Quick Guide to Device Management
Windows 2000 Professional is designed to simplify the process of installing and configuring devices. Understanding how to correctly configure devices can help you avoid many problems; understanding how to reconfigure or update your hardware devices and device drivers is also important when problems do occur.
Windows 2000 Professional offers several enhancements for installing, configuring, and updating devices attached to your computer. Some of these features were available in Windows 98 but are new to users coming from Microsoft® Windows NT®.
See "What's New" later in this chapter.
Use the device tree to view the devices installed in your computer and to troubleshoot problems and update devices and drivers. You can also use the device tree to view devices that have been configured on your computer but are not currently attached.
See "Device Tree" later in this chapter.
Plug and Play support allows users to install and configure Plug and Play devices and drivers. Review the enhancements to the Windows 2000 Professional implementation of Plug and Play and learn about the device types that are supported.
See "Plug and Play" later in this chapter.
Install Plug and Play devices by plugging them in and turning them on. Use the wizards included with Windows 2000 Professional to install non–Plug and Play devices. Review update and installation options for device drivers.
See "Device Installation" later in this chapter.
Change or update device drivers, set up hardware profiles, or customize the behavior of devices installed on your computer. Configure your display or set up multiple monitors for use as a single desktop.
See "Configuring Device Settings" later in this chapter.
Some problems are caused by outdated device drivers or by incorrectly configured device settings. Review some of the most commonly encountered problems to troubleshoot them on your own.
See "Troubleshooting Device Management" later in this chapter.