Driver directory

View all page feedback. In this article. DriverDirectoryData The requested directory is a general-purpose directory in which the driver stores files that contain state information specific to the internals of the driver and only used by the driver itself. DriverDirectorySharedData The requested directory is a general-purpose directory in which the driver stores or reads files that contain state information that is meant to be shared between the driver and other components.

Other components can access this directory using GetSharedServiceDirectory. This value is available on Windows Server and later versions of Windows. This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info. Contents Exit focus mode. Please rate your experience Yes No. Any additional feedback? Note In Windows 10, version and greater, Windows Update WU offers the best matching driver package, which is not necessarily the most recent.

Submit and view feedback for This product This page. View all page feedback. For help with decompressing a file, see: How to extract or decompress a compressed file. If, after decompressing the file, it still doesn't contain an executable file, setup file, or doesn't install your hardware device, continue with the recommendations below.

Finally, if you're successfully installing your drivers and a message to reboot the computer appears, make sure to reboot the computer after the driver is installed.

A computer or hardware manufacturer may place the drivers on a CD, diskette, or folder on the hard drive for Windows to find and use during its hardware detection. Below are steps on installing drivers for a new device and upgrading a device's driver for this setup. If Windows does not detect any new hardware, open the Control Panel and double-click the Add hardware icon to run the hardware detection wizard.

During the steps, you can install custom Windows drivers from a location on the disk. Choose to load drivers, then select the folder containing the drivers for your device. Finally, if the recommendations above don't work, you can locate the installation instructions for drivers and hardware devices in its. Make sure you install the correct. One of the three recommendations above should have installed or updated the drivers.

If you are still having difficulties getting the device to install, you may not be encountering a hardware issue. Refer to the troubleshooting steps for your hardware device for additional help and information. Tip In most situations, the drivers are installed after the hardware has been installed or connected to the computer.

Installing drivers from a USB drive or floppy. Downloading and installing a driver. Installing a driver from an executable. Using the "have disk" option to install drivers. Install a driver using a. Tip If you have a CD with drivers, but the computer has no functioning disc drive, you can also download the drivers from the Internet.

Tip If you have not yet downloaded the drivers, you can find them for your computer through its manufacturer. Tip If you're downloading drivers to install on another device, you can copy or extract the files to a USB flash drive and connect it to the other computer.