Microsoft’s recommendation is to first update the drivers using the Device Manager. This should help solve problems that are related to outdated, incompatible and even corrupt drivers. But also make sure you install the latest Windows 7 updates, as software improvements in the operating system can also help fix device related issues.

Ok, an error code 10 can happen for all kinds of devices, and one of the more common devices is the audio device. Apart from driver issues, also make sure you check the status of the Windows Audio service. If the Windows Audio service is not running, you can have the right drivers installed, but the device will not work.

For USB devices the error code 10 will result in the device not being accessible. In that case, uninstalling USB devices in the Device Manager is a common solution. You can try uninstalling the USB device that has the problem, but very often it is necessary to uninstall all USB devices, reboot and then wait for the USB devices to be reinstalled. Make sure to unplug the external USB devices before you reboot, so you can add them one by one again.

For older hardware, the code 10 error can also be the result of hardware conflicts. In most cases, you will see that the hardware device will not appear on the hardware compatibility list, but it is useful to check the resource usage on the device in the Device Manager. On desktop computers, this kind of problem can be solved by changing the BIOS settings (IRQ assignments, memory ranges), or even unplugging conflicting hardware. Obviously that is only feasible if you do not need that specific device.

Windows 7 Device Drivers

Since the most common cause of error code 10 in Windows 7 is incorrect device drivers, you should always try to get the right drivers for the device. Checking on a regular basis can pay off, as drivers are updated frequently. Using the Microsoft Update feature is one way to check, but there are a number of limitations with that.

The first limitation is that you will only get real Windows 7 drivers, which are signed drivers that have the Microsoft approval. You will not get unsigned drivers or drivers that are not for Windows 7. So if there is a Vista driver for your device, which might work in Windows 7, you will not get it. Even Windows XP drivers sometimes work in Windows 7, possibly in compatibility mode.

The second limitation is that Windows Update will automatically install new drivers. This assumes that the update will succeed without problems, replacing or overwriting the old driver. In quite a few instances however, it is better to first uninstall the existing driver before installing the new driver. Quite a few audio manufacturer’s recommend this practice to prevent driver update problems.

So make sure you use a variety of methods to update the driver for your device and fix error code 10 in Windows 7.

If there is no driver for the device, or the device is not recognized, you will be informed of that fact as well. In some cases the driver installation and device activation actually will show several of these popup messages in the notification area. This can be the case if the USB device has multiple functions.

Unfortunately there are also scenario’s where these popup messages in the notification area do not seem to make sense. No USB device is being plugged, only existing USB devices are present, or maybe no external USB devices are present at all.

If you are not interested in the USB notification messages in Windows, you can actually disable them. Basically you tell Windows to not report and USB errors on the USB controllers.

To disable USB notification messages, simply open the Device Manager in the Control Panel and open up the branch called Universal Serial Bus Controllers.

You will see quite a few devices in the list, but we are only interested in the Host Controller devices. Right-click the first entry and select Properties in the popup.

Next, select the Advanced tab and then select the checkbox named Don’t tell me about USB errors.

Click the OK button and repeat these steps for the other Host Controller devices.

When you are done, close the device manager and you should no longer see and USB device notifications in the Windows taskbar.

Keep in mind that if you were receiving the USB notifications because of real USB errors, they will be now be ignored. If possible try to address the errors first. Power management and bad cables (connections) can also be the cause of erratic USB notification messages.

In Vista for example you would see the message below indicating that Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.

But what is the difference between signed and unsigned drivers?

A signed driver is basically a digitally signed driver, which means that the driver software is associated with a digital certificate that allows identification of the publisher of the driver. It also ensures that the driver has never been modified by anyone else, as that would corrupt the signed status and make it unsigned.

So using a signed driver will ensure that Windows can automatically install the driver and prevents malicious software to be installed along with the driver. Considering that drivers operate at a very high security level in the operating system, it is very important to use safe drivers.

Windows Vista, Windows 2008 server and Windows 7 already enforce unsigned drivers to be installed using administrator level access, but how can you know for sure that an unsigned driver is safe?

Well, you cannot really. So always make sure that your security software is up to date and active, and make a backup or create a system restore point before you make any changes to your system, especially when installing device drivers.

Verify unsigned drivers in Windows XP

In Windows XP, the enforcement of signed drivers is not present, so the risk of installing unsigned drivers with all associated risks is much higher.

One thing you can do in Windows XP is to find the unsigned drivers in Windows XP and, if possible, replace them by newer, signed drivers.

Microsoft has detailed instructions on how to use the Windows XP Signature Verification Tool to check the unsigned driver files. This also describes the common problem with power management in unsigned drivers, so you can try to update or replace the unsigned drivers by signed drivers, or disable the unsigned drivers if they do cause such problems.

Disable Unsigned Driver Warnings

It is not something we recommend, but as a user you can actually disable the warnings regarding unsigned drivers in Windows XP. Right-click the My Computer icon, and select Properties in the popup menu. Now select the Hardware tab, and click the Driver Signing button. Next, select the Ignore option and click OK.

If you are using Windows XP Professional, you can also change the security policies to do the same.

Type “secpol.msc” at the Run option in the Start menu and press Enter. Then browse to Local Policies -> Security Options. Now find and change the option “Devices: Unsigned driver installation behavior” to “Silently succeed”. This requires a reboot of the computer.

To update your drivers in a few simple steps, you can use a driver update tool.

But of course a driver update can occasionally also cause a problem in your system. A conflict with another hardware device can be the result, or the device suddenly can not be used in some programs anymore. Beta drivers can have this effect, since they need to be tested more.

Revert Back to the Previous Driver

Luckily Windows offers the possibility to restore the previous version of a device driver in most cases. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 all have the functionality that a driver backup is taken whenever a new driver is installed, so it is possible to restore that driver from the backup. This is called a roll back in Windows.

To do a driver roll back, open up the Windows Device Manager. You can access it in the Control Panel, or type it in the search field of the Start menu for “device manager” and click the resulting program.

In the device manager, you need to right-click the device for which you want to restore the previous driver version. In the popup menu, select Properties.

This will bring up the Properties window for the selected hardware device. In the device properties window, select the Driver tab. Now you will see the driver details and a number of buttons with driver functions.

The next step is to click the Roll Back Driver button. You will see a confirmation message, where you need to click the Yes button.

Some notes on this procedure:

• Make sure you are logged in as a user with administrator privileges.
• You can only roll back to one previous version of a driver.
• The driver roll back feature is not available for printer drivers. In that case you will need to download the older version of the printer driver and install that driver.

With many homes now having multiple PCs and using them for entertainment purposes, networking is becoming more common. Messages can be sent from one PC to another while any data, such as music and videos, can be distributed around the network. A more informal type of network is the internet, with millions of computers around the world being able to connect to numerous sites.

Whilst internet connections are via a modem or router, PCs need a network interface card, either built into the motherboard or inserted into a slot. Each of these cards has a network driver, which is a form of device driver or PC driver. This handles all communication between the computer’s operating system and the network card so that it can interface with other points on the network.

Why We Need Network Drivers

There are a bewildering number of network cards available from a variety of manufacturers. Each of these may be fitted into various motherboards and there are several different types. Many are PCI cards, although 10/100 types are the most common and Gigabit cards are now providing additional speed. Although relatively new, wireless networking is becoming increasingly popular. This is especially true in home networks where it reduces the need for unsightly wires.

All these options make it impossible for the operating system to deal with the many combinations. This problem is overcome by the use of network drivers, which are developed specifically for each network card and have versions for the different operating systems. A network driver provides a link between the operating system and the network card. Its role is, like any other device driver, to interpret the high level commands issued by the operating system into a form that the network card can understand and conversely to translate network card messages for the operating system.

A network driver needs to be more adaptable than any other device driver because, not only does it have to deal with requests from the operating system, it can also receive packets of data from anywhere on the network. Additionally, it has to handle a number of administrative tasks such as compiling traffic and error statistics, setting addresses and modifying transmission parameters.

Why You Need to Update Network Drivers

The efficient operation of a network is vital because problems can impact on the whole network rather than simply affecting a single PC. A network fault on one computer can cause a bottleneck that brings the whole network to a halt or at least slows its performance.

Problems are often due to faulty, out-dated or corrupt network drivers and so it is important that you install new drivers as they are released. Manufacturers generally develop new drivers to fix known faults, improve security or to provide enhanced performance and so you should take advantage of these features.

To install new drivers, access Device Manager. Depending on the operating system you use, this may be available from the Control Panel or by right-clicking My Computer then choosing Manage.

Device Manager will list the types of device in the right pane and you need to select Network Adaptors and the network card you have installed. Right click it, select Properties and then the Driver tab. Afterwards, click the Update Driver button to download drivers and install the latest version on your PC. When you complete the process, restart your computer.

There are a large number of devices that may be connected to a PC, with numerous manufacturers adopting different standards and formats for the devices they produce. The problem is that the operating system has to communicate with each device that is connected but the large number of variations means that this is impossible to do so directly.

This problem is overcome by each manufacturer developing device drivers or PC drivers for each of their devices, with separate versions for the different operating systems. These drivers handle the communications between the operating system and the device.  Laptops are simply mobile versions of the previously more common desktop PCs. They have their own devices and so also have device drivers, known specifically as laptop drivers.

Why We Need Laptop Drivers

Since laptops are mobile appliances, they are necessarily smaller versions of their desktop equivalents. This means that all their components have to be smaller and so all the devices installed in a laptop are designed specially for them. A laptop very rarely uses the same components as a desktop PC but instead has miniaturized versions of them.

The outcome of all this is that, since laptops have their own range of devices, they need laptop drivers to make them work. These have similar functionality to desktop device drivers but are designed specifically to work with mobile devices.

Of course, devices such as printers and digital cameras can be connected to a laptop in the same way that they can be connected to a desktop PC. They will have their normal drivers and so a laptop may have a mixture of laptop drivers and standard device drivers installed.

Why You Need to Update Laptop Drivers

In the same way as for a desktop PC, a laptop and all its components work best if everything is correctly installed and up-to-date. This includes all the device drivers and laptop drivers for the various devices.
If you experience problems or poor performance, these can sometimes be corrected by re-installing or updating the drivers. The procedure for doing this is the same for the laptop drivers and the standard device drivers, only the source of the new drivers is different.

To install new drivers, access the Device Manager. Depending on the operating system you use, this may be available from the Control Panel or by right-clicking My Computer, choosing Manage and then Device Manager to list the types of device in the right pane. Right click each device and click Properties, then click the Driver tab to see details of the installed laptop driver.

Click the Update Driver button to download drivers and install the latest version on your PC. When you complete the process, you may be prompted to restart your computer. Choose to do this only when you have completed the process for all drivers.

You can update drivers individually by visiting the device manufacturer’s website and following the instructions there to do it. However, you will need to identify each device first through System Tools. If the whole process seems a bit long-winded, the alternative is to use a dedicated service that will download and update drivers automatically.

There are several of this type of service available and each one will generally hold a comprehensive database that contains the latest versions of all device drivers. Once you have the necessary software installed, it will identify the devices you have connected and the version of the driver for each one. A scheduled process will then download drivers as later versions become available and install them automatically. This ensures that you always have the latest version of device drivers installed, avoiding problems and making sure your computer and its devices operate efficiently together.

To overcome this problem, a device driver sits between a device and the operating system, translating operating system requests so the device can understand them. Device responses are similarly converted into a form suitable for the operating system. One of the most commonly connected devices is a printer. Communication with the printer is by a type of device driver known as a printer driver.

Why We Need Printer Drivers

Printers come in a variety of types, from the outdated dot matrix printers to the more modern colour and monochrome laser printers and ink jet printers. Printing devices also come in other forms, including plotters and fax machines that can be connected to a PC. The common feature is that all create printed output and all need the content and format of that output to be communicated to them. The way the format of the output is described may vary, with PostScript printers being common and all having a Printer Description Language that defines the output.

Printing from a Windows-based computer is via a print spooler and printer drivers. Output for printing is created by an application program and sent to the operating system. This will create high level print instructions that are sent to the printer driver for conversion into a form that the printer that is actually being used understands. This is then either sent directly to the printer or to the print spooler for later printing. The printer will then send a response to indicate if printing was successful and this is converted by the printer driver so that the operating system knows what it means. The availability of printer drivers, therefore, means that the operating system can organise all required printing without needing to know anything about the device that will actually do it.

Dealing with Common Printer Problems

Although there is a wide range of printing devices, there are some printer errors that are common to most of them. Some of these may be accompanied by a displayed error code and message, which will vary between printers. In the case of a networked printer, if no-one can print, the problem is with the printer. However, if only you are having difficulties, it’s likely to be at your end.

1. Printer Not Printing
First check the basics. Make sure the printer is plugged in, turned on and has not run out of paper or ink. If the print job is being processed but nothing is being output, it may be a big job. Give it time and, if nothing happens, cancel the job and try again. If the job won’t cancel, turn off the printer for a minute, then turn back on and try again. This will clear any input/output errors.
At the Windows Start menu, select Settings then Printers and right click the one giving the problem. Make sure it isn’t paused or set offline. If this doesn’t fix the problem, reboot your PC and try again.

2. Paper Jam
Sometimes paper gets stuck as it is going through the printer. In this case, follow the instructions for your printer to clear the jam. Remove the paper very carefully to avoid damage. If the error remains when all the paper is out, turn the printer off and then on again after one minute.

3. Poor Printing Quality
If output is blurred or faded, the print cartridge may be out of ink. Check and replace.

4. Software Problems
If the printer fails to work only for a particular application, the problem may be due to that application or the file it is creating. Try to print a different file or close the application, reboot and try again. If that fails, you could try to re-install the application.

5. Printer Drivers
Sometimes, printer problems result from faulty printer drivers. In this case, install the latest drivers by accessing Device Manager. Depending on the operating system you use, this may be available from the Control Panel or by right-clicking My Computer then choosing Manage.

Device Manager will list the types of device in the right pane and you need to open Ports and select the Printer Port. Select the Driver tab and click the Update Driver button to download drivers for the port and install the latest version on your PC. When you complete the process, restart your computer.

You can also install the latest driver for the printer itself by selecting Printers at the Control Panel, right clicking the problem printer, selecting Properties and then clicking New Driver at the Advanced tab. If this doesn’t solve the problem, uninstall and re-install the printer by right clicking the printer and choosing to delete it. Then right click the Printers heading, choose Add Printer and follow the prompts.