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| Thread ID: 85690 | 2007-12-18 22:01:00 | Hardware installation | Mirddes (10) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 622534 | 2007-12-18 22:01:00 | at the moment im on a computer course preparing me so i can take the A+ exam (gonna be so easy). the A+ book is annoying, as is my tutor. they both think that BTX is still goign to replace ATX etc. im going to stop myself from ranting before i begin. *cough* basicly my issue at the moment is that the A+ book, my tutor and a third of the class seems to beleive that hardware should be installed after drivers are installed. I beleive that hardware should be installed, then drivers. since as far as i can tell the worst that coudl happen is that the device wont work until the drivers are installed. with the more likely outcome being lower performance or missing features until said drivers being installed. i have even managed to find examples of where you must install the hardware before installing the drivers. nvidia graphics cards, for examle, use a unified driver which contains, for the most part, drivers for all their series (latest being 5000 - 8000 series, 93.71 being geforce2mx + gforce3-7000 series , 71.89 being everythign earlier). when you run the driver installer it searches your system for supported hardware and installs drivers specific to that model of video card. if hardware is not found, the installer fails. i also feel that either way, you are getting the latest drivers, so it really doesnt matter. the book and tutor complain that if you install drivers after you install the hardware you are allowing windows to install its generic drivers thus "corrupting" the hardware somehow. what does everyone in the real world do? |
Mirddes (10) | ||
| 622535 | 2007-12-18 22:11:00 | Depends what the hardware is. Obviously if its a PCI card, it helps if its in the case, BEFORE you install the drivers for it. I've just reinstalled here. Obviously, I had to install Windows, then the mobo drivers / LAN / Sound / Tuner drivers. The printer is different, (its USB), coz as it says in the instructions, the drivers MUST be installed FIRST (with the USB cable OUT,and the power to the printer OFF). As the install will tell you WHEN to connect the USB cable and turn the power on. So, it can install the drivers. If you install the drivers, while the printer is connected and on, it'll have probs. You'll have to uninstall the drivers, and start all over again. The same goes for the webcam here. The drivers MUST be installed first, BEFORE you plug the cam in. Windows will load the drivers, once you reboot and plug it in. So, obviously if its internal the hardware should be in the case already. Then you install the drivers. If its USB, you may have to disconnect the cable/s and turn the device off, then install the drivers, then plug it back in. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 622536 | 2007-12-18 22:12:00 | Meh. Half the time drivers/software won't even let you install it without the hardware being plugged in! Printers are webcams are an obvious exception there or course. And HTF are you supposed to install drivers for new hardware first if you are, for example, installing a fresh copy of Windows! There is not really a correct answer there, as it differs depending on what type of hardware you're installing. |
wratterus (105) | ||
| 622537 | 2007-12-18 22:13:00 | It depends on the hardware. Some hardware instructions stipulate install hardware first, sometimes the instructions state install the software/drivers first. Just a matter of reading the instructions first. Talk that one over with your tutor. one way or the other is not a correct answer as it depends on the hardware. |
Bantu (52) | ||
| 622538 | 2007-12-18 22:17:00 | heh, there is never a correct answer in this industry. | Mirddes (10) | ||
| 622539 | 2007-12-18 22:17:00 | Half the time drivers/software won't even let you install it without the hardware being plugged in! Printers are webcams are an obvious exception there or course. And HTF are you supposed to install drivers for new hardware first if you are, for example, installing a fresh copy of Windows! You can slipstream drivers with something like Nlite. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 622540 | 2007-12-18 22:18:00 | You can slipstream drivers with something like Nlite. Well yes, you could always do that.... :stare: But be sensible! :lol: |
wratterus (105) | ||
| 622541 | 2007-12-18 22:23:00 | Well yes, you could always do that.... :stare: But be sensible! :lol: That is sensible. If it wasnt, I wouldnt say it ;) |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 622542 | 2007-12-18 22:36:00 | getting the latest drivers, so it really doesnt matter. Getting the latest drivers is not always the best. I have had the odd occasion when the latest driver caused problems and I have had to back to an older driver. When I get new hardware I keep the one that comes with the hardware (most times this is the one i use at first) plus keep the newest downloaded one at the time I buy the hardware, sometimes getting newer drivers as they come available. |
Bantu (52) | ||
| 622543 | 2007-12-19 01:09:00 | I supose you could answer by saying, 'How do you know what drivers to download before you have the hardware?'. | rob_on_guitar (4196) | ||
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