Tag Archives: realtek

Realtek HD Audio Driver Revision History – Windows Vista x86 – x64 and Windows 7 x86 – x64

Realtek HD Audio Driver Revision History – Windows Vista x86/x64 and Windows 7 x86/x64

 

R2.71 – 6.0.1.6873 –

R2.70 – 6.0.1.6662 –

R2.69 – 6.0.1.6649 –

R2.68 – 6.0.1.6602 – 27/03/2012

R2.67 – 6.0.1.6526 –

R2.66 – 6.0.1.6482 –

R2.65 – 6.0.1.6449 –

R2.64 – 6.0.1.6438 –

R2.63 – 6.0.1.6410 – 07/07/2011

R2.62 – 6.0.1.6392 –

R2.61 – 6.0.1.6383 –

R2.60 – 6.0.1.6363 –

R2.59 – 6.0.1.6343 –

R2.58 – 6.0.1.6316 –

R2.57 – 6.0.1.6299 –

R2.56 – 6.0.1.6278 –

R2.55 – 6.0.1.6257 –

R2.54 – 6.0.1.6235 –

R2.53 – 6.0.1.6215 –

R2.52 – 6.0.1.6194 –

R2.51 – 6.0.1.6167 –

R2.50 – 6.0.1.6151 –

R2.49 – 6.0.1.6132 –

R2.48 – 6.0.1.6101 –

R2.47 – 6.0.1.6083

R2.46 – 6.0.1.6077

R2.45 – 6.0.1.6069

R2.44 – 6.0.1.6066

R2.43 – 6.0.1.6050

R2.42 – 6.0.1.6043

R2.41 – 6.0.1.6029 – 19/01/2010

R2.40 – 6.0.1.6013

R2.39 – 6.0.1.6000

R2.38 – 6.0.1.5995

R2.37 – 6.0.1.5983

R2.36 – 6.0.1.5969

R2.35 – 6.0.1.5953

R2.34 – 6.0.1.5943

R2.33 – 6.0.1.5936

R2.32 – 6.0.1.5928

R2.31 – 6.0.1.5919

R2.30 – 6.0.1.5911

R2.29 – 6.0.1.5898

R2.28 – 6.0.1.5888

R2.27 – 6.0.1.5874

R2.26 – 6.0.1.5864

R2.25 – 6.0.1.5859

R2.24 – 6.0.1.5854

R2.23 – 6.0.1.5845

R2.22 – 6.0.1.5832 – 14/04/2009

R2.21 – 6.0.1.5821

R2.20 – 6.0.1.5817

R2.19 – 6.0.1.5809

R2.18 – 6.0.1.5804

R2.17 – 6.0.1.5794

R2.16 – 6.0.1.5791

R2.15 – 6.0.1.5783

R2.14 – 6.0.1.5772

R2.13 – 6.0.1.5767

R2.12 – 6.0.1.5764

R2.11 – 6.0.1.5755

R2.10 – 6.0.1.5745

R2.09 – 6.0.1.5735

R2.08 – 6.0.1.5730

R2.07 – 6.0.1.5717

R2.06 – 6.0.1.5713

R2.05 – 6.0.1.5708

R2.04 – 6.0.1.5700

R2.03 – 6.0.1.5694

R2.02 – 6.0.1.5683

R2.01 – 6.0.1.5680

R2.00 – 6.0.1.5672

R1.99 – 6.0.1.5667

R1.98 – 6.0.1.5657

R1.97 – 6.0.1.5653

R1.96 – 6.0.1.5643

R1.95 – 6.0.1.5636

R1.94 – 6.0.1.5628

R1.93 – 6.0.1.5624

R1.92 – 6.0.1.5618

R1.91 – 6.0.1.5605

R1.90 – 6.0.1.5591

R1.89 – 6.0.1.5582

R1.88 – 6.0.1.5574

R1.87 – 6.0.1.5567

R1.86 – 6.0.1.5559

R1.85 – 6.0.1.5548

R1.84 – 6.0.1.5532

R1.83 – 6.0.1.5523

R1.82 – 6.0.1.5512

R1.81 – 6.0.1.5506

R1.80 – 6.0.1.5497

R1.79 – 6.0.1.5490

R1.78 – 6.0.1.5485

R1.77 – 6.0.1.5480

R1.76 – 6.0.1.5477

R1.75 – 6.0.1.5473

R1.74 – 6.0.1.5470

R1.73 – 6.0.1.5464

R1.72 – 6.0.1.5449

R1.71 – 6.0.1.5443

R1.70 – 6.0.1.5436

R1.69 – 6.0.1.5433

R1.68 – 6.0.1.5413

R1.67 – 6.0.1.5413

R1.66 – 6.0.1.5404

R1.65 – 6.0.1.5397

R1.64 – 6.0.1.5391

R1.63 – 6.0.1.5386

R1.62 – 6.0.1.5384

R1.61 – 6.0.1.5377

R1.60 – 6.0.1.5374

R1.59 – 6.0.1.5372

R1.58 – 6.0.1.5371

R1.57 – 6.0.1.5361

R1.56 – 6.0.1.5361

R1.55 – 6.0.1.5350

R1.54 – 6.0.1.5334

R1.53 – 6.0.1.5334

R1.52 – 6.0.1.5331

R1.51 – 6.0.1.5322

R1.50 – 6.0.1.5322

R1.49 – 6.0.1.5317

R1.48 – 6.10.0.5317

Windows Vista and Windows 7 – Realtek HD Audio Device Driver Support is available for the following Devices and HD Audio Chipsets:

ALC882

ALC883

ALC885

ALC886

ALC887

ALC888

ALC889

ALC892

ALC899

ALC861VD

ALC660,

ALC662

ALC663

ALC665

ALC670

ALC671

ALC672

ALC676

ALC680

ALC221

ALC231

ALC260

ALC262,

ALC267

ALC268

ALC269

ALC270

ALC272

ALC273

ALC275

ALC276

ALC280

ALC282

ALC290

Tcpip.sys – Pre Service Pack 2 Revision History for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Small Business Server 2011 (SBS 2011)

Tcpip.sys – Pre Service Pack 2 Revision History for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Small Business Server 2011 (SBS 2011)

05-Feb-2014 – 6.1.7601.22590 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2918550 – Computer leaks nonpaged pool memory when IPSEC traffic is configured to use AuthIP without encryption in Windows

05-Nov-2013 – 6.1.7601.22502 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2905412 – Stop error 0xD1 on a Windows-based computer with multiple processors

10-Oct-2013 – 6.1.7601.22477 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2896146 – Packet loss occurs when MTU is below 576 and PMTU discovery is enabled on your Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

09-Oct-2013 – 6.1.7601.22476 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2885980 – FIX: A memory leak condition occurs when the FwpsAllocateCloneNetBufferlist() API is called

08-Sep-2013 – 6.1.7601.18254 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2885980 – FIX: A memory leak condition occurs when the FwpsAllocateCloneNetBufferlist() API is called

06-Sep-2013 – 6.1.7601.22443 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2885978 – 0x0000007F Stop error on a Windows-based computer

04-Sep-2013 – 6.1.7601.22441 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2885976 – User application freezes on a Windows-based computer that uses the WFP

04-Sep-2013 – 6.1.7601.18251 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2885976 – User application freezes on a Windows-based computer that uses the WFP

13-Jul-2013 – 6.1.7601.22383 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2871565 – “C000021B” error when you inject an NBL that contains multiple net buffers in Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

13-Jul-2013 – 6.1.7601.18209 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2871565 – “C000021B” error when you inject an NBL that contains multiple net buffers in Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

06-Jul-2013 – 6.1.7601.22378 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2868623 – MS13-065: Vulnerability in ICMPv6 could allow denial of service: August 13, 2013

06-Jul-2013 – 6.1.7601.18203 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2868623 – MS13-065: Vulnerability in ICMPv6 could allow denial of service: August 13, 2013

11-Jan-2013 – 6.1.7601.22215 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2524732 – An IPsec connection to back-end databases from a WTT application times out in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

10-Jan-2013 – 6.1.7601.22214 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2459530 – Event ID 5719 and event ID 1129 may be logged when a non-Microsoft DHCP Relay Agent is used

10-Jan-2013 – 6.1.7601.18048 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2459530 – Event ID 5719 and event ID 1129 may be logged when a non-Microsoft DHCP Relay Agent is used

04-Jan-2013 – 6.1.7601.22209 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2790655 – MS13-018: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow denial of service: February 12, 2013

03-Jan-2013 – 6.1.7601.18042 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2790655 – MS13-018: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow denial of service: February 12, 2013

30-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.22177 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2789968 – “0x000000D1” Stop error after you install the WDK WFP “inspect” sample in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

29-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.22176 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2789397 – Data corruption and network issues when you run a WFP-based application on a computer that is running Windows

29-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.22176 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2789378 – Memory leak when an application uses the FwpsNetBufferListAssociateContext0 function in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

29-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.22176 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2788573 – “0x00000050” Stop error when you run a WFP-based application to register a callout routine in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

29-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.22176 – Tcpip.sys – x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2787847 – “0x000000D1” Stop error when a storage array is attached to a network environment and running Windows Server 2008 R2

29-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.18014 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2789397 – Data corruption and network issues when you run a WFP-based application on a computer that is running Windows

29-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.18014 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2789378 – Memory leak when an application uses the FwpsNetBufferListAssociateContext0 function in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

29-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.18014 – Tcpip.sys – x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2787847 – “0x000000D1” Stop error when a storage array is attached to a network environment and running Windows Server 2008 R2

28-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.22175 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2785146 – Data is corrupted when there is insufficient memory on a Windows-based computer

23-Nov-2012 – 6.1.7601.22172 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2741850 – TCP SACK option is always set to “true” after you enable the TCP/IP Offloading feature in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

18-Oct-2012 – 6.1.7601.22137 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2775511 – An enterprise hotfix rollup is available for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

03-Oct-2012 – 6.1.7601.22124 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2750841 – An IPv6 readiness update is available for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

03-Oct-2012 – 6.1.7601.17964 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2750841 – An IPv6 readiness update is available for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

12-Sep-2012 – 6.1.7601.22112 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2754804 – FTP client does not establish a passive-mode FTP connection to an IPv4 FTP server in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

12-Sep-2012 – 6.1.7601.17954 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2754804 – FTP client does not establish a passive-mode FTP connection to an IPv4 FTP server in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

06-Sep-2012 – 6.1.7601.22108 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2738401 – Raw packet is discarded after a UDP broadcast packet is received on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

20-Jul-2012 – 6.1.7601.22067 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2735855 – Network connection is slow when you run a WFP-based application on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

20-Jul-2012 – 6.1.7601.17911 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2735855 – Network connection is slow when you run a WFP-based application on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

14-Jul-2012 – 6.1.7601.22056 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2727330 – Default gateway is set to 0.0.0.0 if you start a Windows 7-based or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer from an iSCSI boot device

14-Jul-2012 – 6.1.7601.17900 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2727330 – Default gateway is set to 0.0.0.0 if you start a Windows 7-based or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer from an iSCSI boot device

09-Jul-2012 – 6.1.7601.22047 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2733445 – Incorrect time is displayed in a device that uses ICMP to synchronize time information with a Windows 7-based or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer

09-Jun-2012 – 6.1.7601.22015 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2722392 – “0x000000F4” Stop error when you run the Device Fundamental tests in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

30-Mar-2012 – 6.1.7601.21954 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2688338 – MS12-032: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow elevation of privilege: May 8, 2012

30-Mar-2012 – 6.1.7601.17802 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2688338 – MS12-032: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow elevation of privilege: May 8, 2012

09-Mar-2012 – 6.1.7601.21939 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665206 – Slow performance when you enable IPsec encryption on a specific TCP port number in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

11-Feb-2012 – 6.1.7601.21921 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2675785 – Data transfer speed is slow in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

01-Feb-2012 – 6.1.7601.21912 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665809 – You cannot exclude ports by using the ReservedPorts registry key in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

07-Jan-2012 – 6.1.7601.21893 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2553549 – All the TCP/IP ports that are in a TIME_WAIT status are not closed after 497 days from system startup in Windows Vista, in Windows 7, in Windows Server 2008 and in Windows Server 2008 R2

03-Jan-2012 – 6.1.7601.21889 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2661010 – IP packets are not routed through a Windows Server 2008 R2–based LAN router in a VLAN environment

21-Dec-2011 – 6.1.7601.21881 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2639793 – “0x000000C2” Stop error occurs when you use IPsec on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7 in a network that uses IPsec NAT-T security

02-Nov-2011 – 6.1.7601.21853 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2639824 – Multicast packets are dropped in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

06-Oct-2011 – 6.1.7601.21833 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2621067 – The first-returned IP address is incorrect when you use the getaddrinfo function on a multi-homed computer that is running Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2

01-Oct-2011 – 6.1.7601.21830 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2582281 – Slow failover operation if no router exists between the cluster and an application server

29-Sep-2011 – 6.1.7601.21828 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2588516 – MS11-083: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow remote code execution: November 8, 2011

13-Aug-2011 – 6.1.7601.21789 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2582284 – New VPN connections establish a session that has a smaller MTU value than expected in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7

13-Aug-2011 – 6.1.7601.21789 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2459530 – Event ID 5719 and event ID 1129 may be logged when a non-Microsoft DHCP Relay Agent is used

12-Jul-2011 – 6.1.7601.21768 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570170 – Performance issue when you enable the AuthNoEncap policy to handle large payloads in a network environment in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

18-Jun-2011 – 6.1.7601.21751 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2569391 – IPv6 DAD state does not switch back to Preferred state from Deprecated state in Windows Vista, in Windows Server 2008, in Windows 7, or in Windows Server 2008 R2

25-May-2011 – 6.1.7601.21734 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2469100 – Manually added route table entries are deleted unexpectedly when you delete an additional IP address in Windows Vista, in Windows 7, in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

10-May-2011 – 6.1.7601.21724 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2523881 – You cannot establish an IPsec tunnel to a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 through a NAT device

06-May-2011 – 6.1.7601.21722 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2547057 – IP packets are not routed through a Windows Server 2008 R2–based LAN router in a VLAN environment

22-Apr-2011 – 6.1.7601.21710 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2524732 – An IPsec connection to back-end databases from a WTT application times out in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

19-Mar-2011 – 6.1.7601.21687 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2511305 – Network throughput is not scaled up correctly if high-bandwidth PCI Express adapters and four or more processor sockets are used in Windows Server 2008 R2

19-Mar-2011 – 6.1.7601.21687 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2519736 – Stop error message in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or in Windows 7 SP1: “STOP: 0x0000007F”

19-Mar-2011 – 6.1.7601.21687 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2525390 – The SACK option is always set to “true” even if network adapter does not support SACK for offloaded connections in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

17-Mar-2011 – 6.1.7601.21685 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2519644 – Stop code in the tcpip.sys driver on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2: 0x000000D1

05-Mar-2011 – 6.1.7601.21675 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2470853 – IGMP v1 membership report packets are sent to incorrect destinations on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

20-Jan-2011 – 6.1.7601.21645 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2472264 – You cannot customize some TCP configurations by using the netsh command in Windows Server 2008 R2

17-Jan-2011 – 6.1.7601.21643 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2477730 – The TCP Chimney Offload feature fails on all network adapters in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7 if you disable or change the properties of a network adapter

15-Jan-2011 – 6.1.7601.21642 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2465772 – An application or service that uses Winsock API or Winsock Kernel API may randomly stop responding in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7

18-Dec-2010 – 6.1.7601.21624 – Tcpip.sys – x86/x64 – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2465408 – Applications or services cannot update their routing tables after they receive route change notifications in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7

Microsoft Windows based Computers and Laptops – Slow System Startup with Realtek HD Audio Chipset

You may find that Windows based computers and laptops are very slow to startup and in some instances slow to shutdown.  This has been witnessed when out dated drivers are installed for the integrted Realtek HD Audio Chipset.

The Realtek HD Audio drivers offered on Microsoft Update are often dated 2005 and are many years behind those available directly from the Audio Chipset manufacturer.

You can verify your current Audio Chipset and Driver version from “Device Manager”

Please visit http://www.realtek.com/downloads/ to find and download the latest applicable drivers for your Windows system.  They will usually reference the drivers as “High Definition Audio Codecs (Software)” and then under Windows the list Operating System Compatability for each system and provide several download links based upon locations around the world.  Downloads from the Realtek site can be slow at busy times of the day so you may need to be patient and/or download outside peak hours.

As you can see from the table the current drivers from Realtek Support are dated 21st October 2011 and are usually updated every 1-2 months, it would be worth updating to the latest release to resolve your slow startup times and then add updating your audio drivers into your usual computer maintenance schedule.  Once you have updated remember to check Device Manager to ensure that the latest drivers are actually installed and that the device is operating correctly.

How to update Network Adapter and Wireless Adapter Drivers within Windows

You may be finding that your network or internet connection is slow or unreliable, you may also find that your computer responds far more slowly whilst you are using network resources because your network adapter drivers are not fully optimised. Wireless network adapter users may find that they cannot connect to some wireless points and/or that wireless range is not what they expect.

Any of these issues could be related to using outdated network adapter drivers so update them.

The primary types of network adapter that you will find in use today are PCI, PCI-Express or USB.  Even wireless and cabled network adapters that are integrated into a laptop or computer will still use one of these fundamental bus types.  Despite who you bought your laptop or computer from (i.e. Dell, HP, Acer, Sony) you will most likely find that a thrd party supplied the network adapter module or chip.  This is actually a good thing because it means that you are not restricted to the often outdated drivers that your system manufacturer will issues when your machine is first produced but then subsequently forget about and never update.

The process to update the drivers usually involves downloading and extracting the zipped/compressed driver file and then using Device Manager to verify and update the drivers are compatible and will install.  You will usually find that the extracted drivers folder includes an “inf” file and various “dll” files.

Once you have the drivers downloaded and extracted on your machine its time to launch Device Manager and find the network adapter that you wish to update the drivers for. On my example machine we want to update the Realtek PCIe Gigabit Adapter so we will double click on it and verify the current driver version.

Here we can see the driver version is “7.23.623.2010 and the date the drivers were released is “23/06/2010”.

Now we want to click “Update Driver” and select the location of the new drivers that we downloaded earlier. To do this we need to click “Browse my computer for driver software” and then selecte the location of the extracted driver files.

Once we have carried out the update the new version will show along with the updated driver release date.

You will usually find that the network adapter in your computer or laptop is manufactured by one of the companies listed below, next to each manufacturer is also a link to the official driver download/support page.

Intel           http://downloadcenter.intel.com
Realtek      http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/
Broadcom http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/downloaddrivers.php
Nvidia        http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk
Marvell      http://www.marvell.com/support/downloads/search.do
Ralink        http://www.ralinktech.com/en/04_support/support.php?sn=500
D-Link       http://www.d-link.co.uk/support
Netgear      http://support.netgear.com/app/
Linksys       http://homesupport.cisco.com/en-eu/support/linksys
Belkin         http://www.belkin.com/uk/support/