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.

 Understand the new features for installing and updating devices and drivers.

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 Whats New later in this chapter.

 View the devices installed in your computer.

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.

 Understand how Windows 2000 Professional implements Plug and Play.

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 new hardware devices and update device drivers.

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.

 Configure and customize your devices.

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.

 Troubleshoot problems with hardware devices and device drivers.

Some problems are caused by outdated device drivers or by incorrectly configured device settings.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.