Windows XP: how to install software and drivers

Install a program or a hardware driver on Windows XP, check that it worked, and remove it if it causes trouble. You will also see where software can still be obtained without taking risks.

Before you start

• Create a restore point so you can go back. Select Start then All Programs then Accessories then System Tools then System Restore, choose Create a restore point and follow the screens. See also how to back up your files and create a restore point.
• Sign in as an administrator. Installing programs and drivers needs an administrator account.

Where to get software and drivers

Windows Update for XP no longer works normally, so it cannot supply drivers. Use these sources instead:

• The disc that came with the device or the computer.
• The support page on the device maker's own website. Choose your exact model, then Windows XP and 32-bit or 64-bit.
• For older programs, the software maker's own website, if it still offers an XP version.

Install a program

1. Close other programs. Insert the disc, or open the folder holding the downloaded file.
2. If a disc starts by itself, follow its screens. Otherwise double-click the installer, usually named setup.exe or install.exe, or a file ending in .msi.
3. Read each screen. Accept the license only if you agree, and untick any extra offers you do not want.
4. Restart the computer if the installer asks you to.
5. Open the program from Start then All Programs. If it opens normally, the install worked.

If an older program will not run

Windows XP can run a program as if it were an earlier version of Windows.

1. Right-click the program's icon or its .exe file, then select Properties.
2. Select the Compatibility tab.
3. Tick Run this program in compatibility mode for, choose an earlier Windows version from the list, then select OK.

Install a driver

A driver is a small piece of software that lets Windows talk to a device. Many drivers come as a program: run the installer, then plug in the device when it asks.

1. Close other programs. Run the driver's installer from the maker's disc or download.
2. If Windows shows the Found New Hardware Wizard, point it to the disc or folder that holds the driver, and follow the screens.
3. If a warning says the software has not passed Windows Logo testing, continue only if the driver came from the device maker.
4. Restart if asked.

Check that it worked

1. Right-click My Computer, select Properties, then the Hardware tab, then Device Manager.
2. Look for the device. A yellow question mark or exclamation mark means the driver is missing or has a problem. A device with no marker is working. For more, see fixing driver problems in Device Manager.

If a change causes trouble

Go back to the previous driver

1. In Device Manager, double-click the device.
2. Select the Driver tab, then Roll Back Driver. If the button is grayed out, there is no earlier driver to return to.

Remove a program

1. Select Start then Control Panel then Add or Remove Programs.
2. Select the program in the list, then Change/Remove or Remove, and follow the screens. See also how to uninstall programs.

Undo with System Restore

If Windows behaves badly after an install, open System Restore, choose Restore my computer to an earlier time, and pick the restore point you made. Your documents are not restored; that is what a backup is for.

Frequently asked questions