How To Update Network Card Firmware

Drivers are software that Windows uses to communicate with your hardware, while firmware is software that is installed in a special memory chip on the network card and that controls all aspects of the network card’s operation. Updating to the latest drivers and firmware revisions can fix bugs, enhance compatibility, and add new features to the network card that can help you avoid further trouble.

You must download the latest drivers and firmware from the manufacturer’s Web site, and when doing so you must make sure it matches up with the exact make and model of network card you use. To find out this information, look for a sticker on the bottom of an external network card. For internal network cards, click Start, right-click My Computer, click Properties, and select the Hardware tab. Click Device Manager, expand the Network Adapters entry by clicking the plus (+) sign next to it, and write down the exact name that appears there.

Use the instructions provided by the manufacturer to install the drivers or firmware. This is especially important during firmware upgrades as mistakes during the process can render the network useless.