Almost all hardware made since 1995 is
Plug and Play (PnP), which means you can install a PnP device (plug it in) and use it (play with it) immediatelyno configuration needed. To work properly, Plug and Play requires:
A Plug and Play-compliant operating system, which XP is.
A device that identifies itself to Windows and lets Windows configure it and install its drivers. Look for the "Designed for Windows" logo when you buy.
The PC's system startup chip on the motherboard (called the
BIOS ) must be Plug and Play-compatible. Any computer with enough horsepower to run XP has a PnP BIOS.
The port or slot (discussed next) that a device plugs into may indicate its compatibility:
All USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Bluetooth, and PCMCIA (PC Card) devices support Plug and Play fully.
Most PCI and parallel devices are Plug and Play-compliant.
No ISA or serial devices are Plug and Play-compliant. Most such devices are old. If their manufacturers still exist, check their web sites for a Windows XP/2000/NT4 driver. If there's no such driver, you may need to replace the gizmo.
Windows XP's hardware compatibility is better than that of its parent, Windows 2000, but if you've upgraded from Windows 98/Me you may find that hardware that worked fine before abruptly ceases to.
First, check the manufacturer's web site for updated drivers. Then visit