Install microphone drivers on a computer using tools native to Windows XP.
All hardware devices that interface with a Windows XP based computer need a specific group of files called drivers to operate correctly. Drivers allow a hardware device, such as a microphone or graphics rendering card, to communicate with the other components installed on the PC as well as the processor and motherboard. If you experience sudden malfunctions with a microphone or the drivers will not load, install the newest available drivers to fix the problem. The device manager tool within Windows XP grants quick and easy access to driver information and updating.
Instructions
1. Right-click the "My Computer" icon located on the Windows XP desktop. A menu appears. Select "Properties" from the menu. A system properties window comes into view.
2. Click the "Hardware" tab located in the system properties window followed by pressing the "Device Manager" button. The device manager window opens showing categories of hardware devices.
3. Click the "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers" heading to reveal a list of devices. Double-click the name of the microphone for which you wish to load a driver. A device properties window opens.
4. Click the "Driver" tab followed by pressing the "Update Driver" button to start the Windows driver update wizard.
5. Click the "Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software" to permit Windows to search the Internet and the PC for the most up-to-date driver available the microphone. Once the driver is found, Windows installs it automatically.
