Sony SupportPersonal Computers

Article ID : S500011363 / Last Modified : 11/04/2018Print

How to install, remove or update drivers in Windows XP?

    • How to install, remove or update drivers?
    • How to reinstall drivers?

    Note:

    • There are several methods to add, remove or update drivers.
      If you select the improper method to add, remove or update drivers, problems like VAIO runs unstably may occur.
    • If the updating programs of drivers for VAIO have been released, you should download and install it.
      For more details, please refer to the following related solutions.

      How to update the installed software or drivers to the latest version?

    • Some drivers provided by the updating programs have some special using methods.
      For more details, please refer to the file Readme.txt attached with the updating programs.


    Please refer to the following steps on how to add, remove or update the drivers.
    STEP 1 Confirm whether you have the access to add, remove or update the appointed drivers.
    STEP 2 Confirm the setup files of drivers
    STEP 3 Uninstall drivers
    STEP 4 Install or update drivers
    STEP 5 Run System Restore


    Related Link
    How to add, remove or update drivers in Windows Vista?




    STEP 1 Confirm whether you have the access to add, remove or update the appointed drivers.



    ■

    The driver of the mouse or touch Pad

    Related Link


     How to update drive of mouse or that of touch pad by using keyboard?



    ■ Audio driver

    Related Link

    How to reinstall audio driver in Windows XP?


    ■

    Display adapter driver

    Related Link


    How to reinstall display adapter (graphics card) driver in Windows XP?



    ■

    Roll Back Driver

    Related Link


    How to restore drivers in Windows XP?




    If you have no access to add, remove or update the appointed drivers，please follow STEP 2 Confirm the setup files of drivers.




    STEP 2 Confirm the setup files of drivers


    Please refer to system recovery CD or support folders to check whether the setup files of the drivers are included.
    Please refer to the following information to confirm the content of the system recovery CD or support folders.

    Related Link
    How to create support folders in hard disk C (VAIO Recovery Utility)?


    ● System recovery CD
    ● Support folders




    ● System recovery CD


    1. Please get prepared the system recovery CD attached with VAIO notebook.
      ※ You can use the image file of system recovery CD to confirm its content.

    2. Insert the system recovery CD into the CD/DVD RM drive.

      Note :
      After you have inserted the attached system recovery CD into the CD/DVD RM drive, computers of certain models will display VAIO System Recovery Utility and the following tips.

      The prompt displays：
      It is not the first system recovery CD. If you want to run System Restore, please insert the first system recovery CD.

      Click OK in the prompt.
      After that, click Yes in the following tip to display the content of the system recovery CD.

      The following is the prompt:
      VAIO folderis included in the CD. Do you want to open the VAIO folder?

    3. Please check what files are in the folder of the system recovery CD driver.
      Please refer to the following information to confirm the type of the driver.

      1. Executable files with installer (Setup.exe, Install.exe and etc).

      2. Executable files with uninstaller (*del.exe、Uninstall.exe and etc).

      3. Only inf files and system files (*.sys、*.vxd、*.dll, etc), no executable files.

      Note:

      • Executable files and certain system files may be configured to Hidden files.
        If you cannot show the files, please click Show the hidden files.

      • If extensions cannot appear, please uncheck Hide extensions for known file types


    With the installer (Setup.exe, Install.exe, etc)，please follow STEP 3 Uninstall drivers.
    Without the installer (Setup.exe, Install.exe, etc)，please follow STEP 4 Install or update drivers.






    ● Support folders


    1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
    2. Double click Local Disk (C:), and then double click VAIO to open VAIO folder.
    3. Please confirm what files are in the related device folders.
      Please refer to the following information to confirm the type of the driver object.

      1. Executable files with installer (Setup.exe, Install.exe and etc).

      2. Executable files with uninstaller (*del.exe、Uninstall.exe and etc).

      3. Only inf files and system files (*.sys、*.vxd、*.dll, etc), no executable files.

      Note:

      • Executable files and certain system files may be configured to Hidden files.
        If you cannot show the files, please click Show the hidden files.

      • If extensions cannot appear, please uncheck Hide extensions for known file types


    With the installer (Setup.exe, Install.exe, etc)，please follow STEP 3 Uninstall drivers.
    Without the installer (Setup.exe, Install.exe, etc)，please followSTEP 4 Install or update drivers.





    STEP 3 Uninstall drivers


    You can uninstall the related drivers via Add or Remove programs.
    Please refer to the following related information on operating methods.


    1. Add or Remove programs displays.
    2. Click the name of the related driver.
      The listed drivers vary for different computer models.

      ※ The following picture is an example.


    3. Click Remove.



    4. Click OK in complete uninstallation.

    5. Restart Windows.


    Follow STEP 4 Install or update drivers.




    STEP 4 Install or update drivers


    Install or update drivers
    Please refer to the following information on related operating methods.

    Note:
    If you do not have the installer of the drivers in STEP 2，please refer to ■ How to update the drivers?



    ■ How to install the drivers?
    ■ How to update the drivers?




    ■ How to install the drivers?

    Please refer to the following information on how to install the drivers.


    ● System recovery CD
    ● Support folder




    ● System recovery CD


    1. When you start Windows, Add New Hardware Wizard displays，click Cancel in the prompt Found New Hardware (the name of the hardware).
    2. Insert the system recovery CD into CD/DVD RM drive.
    3. VAIO folder appears. Double click the installer in the folder of the related drivers.
    4. Follow the prompts of the installer to complete the installation.

      ※ Click Continue in Windows Logo is incompatible with Windows XP.

    5. Remove system recovery CD after ，then check Restart computer now, and click Finish.

      ※ Remove system recovery CD even if Complete installation does not display, and then restart Windows manually.


    If the computer still cannot recognize devices after you perform the operations above，please follow STEP 5 Run System Restore.





    ● Support folder


    1. When you start Windows, Add New Hardware Wizard displays，click Cancel in the prompt Found New Hardware (the name of the hardware).
    2. Click Start, then click My Computer, and double click the icon of Local Disk (C:).
    3. VAIO folder appears. Double click the installer in the folder of the related drivers.
    4. Follow the prompts of the installer to complete the installation.

      ※ Click Continue in Windows Logo is incompatible with Windows XP.

    5. Remove system recovery CD after ，then check Restart computer now, and click Finish.

      ※ Remove system recovery CD even if Complete installation does not display, and then restart Windows manually.


    If the computer still cannot recognize devices after you perform the operations above，please follow STEP 5 Run System Restore.






    ■ How to update drivers?

    Please refer to the following information on how to update drivers.


    ※ Here is an example of updating ATI MOBILITY RADEON XPRESS 200 driver.

    1. Device Manager displays.
    2. Click + of the related device.


    3. Click the device listed.


    4. Click Update the driver.


    5. Hardware Update Wizard displays.
      Check No, not this time in Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?，and then click Next.

      ※ The following picture displays only when you have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2.



    6. Check Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)，and then click Next.



    7. Check Don't search. I will choose the driver to install，and then click Next.



    8. Click Have Disk... in Select the device driver you want to install for this hardware.


    9. Click Browse in Install From Disk to select the related file.



      Remarks
      Please select the related files (*.inf files, etc) from the following folders.

      ● System recovery CD

      Insert the last system recovery CD into CD/DVD RM drive，and cick My Computer-RECOVERYCD-VAIO-Drivers-The related drivers.

      ● Support folder

      Double click My Computer-Local Disk (C:)-VAIO-Drivers-The related driver.

      Note:
      The folder structures vary for different computer models.
      Pay attention that the selected folders vary for different updating drivers.

    10. Return to Install From Disk，and then click OK.


    11. Click Next.


    12. Start to install the drivers.


    13. Click Finish Completing the Hardware Update Wizard.


    14. Restart Windows.

    After you have performed the above operations, if the device is still unrecognizable, please follow STEP 5 Run System Restore.




    STEP 5 Run System Restore


    After you have finished adding, removing or updating the drivers, if the devices are still unrecognizable, please run System Restore.
    When you run System Restore, please refer to the following solutions.

    Related Link


     What should users note when performing system recovery (data backup)?