Steps to Identify Unknown Hardware on Windows XP

If you’re unsure of unknown hardware on your PC, it’s easily found. Follow these steps:

1. Turn on your computer.

2. Let all programs start up on your windows screen if you have windows.

3. Move the cursor to "start" in the lower left hand corner and left click on the mouse.

4. A window should pop up with some of the programs you have on your computer and can access.

5. In this section you should find, "my documents, my music, my computer, my pictures, my network places, and below that control panel," etc.

6. Left click on the mouse and select, "my computer".

7. This takes you to a screen that shows on the left hand side, "view system information".

8. Left click on the mouse and select, "view system information".

9. This will take you to a screen that has your "system properties".

10. One of the tabs at the top should be labelled, "hardware".

11. Select and left click on the mouse, "hardware" tab.

12. On the "hardware" screen, your computer should have several sections. One of them is named, "device manager".

13. The "device manager" lists all hardware installed on your computer.

14. If you left click on the mouse for "device manager", you can change the properties of each piece of hardware that is installed.

15. There is also a section that shows "hardware profiles". In this section, your computer provides a way to set up and store hardware configuration for each piece of hardware installed.

16. There is also a "tab" that has "automatic updates". By keeping your system updated, your hardware should stay updated.

If these steps don’t work, close that screen out by left clicking on the mouse in the upper right hand corner on the "X". You should be back on the screen that you started at that showed "view system information", under the "my computer" screen. On the right hand side of the screen you will see a section showing "other ". Under that is a section for "control panel".

1. Left click on the mouse, for "control panel".

2. On the "control panel" section, you should see a screen stating "pick a category". On the right hand side of the screen, shows a picture of a printer and a mouse. It states "printers and other hardware". On this screen, it shows the hardware that possibly is on your computer.

3. On the "printers and other hardware", you can see on the left hand side of the screen, several of other options such as "system", which takes you back to the system properties where you saw the tab for "hardware". You can add hardware or check other information. Below that should show "troubleshooting"

4. If you left click on the mouse for "troubleshooting", you can fix any hardware problem such as your keyboard or mouse. You can also left click on the mouse for "help and support". This will take you to a screen that will ask you to put a check mark next to a question that "Windows" asks. This screen will help to diagnose any issues you are having with any hardware.

Hopefully these steps will help in solving any unknown hardware issues. If you have a "Mac" you will probably not encounter any hardware issues unless the mouse isn’t working.