HP PCs - Downloading or Updating Software and Drivers

Go to HP PCs – Using HP Image Assistant to download HP Image Assistant. This utility provides a quick and easy way to download software and driver updates for HP commercial notebook and desktop PCs. In addition, HP offers alternative drivers and solutions through Client Management Solutions on the HP Driver Packs page.

Find and download software or drivers from the hardware manufacturer.

  Attention :

Unless otherwise specified, HP does not support software that did not originally come with the computer. See your warranty for details.

1. Find compatible drivers for all the components on your computer.
2. Create a recovery disc set. You can restore the computer if compatibility problems occur.
3. Find the names of the various hardware components on your computer. The most important component is the chipset. It drives many of the onboard components such as network, sound, and even video. Find component names and manufacturers on the product specifications for your computer model.
   Search for your computer model plus the word specifications at the top of this page. For example, if you have an HP Pavilion HPE h8-1360t Desktop computer, search for h8-1360t specifications. Then, check the manufacturer's website for the driver. For a list of websites, see the Get updates from the maker of the software or hardware section in this document.
4. Find and install the latest chipset driver package for the new operating system.
   If your computer does not have an Internet connection, download the chipset from another computer. Save it to a CD or USB storage device, and then transfer it to your computer. See the Get updates from the maker of the software or hardware section in this document for help finding chipsets and other downloads.
5. After installing the chipset, download and install the latest drivers for any components that are not functioning. For example, your computer makes no sound and it uses Realtek high-definition audio. Go to Microsoft or Realtek's website to download and install a new high-definition sound driver.
   If drivers are not available and the hardware component is not working, you might need to replace the component. For example, you changed your operating system from Windows Vista to Linux and a Linux sound driver is not available. To solve this, install a sound card and driver that is compatible with Linux.

Search Windows to find the current version of a driver or application software.

• Find driver version number: In Windows, search for and open Device Manager. Double-click the name of the component, and then click the Driver tab in the properties window.

  Remarque :

  The Driver Version displayed in the Driver tab may be presented differently by the manufacturer of the device. For example, the driver version shown in the Driver tab (in the graphic) is 24.21.14.1198 and the same driver may be presented by the manufacturer as 411.98.

  
• Find the software version of an application: In Windows, search for and open Apps & features. In the list that displays, click the name of the app to view the software version number. If the app does not list the version number, click Advanced options to find and view the software version number.

Select your operating system to find the current BIOS version on your computer.

If you are looking for network, sound, or video drivers and cannot find them on the HP Software & Driver Downloads page, you need to download the chipset driver. The chipset can drive many of the onboard components such as network, sound, and video.

The chipset driver is on the HP Software & Driver Downloads page for many computer models. If the driver is not available from HP, you can find the name and manufacturer of the chipset on the product specifications for your computer model. Search for your computer model plus the word specifications at the top of this page. For example, if you have an HP Pavilion HPE h8-1360t Desktop computer, search for h8-1360t specifications. Then, check the manufacturer's website for the driver. For a list of websites, see the Get updates from the maker of the software or hardware section in this document.

If you have an HP printer, scanner, or camera, HP posts software and drivers on the support site for each product. These software and drivers are not included on the computer support pages. That is, you cannot find a printer driver from the software and driver download page for your HP computer. Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page. If a Let's identify your product to get started page displays, select your product type. Type the model name of your HP printer, scanner, or camera, and then click Submit. From the list of available software and driver categories, find the software or driver. Click the category name, and then click Download.

If you have a device HP did not provide, you must look for software from the manufacturer of the device.

If your computer is experiencing a problem, a driver update might be available to fix the problem. However, installing software or driver updates does not solve all problems. Instead, try searching the HP Customer Support website for the computer problem or error message. Updating the driver might resolve these common types of drivers and associated problems:

• Audio: Loss of sound, 'audio device not found' errors, and quality problems such as popping noises.
• BIOS: Problems with sleep, suspend, hibernate, startup, shutdown, or meeting the minimum requirements for an operating system upgrade.
  Avoid BIOS updates unless you know it addresses the problem.
• CD/DVD Drive Firmware: The recognition of new brands of discs, burn speed, and burn quality.
• Keyboard: Extra buttons and special keys stop working.
• TV Tuner: TV playback performance, poor sound quality when watching TV, and video capturing quality.
• Video: Unsupported display resolutions, movie playback performance, and problems that occur in 3D games.

If an updated driver does not fix your computer problem, then try searching the HP Customer Support website or the Internet for a troubleshooting solution (not a driver).

Save the driver to external media, such as a USB flash drive or CD/DVD. Next, see the Find driver updates on the HP website section in this document for detailed instructions. After clicking Download, save the driver to external media, such as a flash drive, memory card, CD/DVD, or external hard drive. Then move the external media to the other computer and install the driver.

CD/DVD drives use drivers built into the operating system. They do not require updates. However, CD/DVD drives use firmware to control their operations and HP provides firmware updates for these drives.

To find a firmware update for a CD/DVD drive, follow the instructions in the Find driver updates on the HP website section in this document. On the Software & Driver Downloads page, expand the Firmware section.

You cannot upgrade a USB port using a driver upgrade. The port hardware must be capable of supporting the 2.0 or 3.0 standard to achieve the speed of 2.0 or 3.0. However, if the computer displays messages about connecting a USB 2.0 or 3.0 device into a higher speed USB port and you know a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port is on the computer, the USB controller drivers might need upgrading. Use Device Manager to get any available updates for Windows 7 or later.

1. Connect the computer to the Internet if it is not already connected.
2. In Windows, search for and open Device Manager.
3. In Device Manager, expand Other devices. If Other devices is not listed, Windows was able to identify and set up all plug and play hardware on the computer.
4. If there are any references to USB, such as USB Host Controller, right-click the name, select Update Driver Software, and then follow the on-screen instructions to download and install any available updates.
5. Remove the name in Other devices and add it to the proper category (Universal Serial BUS Controllers).
6. Test the USB device again.
   • If the message no longer displays, stop here.
   • If the message still displays, continue using these steps.
7. If there are no more references to USB in the Other devices category, expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
8. Right-click the name of one of the Universal Host controllers and select Update Driver software.
9. If any downloads installed, test the USB device to see if the message continues to display.

To determine if you have a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows, see Is the Windows Version on My Computer 32-bit or 64-bit?.

You cannot upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows. Similarly, you can only upgrade a 64-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows. To install a 64-bit version of Windows on a computer with a 32-bit version, you must reinstall Windows. This deletes all the information on the hard drive.

HP might not currently have software downloads available, depending on the situation:

• If your operating system is not listed, HP might not currently have software or driver downloads available for your product for that operating system, or the downloads are not available in the language you have chosen.
• If you have installed an operating system other than Microsoft Windows, HP might not provide software or driver downloads for your operating system.
• If you have upgraded Windows, the downloads might not be available from HP yet.

Review the following options if there are no downloads listed for your operating system:

• If you are installing a new device, use the “Add New Hardware” wizard. Drivers for some peripheral products (cameras, printers, scanners, etc.) are pre-installed in the operating system and do not require downloading a new driver.
• If HP does not make the products you are installing, you might be able to find drivers and software downloads from the original manufacturer’s website.
• Visit the HP Customer Support website again later to see if new downloads are available.
• For Linux drivers, go to hplip.sourceforge.net/supported_devices/index.html (in English).
• For FreeDOS, go to www.freedos.org (in English).

  Remarque :

  HP only supports and provides drivers for operating systems for HP-branded, warranty-replaced, or factory-installed hardware that is shipped on or supported by the product.

The open source community develops Linux and FreeDOS. Find drivers posted on community sites. For more information about FreeDOS and Linux and how these operating systems apply to HP and Compaq computers:

• Desktop computers: Frequently Asked Questions About Linux (FAQs)
• Notebook computers: Frequently Asked Questions About Linux (FAQs)

Some drivers, such as network, video, bus controller, a .dll file, USB, or other computer component, must be updated using Device Manager.

• Are you looking for a driver because an error message displays?
  Search HP or the Internet using the exact error message. HP and its partners provide many support documents that provide known fixes for error messages.
• Are you looking for a device driver because you updated Windows?
  You might not need a driver. Windows can find and install drivers through the plug and play process or through the Windows Update process. If Windows cannot fully recognize the name of the device, Windows lists the device as an Other device in Device Manager. If this is the case, use the following steps.

  Remarque :

  Hardware devices (video, sound, network cards, and similar) that were not designed for plug and play might not work in a computer that is upgraded to a newer version of Windows. If this is the case, replace the hardware device with one that is compatible with your upgraded operating system.

  1. Connect to the Internet if the computer is not already connected.
  2. In Windows, search for and open Device Manager.
  3. Expand Other devices. If Other devices is not listed, Windows was able to identify and set up all plug and play hardware on the computer.
  4. Right-click a name of one of the unknown devices and select Update Driver Software.
  5. Follow the directions on the pages that open to install any available driver updates through Windows.
     The name should be removed from Other devices and added to the proper category. For example, a previously unknown network card is listed in the network adapters category.
  6. If any downloads were installed, test the device to see if it is now functioning properly.

Review the following descriptions of the difference between software, drivers, and firmware:

• Software: Instructs your computer how to do something, such as playing a game or movie, word processing, and home finance.
• Driver: A specific type of software used by the operating system (Windows) that allows a hardware device, such as a printer, sound card, or keyboard, to work.
• Firmware: Instructions stored on chips attached to hardware devices. Examples of devices that use firmware are CD/DVD drives and hard drives.

It is important to know the difference between a software update and a software upgrade:

• Software update: Modifies the version of software that is on your computer, usually bugs fixes or adding minor enhancements or features. For example, software that is currently version 3.1.1 updates to 3.1.2. Updates are usually free. The HP software and driver download pages provide only updates, not upgrades.
• Software upgrade: Provides a newer full version of the same software title. For example, software that is currently version 3.0 upgrades to version 4.0. Upgrades are generally purchased from the software provider.