Win 98: Is there a program that recognizes hardware?

[Revid]

I am installed win98 on a friends machine he has no drivers for his hardware. mainly soundcard, nic, and vid card. Is there a program that can look at your system and tell you what hardware is in it, so i can download the appropriate drivers.

thanks,
-revid

 

[morkinva]

Assuming the devices are 'plug and play', then windows is supposed to recognize them and supply the appropriate drivers. If you don't have boxes, manuals or any info as to what the peripherals are, then open up the computer and take a look at the cards. You could get lucky and the make/model of the peripheral may be on the card; then you can go the mfg. website and d/l the latest drivers. Otherwise, you'll have to guess.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Windrivers.com is a good resource in tracking down appropriate drivers.

I agree, I'd open up the case and look at the cards. Make note of any markings, Part numbers, FCC ID, etc. With a small amount of research you'll have everything you need.

 

[Viper0329]

The best way, as formerly mentionded, is to physically look at them, then get the drivers from the manufacturer's website or windrivers.com.

 

[spanky]

not that i know of. ur best bet is to open upthe case and inspect each individual piece of hardware...its the only failsafe method.

 

[Slikkster]

Physically inspect the hardware and look for an "FCC" ID number. It's several digits long. Then, once you've copied the number down, go to this website and enter the number into the box(es) there and see if you can trace the company that way:

FCC ID Search page

 

[mattyrug]

If it's in the Machine already, u can use these DOS based Util. It gives u Vendor ID, and Device ID #'s. Next to FCC ID'ing, these have been the most useful.
PCI Info
PCI Sniffer
good luck!

 

[TheCorm]

Many devices that were released when win95 was king will have drivers included in 98, similarly, devices that were released when NT and 98 were the main ones will have drivers included with win2k and ME.

Obviously, this may be handy if you cannot find downloadable drivers.

You also have the choice with many graphics cards of downloading reference drivers (graphics chip manufacturer) or retail dricvers (card manufacturer). With soundcards it can eb a bit more tricky. With the modem you can install as a Standard xxxxxkbps modem, although you obviously don't get all the features.

Corm