Automatically Installing Hardware in Windows XP Home

   One of the primary tools for configuring hardware is the Control Panel. Another useful tool for implementing, managing, and troubleshooting hardware devices and drivers is the Device Manager, found in the Computer Management console.

   Windows XP Home supports both Plug and Play and non-Plug and Play hardware. We will now examine the features of automatic hardware installation features of Windows XP Home. Occasionally, Windows XP Home fails to automatically detect a hardware device. When this occurs, you must install the hardware device manually. You might also have to do this if the device requires a specific hardware resource to ensure that it is installed properly.

  • Installing Hardware Automatically

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       Windows XP Home supports Plug and Play hardware. For most devices that are Plug and Play-compliant, as long as the appropriate driver is available and the basic input/output system (BIOS) on the computer is a Plug and Play BIOS or an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) BIOS, Windows XP Home automatically detects, installs, and configures the device. When there is a new piece of hardware detected that cannot be installed automatically, Windows XP Home displays the Found New Hardware Wizard.

       However, you might occasionally need to initiate automatic installation for some Plug and Play hardware. You do this with the Add Hardware Wizard. For non-Plug and Play hardware, Windows XP Home often identifies the hardware and automatically installs and configures it. For non-Plug and Play hardware that Windows XP Home does not identify, install, and configure, you initiate the automatic installation of the hardware with the Add Hardware Wizard.

       To automatically install hardware, complete the following steps:
  • Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Printers And Other Hardware.
  • In the Printers And Other Hardware window, under See Also, click Add Hardware to start the Add Hardware Wizard. Windows XP Home queries the hardware about the hardware resources that it requires and the settings for those resources. A hardware resource allows a hardware device to communicate directly with the operating system. Windows XP Home can resolve conflicts between Plug and Play hardware for hardware resources.
  • Confirm the automatic hardware installation.

    •    After Windows XP Home finishes the installation, you should verify correct installation and configure the hardware.

  • Using the Add Hardware Wizard

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       You can also use the Add Hardware Wizard to initiate automatic hardware installation for undetected hardware devices, both Plug and Play and non-Plug and Play, and to troubleshoot devices. To start the Add Hardware Wizard, do the following:
  • In Control Panel, click Printers And Other Hardware.
  • Click Add Hardware. Windows XP Home starts the Add Hardware Wizard, which is used to install software to support the hardware you add to your computer and to troubleshoot problems that you might be having with your hardware.
  • Click Next to close the Welcome To The Add Hardware Wizard page. Windows XP Home searches for new devices and one of the following three events occurs:
  • Click Next to close the Welcome To The Add Hardware Wizard page. Windows XP Home searches for new devices and one of the following three events occurs:
  • If Windows XP Home detects any new Plug and Play hardware, it installs the new hardware.
  • If Windows XP Home detects new hardware, it starts the Found New Hardware Wizard.
  • If the wizard cannot find a new device, it displays the Is The Hardware Connected page. If you have already connected the new device, click Yes, I Have Already Connected The Hardware and then click Next. The wizard displays the The Following Hardware Is Already Installed On Your Computer page. To add hardware that is not in the list, click Add A New Hardware Device.
    • Note

       To use the Add Hardware Wizard to troubleshoot a hardware device, click the device in the list of installed hardware devices and click Next. The Completing The Add Hardware Wizard page appears. Click Finish to launch a troubleshooter to help resolve any problems you might be having with that hardware device.

  • Confirming Hardware Installation

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       After installing hardware, you should confirm the installation using the Device Manager. You can do the following to start Device Manager:

  • In Control Panel, click Performance And Maintenance.
  • Click System.
  • Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
    • Note

       Device Manager can also be launched from the Computer Management console. It is a snap-in located under System Tools.

       Windows XP Home uses icons in the Device Manager window to identify each installed hardware device. If Windows XP Home does not have an icon for the device type, it displays a question mark. Expand the device tree to locate the newly installed hardware device. The device icon indicates whether the hardware device is operating properly. The details for each icon is displayed in the table below:

    Icon Hardware Status
    Normal Icon Hardware is operating properly.
    Stop Sign on Icon Windows XP Professional disabled the hardware device because of hardware conflicts. To correct this, right-click the device icon and then click Properties. Set the hardware resources manually according to what is available in the system.
    Exclamation point on icon The hardware device is incorrectly configured or its drivers are missing.
     
     
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