How to Update Device Drivers Manually in Windows 7, Windows Vista

Follow the red numbers in order starting at the start menu to navigate to the device manager, then select the device drivers you need to reinstall, update or uninstall.

How to Update Device Drivers in Windows 7 and Windows Vista- Click for larger image

If your new, updated device driver files came without an .exe to automatically install the files:

*Click on the “Update Driver” button in the device manager for your device in question.
*Click “Browse my computer for driver software” in response to having windows automatically search for your device drivers. Choose this option if you already found the device drivers you need. This is where downloading the device driver install files to the desktop comes in handy. Navigate to the file that contains the driver download files then select the file (usually an .inf for the driver set up files).
*Hit “next.” Follow the on screen prompts.
Windows 7 should at this time automatically install the drivers you chose.

Where does Windows 7, Windows Vista store device driver files?

In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, device drivers are stored in the following default directory:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\DriverStore

Driverstorer’s Windows XP, 7 Vista device driver download center