PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchOn a new Windows 11 gaming PC, finish Windows’ first-use setup, connect to the internet, install updates, then identify your exact hardware before downloading drivers. Restart and check that graphics, sound, networking, and devices work. You do not need to update every driver or flash the BIOS just because the PC is new.
1. Finish Windows setup and get online
Follow the first-use prompts to select your region, keyboard, and network, then complete account setup. Windows 11 Home requires an internet connection and a Microsoft Account during first-use setup. A connection also lets Windows download updates and drivers.
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If Wi-Fi is unavailable because Windows lacks the network adapter driver, connect by Ethernet if the PC has a port. Otherwise, use another device to download the network driver from the PC or adapter maker’s official support page, copy it to a USB flash drive, and install it on the new PC. Microsoft documents this transfer method in its setup connectivity guidance. A USB drive is only a fallback; most PCs will not need one for setup.
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2. Run Windows Update before hunting for drivers
- Open Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates and let Windows download and install what it finds.
- Open Advanced options > Optional updates. Expand Driver updates if that category appears, select only relevant updates, and choose Download & install.
- Restart when updates finish, even if Windows does not prompt you to do so. Return to Windows Update and check again until no further updates are offered.
Windows 11 installs recommended drivers through Windows Update, but optional driver updates are not installed automatically; you must select them yourself. See Microsoft’s driver update instructions. An optional update is not automatically an essential update: if the device works and you are unsure what a listed driver is for, identify the hardware before installing it.
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Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so do not treat Windows Update on Windows 10 as a source of ongoing free security fixes. For Windows 11’s current requirements—including TPM 2.0 and UEFI with Secure Boot capability—see Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements.
3. Identify the hardware in your PC
Before downloading a driver, establish the exact model and Windows version it must support. For a prebuilt PC, start with the PC maker’s system information or support page; for a custom build, check the labels, order records, motherboard box, or the board’s printed model name. Confirm the graphics card, motherboard, processor platform, and network adapter. Do not assume the motherboard’s built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet is the adapter you are using if you installed a separate card or USB device.
Windows can help identify devices: right-click Start and open Device Manager. Expand categories such as Display adapters, Network adapters, and System devices. A device marked with a warning icon may lack a working driver. Device Manager is useful for checking what Windows sees, but the PC or component’s exact model and official support page are better guides for choosing a download.
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4. Get drivers from the right official source
Use the support page or driver utility for the actual PC or component, and select the package for the exact model and Windows version. For a prebuilt system, check the computer maker first: its driver may be customized for that model. Then consult the chip or graphics vendor when appropriate. Intel likewise advises checking the computer manufacturer’s driver first, or using Intel’s graphics driver installation guidance and official download tools.
There is no universal installer or mandatory order that applies to every gaming PC. Avoid installing several overlapping driver utilities just to see what they recommend. Choose the source that best matches the device and operating system, and prefer a PC-maker package when it is specified for your system. If you are weighing a vendor’s newer package against a more stability-focused one, check the vendor’s own description and whether you can roll back if a problem appears.
Graphics drivers
For a discrete graphics card, use the GPU maker’s official driver page or tool and confirm the card model and Windows version. If the PC uses AMD hardware, AMD’s Auto-Detect and Install tool checks supported Radeon graphics, Ryzen chipsets, and Windows version before offering packages. AMD describes its Recommended packages as stability-oriented and Microsoft-certified, and its Optional packages as newer with the latest features and bug fixes. That is AMD’s guidance for its packages, not a rule for other vendors.
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Chipset and motherboard drivers
Check the motherboard or PC maker’s support page for chipset and platform drivers that match the exact model and Windows version. The chipset package is distinct from the graphics driver; having one does not establish that the other is installed or current. If a particular device still has an error after Windows Update, use the maker’s page to identify the relevant driver rather than installing every listed package indiscriminately.
Network, audio, and other device drivers
Install a network, audio, or peripheral driver only when it matches a device in your PC and a need you have—for example, Windows cannot connect, sound does not work, or a device is missing or reports an error. The PC maker’s support page may provide a model-specific package; for an add-in card or peripheral, use that device maker’s official page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Restart and check the essentials
Restart after installing drivers that request it, then check the system rather than assuming every package worked. Windows does not publish one standardized first-boot checklist, but these practical checks catch common setup problems:
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- Updates: Windows Update completes without a pending restart or repeated failure.
- Graphics: The intended graphics card appears in Device Manager, and Windows offers the monitor’s expected resolution and refresh rate under Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Network and sound: Wi-Fi or Ethernet connects reliably, and sound plays through the expected output device.
- Devices: Device Manager has no unexpected warning icons or unknown devices. If one appears, note its name and check the exact PC or component support page.
6. Leave BIOS and firmware changes to a model-specific need
Windows 11’s UEFI, Secure Boot capability, and TPM 2.0 requirements are not a blanket instruction to update BIOS/UEFI or change settings on first boot. A firmware update should address a stated compatibility, security, or stability need for the exact motherboard or PC model. Follow that maker’s instructions and verify the model and update file carefully; do not apply a firmware package meant for a similar-looking board.
For Microsoft’s compatible-PC installation information, see How to Get Windows 11 for Your Compatible PC.
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