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Is there a free service that I could talk to over the phone to help me install drivers on my computer?

Get Free Phone Tech Support from the Device Manufacturer

I can’t think of any services that offer free phone support for drivers in general, but you can most likely get some one-on-one assistance from the manufacturer of the device that you want to install or update drivers for. For example, if you are installing an HP printer, you can contact HP customer support for help. This website has a massive list of manufacturer’s and their 1-800 or local numbers, I hope it helps.

Free Software Programs Online

There are also a lot of free software download programs that offer driver location and installation assistance. However, as with most free downloads, be very careful that you know what you are getting and that the site or program is genuine and reputable.

Using Windows Updates for Drivers

This said, I think that I can help you learn what you need to know to find device drivers on your own, or at least have a good idea about how to start. Windows includes driver updates in its Windows Updates program, which you can install and set to run automatically whenever you want. This is a good tool for keeping your system up to date.

Use Device Manager to Update Drivers

To find device drivers, there are two or three major options. First, use Windows Device Manager to search for missing drivers. Here’s how:

1. Log on as an administrator
2. Click Start, then Control Panel, and then System and Maintenance
3. Choose Device Manager
4. If you are asked, provide the administrator password or press Enter to continue
5. Scroll to find your graphics or video card and click it twice to open
6. Choose the Driver tab, and click Update Driver
7. Follow the on-screen directions to load the driver update

Use the Manufacturer’s Website to Find Drivers

Secondly, you can use the manufacturer’s website to look for drivers. Most device makers offer a “drivers and downloads” page on their websites that you can look at to find drivers for your product. Sometimes you can enter your product model number into a search and it will locate the right drivers for you.

Buy a Driver Genius Software Program

Thirdly, there are numerous programs available for both free download and for purchase that will help you find and install drivers. At Filetonic we recommend a driver program by Paretologic called DriverCure. There is also a tech support service that we recommend that you can access here.

Load the Drivers from the CD

If you have a CD that came with your device, then most likely the drivers are on it. If you connect the device to the computer and reboot your system, the computer should recognize the device and launch the Add Hardware wizard, which will walk you through adding the drivers from the CD. If the wizard doesn’t launch, open it manually by choosing the Add Hardware icon in the Control Panel.

I hope this helps, if not, write again with some more specifics about your device, driver situation and operating system and we can help you from there. Good luck!

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Free Online Technical Support Options

I need free online support.

Filetonic Free Ask a Tech Help

Funny you should ask. Here at Filetonic, we do our best to answer computer questions - for free! While we are not a full service online tech support service, we try to get you answers to your questions or point you in the right direction. Feel free to “Ask a Tech Jock” as your first step toward solving your computer problems.

Free Online Tech Support Options

Depending on the computer problem you are experiencing, free online tech support may be available. For example, if you are having trouble with your Vonage Internet phone service, the folks over at Vonage are quite helpful. Likewise, your cable Internet service provider is a good first stop for Internet access problems. Many ISPs now offer automated support tools that automatically configure your system or troubleshoot common connection problems. Similarly, if you’re having a problem with a software application or hardware device, the support options at various developers and manufacturers are often free.

Of course, support and service varies and it’s often difficult to pinpoint where the problem originates. For example, if your Vonage Internet phone service isn’t working, it could be a problem with your Linksys router - so who do you call? Linksys or Vonage? 

Forums are another good source of online tech support, though you need to be aware of who’s giving advice. For example, anyone can go onto a forum and say “Download this fix” or “Delete such and such from the Windows registry.” If the advice is coming from a Microsoft MVP, you’re probably pretty safe following the instructions given. On the other hand, if the advice is coming from a random user named ILUV2HAK, then you might not want to download that file or follow his advice.

Microsoft’s knowledge base is another good source of free help. Many of step-by-step solutions are offered. In fact, now Microsoft has a “Fix it for me” tool that automatically fixes the issue in question.

Paid Tech Support

We understand that sometimes free tech support comes up short. In these instances, a good paid tech support company can be worth its money many times over. We recommend an online tech support company when we feel a computer error will benefit from a real technician working on the computer remotely.

Another option is to hire a local high school or college kid to troubleshoot your computer problems. Computer students are a bargain and eager to show off their skills.

Please let us know if you have a specific computer problem and we’ll be happy to do our best to tackle it for you.