Device Driver Is Not Downloaded from the Windows Update Web Site

When you install a new device in your computer, Windows may connect to the Microsoft Windows Update Web site to download a driver for the device. When this occurs, it may appear that no drivers are found or downloaded.

This problem can occur if the connection to the Microsoft Windows Update Web site is not successful. The connection may be unsuccessful if you are using a proxy server to connect and the "Automatically detect settings" option is selected in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

To work around this problem, disable the "Automatically detect settings" option:

1. In Internet Explorer 5, click Internet Options on the Tools menu, click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.
2. Click to clear the Automatically detect settings check box, click OK, and then click OK.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

You may have no indication that this problem is actually a connection issue rather than a driver installation issue.

This problem occurs only when a new device is installed in your computer. If an "unknown" device is installed after you install the new hardware, install the device driver from the Windows Update Web site again.