How to Connect a CD ROM Driver

All hardware devices, such as CD-ROM players and graphics cards, used with a Windows based computer need a specific set of files called drivers to operate correctly. Drivers allow the device to share information with all the other components of the machine. If, after installing a CD-ROM player to a computer, the driver does not connect the device to the PC automatically use the device manager tool to have Windows locate and install the drivers for you.

• 1

  Click the "Start" button located on the Windows desktop. Type "Device Manager" into the search box in the start menu and press the "Enter" key. The device manager window opens showing a list of all devices installed on the machine arranged into groups according to what purpose each serves.

• 2

  Expand the "DVD/CD-ROM Drives" option then double-click on the name of the CD-ROM player of interest in the list that comes into view. A device properties window launches.

• 3

  Click the "Driver" tab within the device properties window followed by pressing the "Update Driver" button to start the Windows driver update wizard.

• 4

  Click "Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software" to give Windows permission to search the Internet and the PC for the most up-to-date driver available for the CD-ROM player. Once the driver is found, Windows connects it to the device.