Desktop

Ask something
Question Locked

why does windows make it so difficultm to get drivers?

0 helpful
15 replies

by markymark557

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

this has happened not only to me but other friends. I had bought a new 1.5 tarrabite HD, I went to a computer repair place and they wanted 150 to put a OS in my computer and install a new one. SO I bought and
put xp in my HPdc7600business computer. the OS did not reconize several drivers, I dopn't expect microsoft to provide every driver for every diffrent component in every computer,BUT they should make it much eassier to find them, HELP ME PLEASE I cannot find the video controller (VGA compadable) or the ethernet Controller, my freind has a ibm and can not find the SM bus controller or her Video Controller also I am going to my a mac!!!!!!!!!~!
markymark

15 replies

by ic-it

If you buy a MAC you are buying an OS and the hardware from one manufacturer. So of course you don't need to look far to find the drivers.

Microsoft provides an OS. Other manufacturers sell their hardware with an OS that they support and provide drivers for.

So in your case you look to the manufacturer, HP. Go here and pick your model, then your OS.

http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Lookup?h_lang=en&h_cc=us&cc=us&h_page=hpcom&lang=en&h_client=S-A-R163-1&h_pagetype=s-002&h_query=dc7800

Your friend would need to go to an IBM or Lenvo site. Have her Google IBM support.

by markymark557

went to hp just to find out they do not provide drivers for ethernet or video controllers u IT's can't do better then that?

by oh smeg

The Hardware maker in this case HP supplies a Slipstreamed Recovery Set with all of the drivers for that particular model. So it's just a matter of running the recovery set and the OS Installer will install the necessary Drivers. The same thing happens with IBM.

But if you are using a different OS to what originally came with the computer you may run into issues with no drivers. This isn't uncommon with the newer systems designed to run Vista as the Hardware makers and here I mean the people who make the Chip Sets may not support XP any longer.

But as mentioned above the HP Web Site does have XP Drivers for this system but you'll need to enter your computers exact details to get the correct driver/s.

Failing that you can use the Unknown Device identifier

http://www.zhangduo.com/udi.html

To identify the exact hardware that you have and then Google for the drivers or go directly to that Chip Set Makers Web Site and download from there.

Col

by markymark557

look i installed the opriuginal OS that is for my HPdc7600 minitower been there done that to no drivers micorsoft sucks pieroid

by oh smeg

If it was a HP Recovery Set it's a slipstreamed Recovery Set that has all the original Drivers for the Original Hardware.

Of course if the unit has been changed with any additional Hardware added that's not HP's fault.

If you used a M$ Branded Install Disc you then need to go to the HP Web Site and download the necessary drivers so you use Unknown Device Identifier and then look for your required drivers on the HP Web Site.

M$ is required to supply a set of Default Drivers that will make any hardware work to the stage that you can apply required Drivers to.

The System Makers are required to supply a OS with the Necessary Drivers for the Hardware they they supply.

As you have not told us exactly what you used to install the OS here you can not get specific answers as we do not know what you have done. [b]Unfortunately the SCSI interface fro my Crystal Ball broke years ago and it's not possible to replace it so as I do not know what you have done here,[/b] you have to tell us exactly what it is you have done so we can give you exact Instructions to get you out of the mess that you have made for yourself. ;)

Col

by ron k.

One-fifty to install an OS is steep, especially when everything doesn't work right.
A repair place that did a half@ss job like that one did doesn't deserve your business again.

by markymark557

all these smart IT's can not figure this out then how can a simpleton like myself is gonna?

by ron k.

Believe it or not.
For all I know the shop that you took your computer to could've installed XP Service Pack 1 on there and the drivers for your hardware might be on XP's Service Pack 3.
I don't know.
Have you gone here for the drivers? http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=472278&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=472276&swLang=25&taskId=135&swEnvOID=2094
It's a long URL but it looks like they have drivers for graphics (video) and network (Ethernet). If I was you I'd grab every driver there and burn them to a CD just in case you have to go through this rigamarole again.
Let us know how it goes. Try not to alienate everyone. :^0

by markymark557

i useed the HO cd wrtiter multi disc plkayed witch is in the hpdc 7600.minitower. I followed evey direction that the OS gave to me.i went to THE hp website for the minitower and they do not provide the ethernet or the videocontrollers, even though all of you IT's have to9ld me over and over to gho to the computers manufactuer they did not provid me wirth what i needed I amj not dumb, just not as smart as you guys the HP site wewass not helpful. i am going to give up soon.weather or not hp is requierd to supply the drivers they are not! getn that xcrystal ball fixedthat is exactly whatr i have done!!

by oh smeg

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=au&prodNameId=472259&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=472277&swLang=13&taskId=135&swEnvOID=1093

The list 7 Video Drivers for this Model System and 5 LAN Drivers.

And as I said above if they are not the right ones use the Unknown Device Identifier available free here

http://www.zhangduo.com/udi.html

to identify your actual Hardware then you cam look for your required Drivers. But some hardware notably Sound Devices need to be installed before logging onto the Windows Update Servers as they are not Digitally Signed so they can not be installed after you log onto the Windsors Update Servers.

You [b]Can Not[/b] open Windows and look to see what is not installed as if Windows knew what it was it could find the necessary Drivers in the first place. If the Hardware remains Unknown to Windows you have to use the Unknown Device Identifier to find out what it is or open the case and read the actual Circuit Boards, Chip Sets or whatever. The software package that I have given you a link to twice now will identify the Hardware but as you have not said anything about it I can only assume that you have not got it. ;)

Col

by markymark557

ok lots of drivers on that site like i know what a bios is?

by older mycroft

The link that [b]Ron K[/b] offered you is the one that'll deliver ALL the drivers you require.

Now, whether you are intellectually capable of reading down the list and clicking each one in turn sequentially, is a matter between you and your maker - but you have been given the correct irrefutable advice - if your eyes are capable of focussing and your index finger is capable of pressing the mouse button at the appropriate moment, all should be right within your world.

Should these simple tasks prove too much for you, then you are beyond all online help.

:)

by ic-it

Since at the time we didn't know the form factor or the OS.
A couple of clicks and he could scroll down past BIOS or even simple click Graphics drivers or Network drivers.
Instead he just wants to insult us, like that is motivation. ;-)

This discussion is closed to new replies.