After you make the move to Windows XP, you may find that a piece of hardware isnÂ’t functioning properly, or that your computer does not recognize it. Making sure you have the right driver is a good place to start solving your problem. A driver is a small piece of software that smoothes the way for your hardware to work with your computer.

The best place to start is Windows Update. Click Scan for updates in the left-hand column, and then click Driver Updates.

If you know the specific name and version number of the driver you need, chances are you can download it from the Windows Update Catalog. If you haven’t already, you will need to turn on the Windows Update Catalog.

To turn on the Windows Update Catalog

1. On the Windows Update home page, click Personalize Windows Update under Other Options in the left-hand column.
2. Select the Display the link to the Windows Update Catalog under "See Also" check box.
3. Click Save Settings.

A link to the Windows Update Catalog will appear in the "See Also" section of the left-hand column. The Windows Update Catalog lets you search for driver updates to hardware products, organized by kinds of product and then by manufacturers.

Note: The Windows Update site scans your system to see what you have installed. You may be asked to download software onto your computer to facilitate this process. The safety and privacy of your system information is protected during this scan. If you are concerned about your privacy, read the Windows Update privacy statement that is available on the Windows Update site.

If you can’t find the driver you need there, you can try checking the Web site of the manufacturer of your new hardware. Look for information about drivers, or about the product you bought. Watch carefully for links to "drivers" and keep specific information about your new product, such as model numbers, handy while you look. You may need to call or write the manufacturer for information about whether a missing driver is your problem, and how you can get one.

Important! Keep in mind that some drivers available on manufacturer Web sites may not have passed Microsoft compatibility testing and could harm your machine. MicrosoftÂ’s Designed for Windows XP program has been created to address this problem. For the best performance, we recommend using hardware products that display the Designed for Microsoft Windows XP logo on the external packaging and on the device itself.

If you try to install a driver that has not been approved for Windows XP, you will see a warning message. We strongly recommend that you stop the installation process at that point and contact the manufacturer directly, via their Web site or by telephone or mail, and ask them to make Designed for Windows XP drivers available on the Windows Update site. That way, you can be assured that your hardware will work properly with your computer, and cause no harm to your machine.

Shopping for Computer Stuff?

The Windows Catalog is a collection of hardware and software products that have been determined to work with Windows XP. Many products in the catalog feature the Designed for Windows XP logo, which means they are specifically created to take advantage of the great new features in Windows XP and reduce the number of problems you might otherwise have using your computer.

If you do not see a product in the Windows Catalog, it does not mean the product will not work with Windows XP. Again, you may have to check with the productÂ’s manufacturer to determine whether the product works with Windows XP.

To find out more about the compatibility of hardware or software with Windows XP, search the Windows Catalog.