[firestormer]

If youv'e encountered a problem where Windows Vista (and maybe XP but im not sure if this applies) can locate the driver for new hardware automaticly when you plug in then there are 2 possible causes.

1. Incorrect settings in Control Panel

Go Control Panel\System and Maintenance\System click on Advanced System Settings > Hardware > Windows Update Driver Settings and select 'Check for Drivers Automaticly'

2. Corrupted infcache file

Go to %systemroot%\inf and find infcache.1 open the proporties and click security, grant yourself full permisions. Then rename the file to something harmless like backupinfcache.1 or delete it.

This has worked for me and a few other people but that dosn't mean it's safe or will work. Do this only at your own risk and not mine.

Have a nice day.

[Doug Vitale]

To be honest, in all my years of working with Windows XP, it has NEVER been able to find any drivers online when I connected new hardware. Printers, scanners, Ethernet cards...XP is useless if you don't have a driver CD or if you can't get online to download the driver from the manufacturer. Linux, on the other hand, is a different story. Ubuntu Linux was able to automatically detect and install the driver for my Creative sound card, Broadcom network card, Canon printer and Canon scanner.

[firestormer]

In fairness windows does pick up most things, it just seems a lot of people have been having trouble with a corupt file which means windows dosn't seach automaticly, instead you have to click search in C:\windows.

I have tried linux and i admit it is good, unfortunately when i did try installing it didn't like my graphics card and stuck a load of green and pink and yellow lines on the screen. But im happy with Vista... for now.