How to Safely Update Windows 7 Drivers

One of the best things about Windows 7 is actually its similarities to Windows Vista.  This means that Windows 7 drivers are nearly always compatible with Windows Vista drivers.  If you have problems with drivers for 7, you can rest assured that the tried-and-tested Vista drivers will work on your system just fine.

How to Find Windows 7 Drivers

The first thing you should do is open up the Windows Device Manager (Start > Start Search > “Device Manager” OR Click the Device Manager Icon in Control Panel). 

Take a look at the list of devices.  Click the "+" sign next to each category.  If you see an exclamation point, question mark, or yellow triangle next to a device, it is probably missing a driver.

This will also show you all the information you need to know if you ever need to look for a device driver.  You can right-click each device name and select "Properties" to find out more.

For each device, you will want to try the manufacturer's website first.  If you can't find the right Windows 7 drivers, you can just download Windows Vista Drivers instead.

Before You Install Windows 7 Drivers

Make sure you have the most recent version of Direct X installed on your computer.  It's also a good idea to close out all other programs before you install your new drivers.  Make sure you restart your computer between installations.

Automatic Driver Update for Windows 7

The automatic driver update can make your life a little easier (although we can't guarantee it will automatically update every driver).  Go to the Start menu.  On the right column, select the Devices and Printers option.  In the list of devices, locate your Computer icon and right-click.  Select Device Installation Settings from the drop-down menu. 

You will then get the choice either to have drivers automatically installed or to do it yourself.  Select the automatic option, then hit "Save".  It's still a good idea to check for updates manually every so often, or use an independent program to constantly check for Windows 7 drivers.