When USB was first introduced, all of the ports used USB 1.0 drivers. Then When Service Pack 1 for XP was released, USB 2.0 was introduced and many people had to update their drivers. But since then, there has been little or no need to update them unless you upgraded or replaced your motherboard.

So what is the average non-techie to do? Spend hours on the phone with endless tech support people, none of whom seem to actually know the answer?

Intel, the company that makes the USB port will tell you it is Microsoft’s fault since they write the hardware drivers for the ports used on their operating systems.  Microsoft may tell you it is the chipset manufacturer’s responsibility to provide you with new drivers.  It is enough to make you scream.

Next stop is to go to Microsoft’s update site and see if they have the drivers you need. Since USB ports are part of the Microsoft networking features, global issues may be taken care of through updates. However, to use their download center you need to be running the latest version of Internet Explorer.

If you hate internet explorer as much as I do, that is a definite bummer.

If Microsoft’s USB drivers don’t work, you will need to update each driver manually. Of course, you now need to know the chip set and motherboard manufacturer. Then visit their websites and download their drivers, install them and see if they work.

This is a very tedious process and quite frankly, for most people, more than they have the technical knowledge to do.

What’s the Solution?

Go to our home page and do a free scan of your computer and let our software find and install all of the drivers for you which is much easier for the average person.