| How to Install & Update Audio/Sound Card Drivers |
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Installing the Sound Card
Want to install a sound card on your computer or update its drivers? These steps will show you how to install basic sound cards on Windows XP/Vista computers and update your sound card device drivers.
Installing sound cards that don’t require IRQ and jumper manipulations is pretty straightforward though you will need to open the computer’s case and physically install it. Sound cards requiring IRQ and jumper changes or computers with onboard sound (sound chips) have more complicated steps and are generally installed by professionals.
First, you will need to purchase a sound card for your computer and have an available PCI slot. If you are replacing an existing sound card, you’ll use the existing slot once you remove the old card.
Next, unplug your computer and disconnect all peripherals. Take off all jewelry including rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Remove the screws that secure the cover into place and put them in a safe place. Remove the cover. If your computer is a tower model, it’s usually easier to work with if it is laid on its side. Take a look at the sound card’s location to see what position works best. You may have to remove the back panel as well.
Use a grounding strap if you have one to ground yourself to the computer. If you don’t have one, you can ground yourself by touching any piece of metal found on the computer’s chassis.
If your computer does not have an existing sound card, locate an open slot and remove the metal plate. This is often done by punching it out (they are usually scored for this purpose) or unscrewing it.
If you have an existing sound card, unscrew it and pull it out firmly. It will likely have a cable that connects to the CD-ROM drive. Disconnect this cable and remember it as you will reconnect it to the new sound card.
Now, insert your new sound card into the free slot, taking care not to touch any of the connectors. Use a gentle but firm touch to ensure that it seats properly into the connectors. You may need to rock it but you should not force it. Now, take that cable from the CD-ROM and connect it to the sound card.
Replace the back panel, computer cover, and all screws. Reconnect all of your computer’s peripherals. Connect the speakers into the sound card’s speaker inputs, turn them on, plug in your computer, and reboot. Windows should detect the new hardware and prompt you for installing any additional software and drivers. If the sound card is a Plug and Play version, the computer will do the installation automatically.
Once the installation is complete, insert an audio CD into your CD-ROM drive and test your installation
Tips and Warnings
· Avoid static as much as possible, preferably doing the installation away from carpeted areas.
· Avoid touching connectors and chips
· While you have your computer open, use a can of compressed air to clean out the dust
Updating Sound Card Drivers
To update your sound card’s drivers, go into Device Manager which is accessible via the Control Panel. Find Sound, Video, and Game Controllers in the list. Expand this and select your sound card by right-clicking it. Choose Properties. Find the Driver’s tab and click Update Driver. Let Windows search automatically for it.
You can also search for updated sound card drivers directly on your sound card manufacturer’s website. When you find the drivers, download them to your computer and use the Device Manager to install them. Select the sound card from the list once again and right click it. Choose “Update Driver Software” and then pick “Browse My Computer.” Navigate to your saved device driver and follow the prompts.
Top pick for the best Driver Update Software:
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