CD-ROM

Short for Compact Disc-Read Only Memory, CD-ROM drives are CD-Players inside computers that can have speeds in the range from 1x and beyond, and have the capability of playing audio CDs and computer data CDs. Below is a picture of the front and back of a standard CD-ROM drive. Below is an illustration of the back of a CD-ROM for users who may need to have a better example of the pins and/or connectors. Additional information and help with computer CD-ROM drives can be found on our CD-ROM help page. <

Hardware

Hardware is best described as a device that is physically connected to your computer or something that can be physically touched. A CD-ROM, Monitor, Printer, and video card are all examples of computer hardware. Without any hardware your computer would not exist and software would have nothing to run on. The image to the right is of a webcam , an example of an external hardware peripheral that allows users to make basic videos, transmit videos of themselves over the Internet, and take pictures. <

Hardware device listing

What is hardware? Hardware is best described as a device that is physically connected to your computer or something that can be physically touched. A CD-ROM, monitor, and printer are all examples of computer hardware. Cleaning hardware Information on how to clean any of your computer hardware components can be found on our cleaning page. Drivers If you are looking for drivers for hardware devices, we have a list on our drivers page. Adding hardware Additional information and help with adding or installing computer hardware components can be found on document CHADD. How hardware can cause issues Computer hardware requires resources to correctly operate with the computer and the software installed in the computer. If your computer does not have the available resources, such as available IRQs, this will cause your computer to not properly work and/or the devices to not function properly. In addition to needing resources, not all computer hardware will work properly with all computers, or may have incompatibilities with hardware that is already installed in your computer. Finally, almost all computer hardware requires some type of software or drivers to be installed before it can properly communicate with the computer. If these drivers contain problems or do not properly work with the computer, this can cause issues with the hardware device you are attempting to install in the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Manufacturer-Supplied Drivers To install a manufacturer-supplied driver, follow these steps: 1.In Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware. 2.In Windows 95, click Next, click No, and then click Next. In Windows 98, click Next, and then click Next again to search for plug and play devices. If the device you are installing is not found, click No, the device isn't in the list, click Next, click "No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and then click Next. NOTE:- If Windows 98 finds your hardware when it searches for plug and play devices, click "Yes, the device is in the list, click the device in the list, click Next, and then click Finish. You do not have to provide a manufacturer-supplied driver. 3.Click the type of hardware for which you are installing the driver, and then click Next. 4.Click Have Disk. 5.Type the path for the driver you are installing and click OK, or click Browse and locate the driver. You must type the path for or locate the Oemsetup.inf file from the manufacturer. 6.In the dialog box listing the .inf file, click OK. Click OK to continue. 7.Click the correct driver and then click OK. 8.Click Finish. NOTE:-If the new hardware is Plug and Play-compatible, you will need to click Next and then click Finish. Installing Modems To install a new modem, follow these steps: 1.In Control Panel, double-click Modems. 2.If this is to be the first modem installed in the computer, the Install New Modem Wizard starts automatically. If not, click Add. 3.If you want Windows to detect your modem, click Next. If not, click the "Don't detect my modem..." check box to select it, and then click Next. 4.If you chose to have Windows detect your modem, Windows queries the serial ports on your computer looking for a modem. If Windows detects an incorrect modem, click Change, and select the appropriate manufacturer and model. Click Next, and then continue with step 7. 5.If you chose to select your modem manually, click the appropriate manufacturer and model, and then click Next. 6.Click the appropriate communications port, and then click Next. 7.Click Finish. Installing Printers To install a new printer, follow these steps: 1.Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Printers. 2.Double-click Add Printer, and then click Next. 3.Click Local Printer or Network Printer as appropriate, and then click Next. If you click Network Printer, you are prompted for the network path for the printer. If you do not know the correct path, click Browse, or check with your network administrator. Click either Yes or No in the "Do you print from MS-DOS-based programs? area, and then click Next. 4.Click the appropriate manufacturer and model for your printer, and then click Next. 5.If you chose to install a local printer, click the correct port and then click Next. 6.Type a name for the printer (or accept the default name), and then click either Yes or No in the Do you want your Windows-based programs to use this printer as the default printer? area. Click Next. 7.To print a test page, click Yes. Click Finish. Installing a CD-ROM or a Hard Disk Installing a new drive such as a CD-ROM or hard disk involves opening your computer case, and handling internal cables and wiring. Because of this, you should not try to install a CD-ROM or hard disk unless you are already very familiar with the process. For information about how to install a CD-ROM or hard disk, contact the manufacturer of the device, or view the documentation included with your device. Troubleshooting Problems with the Add New Hardware Wizard You may receive the following error message while installing new hardware: The specified location does not contain information about your hardware. This error can occur if you select an incorrect hardware type or the driver is not Windows 95 or Windows 98-compatible. If the driver is not Windows 95 or Windows 98-compatible, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for installing the driver, or contact the manufacturer for assistance. << Back

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition Microsoft Windows 95 Keywords:kbfaq kbhardware kbhowto KB142984 << Back

Troubleshooting Problems with the Add New Hardware Wizard

You may receive the following error message while installing new hardware: The specified location does not contain information about your hardware. This error can occur if you select an incorrect hardware type or the driver is not Windows 95 or Windows 98-compatible. If the driver is not Windows 95 or Windows 98-compatible, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for installing the driver, or contact the manufacturer for assistance. << Back

Installing a CD-ROM or a Hard Disk

Installing a new drive such as a CD-ROM or hard disk involves opening your computer case, and handling internal cables and wiring. Because of this, you should not try to install a CD-ROM or hard disk unless you are already very familiar with the process. For information about how to install a CD-ROM or hard disk, contact the manufacturer of the device, or view the documentation included with your device. << Back

Installing Printers

To install a new printer, follow these steps: 1.Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Printers. 2.Double-click Add Printer, and then click Next. 3.Click Local Printer or Network Printer as appropriate, and then click Next. If you click Network Printer, you are prompted for the network path for the printer. If you do not know the correct path, click Browse, or check with your network administrator. Click either Yes or No in the "Do you print from MS-DOS-based programs? area, and then click Next. 4.Click the appropriate manufacturer and model for your printer, and then click Next. 5.If you chose to install a local printer, click the correct port and then click Next. 6.Type a name for the printer (or accept the default name), and then click either Yes or No in the Do you want your Windows-based programs to use this printer as the default printer? area. Click Next. 7.To print a test page, click Yes. Click Finish. << Back

Installing Modems

To install a new modem, follow these steps: 1.In Control Panel, double-click Modems. 2.If this is to be the first modem installed in the computer, the Install New Modem Wizard starts automatically. If not, click Add. 3.If you want Windows to detect your modem, click Next. If not, click the "Don't detect my modem..." check box to select it, and then click Next. 4.If you chose to have Windows detect your modem, Windows queries the serial ports on your computer looking for a modem. If Windows detects an incorrect modem, click Change, and select the appropriate manufacturer and model. Click Next, and then continue with step 7. 5.If you chose to select your modem manually, click the appropriate manufacturer and model, and then click Next. 6.Click the appropriate communications port, and then click Next. 7.Click Finish. << Back

Manufacturer-Supplied Drivers

Manufacturer-Supplied Drivers To install a manufacturer-supplied driver, follow these steps: 1.In Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware. 2.In Windows 95, click Next, click No, and then click Next. In Windows 98, click Next, and then click Next again to search for plug and play devices. If the device you are installing is not found, click No, the device isn't in the list, click Next, click "No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and then click Next. NOTE:- If Windows 98 finds your hardware when it searches for plug and play devices, click "Yes, the device is in the list, click the device in the list, click Next, and then click Finish. You do not have to provide a manufacturer-supplied driver. 3.Click the type of hardware for which you are installing the driver, and then click Next. 4.Click Have Disk. 5.Type the path for the driver you are installing and click OK, or click Browse and locate the driver. You must type the path for or locate the Oemsetup.inf file from the manufacturer. 6.In the dialog box listing the .inf file, click OK. Click OK to continue. 7.Click the correct driver and then click OK. 8.Click Finish. NOTE:-If the new hardware is Plug and Play-compatible, you will need to click Next and then click Finish. << Back

SUMMARY

This article describes how to install new hardware for use in Windows. This article addresses the following topics: Manufacturer-supplied drivers Installing modems Installing printers Installing a CD-ROM or a Hard Disk Troubleshooting problems with the Add New Hardware Wizard Note:-If you are running Windows Millennium Edition (Me), real mode support is not available. << Back

How to Install New Hardware in Windows

View products that this article applies to. This article was previously published under Q142984 On This Page SUMMARY MORE INFORMATION Manufacturer-Supplied Drivers Installing Modems Installing Printers Installing a CD-ROM or a Hard Disk Troubleshooting Problems with the Add New Hardware Wizard