Update Your Drivers

Bring your PC up to peak performance with the latest drivers.

Linda L. Grubbs, PC World

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You hook up the great laser printer you just bought and try to print--but nothing happens. You check the cable connections and try again. Still no response. You might have a driver problem: Drivers are programs that control devices, translating commands from software applications so that hardware devices can understand them.

Since driver glitches often cause hardware malfunctions, we know how important it is to be able find the latest updates. That's why we've added a Drivers category to FileWorld. We've also added a quick way to find the drivers you need: a link that takes you straight to the driver download page. Check out the drivers on this week's list, and if you don't find what you're looking for, please let us know. We'll try to add it to our library.

1. U.S. Robotics Modem Drivers: Get the latest updates for several analog modems: U.S. Robotics Winmodem, U.S. Robotics Voice, U.S. Robotics Macintosh, 56k Business Modem, 56k LAN Modem, and Courier. You'll also find upgrades and support info for other models.

2. DirectX: Experience the next generation of multimedia and 3D games with Microsoft's latest multimedia technology. The download includes DirectPlay, DirectDraw, DirectSound, DirectInput, and Direct3D. Version 7.0 improves force-feedback performance and input device compatibility.

3. HP Printer Drivers: Download drivers for your Hewlett-Packard LaserJet, DeskJet, PhotoSmart Photo printer, QuietJet, and more. These drivers support the latest features of HP's standard printer language, PCL; ColorSmart technology; and other image-rendering enhancements.

4. IomegaWare Tools: This easy-to-use suite of software and drivers helps you find, format, protect, and manage your files on Iomega Zip, ZipPlus, Notebook Zip, and Jaz drives and disks. The update offers new right-click functions, so you can access Iomega drives with one click.

5. Microsoft Intellipoint Update: Free yourself from the arrow keys forever! With a Microsoft Intellimouse and this driver, you can scroll around a page using the wheel on the mouse. The scrolling wheel is especially useful when you're browsing the Web and scrolling through documents in MS Word.

6. Wacom Intuos Driver: This driver improves mouse performance and automatically adjusts for screen resolution changes. It also works with Intuos, Graphire, PenPartner, ArtPad, ArtZ, ArtZ II, PL series, and UD series tablets.

7. Sound Blaster Drivers: Improve your PC's audio with drivers for Sound Blaster 16, 32, AWE32, AWE64, Live, PCI, Pro, and Microchannel models. This version solves the audio distortion problem that occurs if the Sound Blaster 16Xpress chip is left running overnight. You can also get drivers for the Nomad, Creative Labs' portable audio player, here.

8. Presario Desktop and Portable Drivers: This link takes you to Compaq's site, where you can download "SoftPaqs" for every Presario PC notebook or desktop system. SoftPaqs include documentation that can replace missing manuals, and drivers that improve your PC's performance and fix operational problems.

9. Canon Digital Cameras: Save pictures on your hard drive by synching your digital camera with your PC. This package includes the latest drivers for Canon's PowerShot series. Note: This link will take you to Canon's download page.

10. Voodoo3 2000/3000 Drivers: Enhance your PC's graphics with new drivers for your 3dfx Voodoo graphics accelerator card. These drivers are customized for Windows 2000, NT, and 9.x, Macintosh OS, and Linux. You can also get an update to the English version of 3dfx's DVD player software.

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