Windows 7: What to do when a hardware installed is not working properly

What to do when a hardware installed is not working properly

Posted Date: 03-Jul-2010		Category: Installation and Setup
Author: Raghav	Member Level: Gold
Rating:	Points: 20 (Rs 20)

When a new hardware device is connected to your windows 7 computer, Windows 7 tries to install it automatically. This article discusses what to do when an installed hardware device is not working properly.

What to do when an installed hardware device is not working in Windows 7

When a new hardware is connected to a windows 7 computer, normally windows 7 tries to install the device automatically. You may buy a new hardware device like a camera, printer, scanner or some other device but you face a problem of that device not working when you connect it to your windows 7 computer. What to do? There are a number of reasons for this to happen? Let us see what to do?

The hardware devices now a days come in two categories: the plug and play type and the non-plug and play type devices. A Plug and play device automatically gets installed when you connect it to your windows 7 computer. But a non-plug and play type device does not get installed autoamtically. You need to use the CD with the installation software that comes with that device to install it. Most of the printers come with their own driver softwares for installing them.

Let us see now what to do when a hardware device is not working after installing it.

Check whether the device is properly connected: Some times the problem is very simple. If you have not connected the device properly, it may not work. So first make sure that the device and its cables are properly connected to the computer and also make sure that it is turned on. If the device is a USb device, then try to plug it into a different USB port to see if this fixes the problem.

Check for updated drivers: You can check whether your hard ware device is working or not by connecting it to another computer. If it works with another computer, then there is a chance that the device driver on your computer is not an updated one. You need to update the driver for the device. You can use Microsoft Update to install the latest driver for your device. If your device is not listed in the Microsoft update website, you need to contact themanufacturer and ask for updated drivers for the operating system that you are using.

Check Windows catalogue to see if the device is compatible: You can check the windows catalogue listing to see whether the device is compatible with the version of the operating system that is in your computer

Some times if you connect a number of peripheral devices like printer, camera, scanner or an external hard drive all at a time, the problem of a conflict occurs. If you remove these devices one by one, the problem may be sorted ouot and narrowed down to a specific device.

If the problem still persists, then you can contact your hardware manufacturer for a technical support.

Post Comment:

Notify me by email when others post comments to this article.

Do not include your name, "with regards" etc in the comment. Write detailed comment, relevant to the topic.

No HTML formatting and links to other web sites are allowed.

This is a strictly moderated site. Absolutely no spam allowed.

Name:	Sign In to fill automatically.
Email:	(Will not be published, but required to validate comment)
Website:	We will link to your website, if the comment is worth keeping!
	Type the numbers and letters shown on the left.