A computer is a tricky thing. For its normal operation, it is necessary that all component drivers are installed as expected. However, it often happens that the device is not installed correctly, or the driver is missing, and there is no suitable analogue in the arsenal of system drivers.
You will have to look for a driver manually on the wide expanses of the Internet. But not all programs will work. In addition, an undefined device in Windows is displayed with such characters that it is not clear. How to find a driver for an unknown device? This will be discussed.
What is a driver?
A driver is software created for a device in order to ensure its full operation. Often they are produced by the device manufacturers themselves, as this is their responsibility. Each company must support its product. This is stated in the license agreement. If your operating system detects an unknown device, it means that the necessary driver was not found. You should visit the official website of the device manufacturer to find the current version.
For free operating systems (Linux), there are two types of drivers: free and proprietary. There are a lot of differences between them, and each property affects the performance of the driver and its stability. Proprietary drivers have a closed structure and it is not permissible to change it except for the manufacturer itself. Free drivers are released by the free software community. They have open source code and anyone who can do this can edit it. It is clear that there is no stability in this case.
The question of how to find a driver for an unknown device in Linux, as a rule, does not arise, since all devices are installed out of the box, that is, immediately during installation.
If the driver is not on the site
It’s rare, but it happens that there are no drivers on the official website of the device manufacturer. Here you will have to take advantage of the great and powerful storehouse of knowledge called Google. In order to find the required driver on the network, you need to copy the digital designation of the device. To do this, go to the task manager and select "Unknown device". Then you need to right-click on the name and open the "Properties" tab.
Next, select the "Details" tab and in the line that appears, select the item "Equipment ID". A window will display a set of letters and numbers. We enter this very cipher into the Google search bar, and a smart search engine generates a driver specifically for our device. Now all that remains is to download and install the software.
But sometimes this does not help. So, it's time to go to the next paragraph of the instruction "How to find a driver for an unknown device."
Using programs
There are special programs for installing drivers. The best experts in the field of computer security argue hoarsely about whether such utilities can be used. The fact is that they are usually located on sites that are not trustworthy, and contain Trojans. But there are still a few programs that have worked well.
The best of the best is called Driver Pack Solution. This is not only a utility for finding drivers, but also a powerful tool for monitoring the system and supporting hardware. The program itself checks the relevance of the drivers and prompts the user to update them. Also, the product is able to download and install drivers automatically without user intervention. There is a special planner for this.
Other ways for different OS
If you suddenly have an operating system of the Linux family installed, then many unclear questions arise. Where to look for drivers for this OS if the device is not supported and the manufacturer’s website is empty? The answer to this question can be given in communities dedicated to a specific distribution of this OS. This is a hallmark of Linux-like OS. They are all tied to communities. It is enough to ask a question on the necessary forum, and a cloud of Linuxoids will hurry to help you.
If you have Windows, then the community number will not work. Users themselves do not really know anything about this OS, since it is closed. Here you have to rely only on the manufacturer. Fortunately, almost all of them necessarily produce drivers for Microsoft OS. Programs for installing drivers are also good help.
But with Mac OS it’s still more complicated. If the manufacturer did not bother to release the driver, then you will not find it anywhere. True, this is true only for fans of Hackintosh. The original Macs come with all the drivers since Apple releases them. They are always up to date.
Last way
If none of the above methods help, only one remains. You need to enter into a long (and sometimes useless) correspondence with technical support. Some companies are so concerned about their prestige that they may well send you the latest version of the driver. So to speak, personally and individually. Perhaps this method will be the simplest answer to the question of how to find a driver for an unknown device. Only it does not always work.
Conclusion
There are many ways to find and install the necessary drivers. These methods are relevant for any operating system. The main thing is to know exactly what you need. Without this, finding a driver is not possible. For example, if you need a driver for a printer, you need to know the model exactly. If you have such information, then consider that half the job is done.