I can't find a driver for my hardware in Windows 2000!

I can't find a driver for my hardware in Windows 2000!

This question was answered on April 14, 2000. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Try a Generic Driver! One way to get around this is to use a generic driver until hardware makers issue an upgrade for your specific device For example, the super-VGA (800-by-600-pixel resolution) video driver that comes with Windows NT and Windows 2000 will probably work with any video board you've purchased in the past five years If you switch to a super-VGA driver in Windows NT and upgrade your machine to Windows 2000, at least your video subsystem will work (Installing Windows 2000 on a machine with no prior version of Windows installed will likely force Windows 2000 to default to a generic video driver, such as the super-VGA driver, if it doesn't recognize or support your actual video board.)

The same tactic also might work for your sound board and modem, until new drivers show up The generic drivers may not support the features of all your hardware, but at least your modem and sound board will function

Worst-Case Scenario

If the generic drivers tactic doesn't work, you may be stuck with hardware or software from vendors that won't ever support Windows 2000--perhaps because they've gone out of business or they just don't believe Windows 2000 is that important

In this worst-case scenario, you'll have to purchase a new, compatible component Before you buy, check to make sure it's Windows 2000 ready by checking Microsoft's list of Windows 2000-compatible PCs, hardware components, and software applications Microsoft has tested products and found that they work with Windows 2000 at:

<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/upgrade/compat/"><font color="#003399">http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/upgrade/compat/
</font></a>

Many vendor Web sites and user sites contain specific information on how to upgrade various products to Windows 2000, so check the manufacturers web site for up-to-date driver postings

About the author

Posted by Ken Colburn of Data Doctors on April 14, 2000

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