How to Install Broadcom Drivers

By Josh Baum

If your computer uses a Broadcom network adapter to connect to the Internet, you must download and install the appropriate driver before the device will work properly. There are three ways to do this: 1) You can allow Windows to try to find and install the driver automatically, 2) You can download and install the driver from the Broadcom Web site or 3) You can try to update the driver using the Device Manager. All of which are fast and simple.

Let Windows Install the Driver Automatically

Install the Broadcom device. In some cases, this is a simple matter of plugging a card into an available PC card slot. In other cases, the computer case must be opened and the device must be plugged into the motherboard. Use the instructions for your Broadcom device to complete this step, making sure to install the device properly before attempting to install the driver.

Start up the computer and make sure it is connected to the Internet.

Wait for a few moments after Windows boots up. In the system tray, located at the bottom right corner of the screen, you should see a notification that Windows has detected new hardware. Soon after that, you will see the New Hardware Configuration Wizard appear. Follow the on-screen prompts to authorize the Wizard to find, download and install the drivers for you.

Wait as the Wizard attempts to configure the device. This may take several minutes. When the Wizard is done, it will display a confirmation message that tells you whether the drivers were installed successfully or not. If they were, you're done. If not, try one of the other methods.

Install the Drivers From the Broadcom Web Site

Open your Web browser and navigate to the driver download page on the Broadcom Web site. You can find a link to this page in the "Resource" section below.

Browse through the listed drivers to find the one for your device. You must know the name of the device and its product number to find the right driver, so have the Broadcom device packaging, the device itself or your computer specification information handy when you do this. Click the "Download" link for the driver you need.

Browse through the list of drivers; you must choose the driver associated with your operating system. When you see your operating system listed, click the download link across from it to initiate the driver download. When prompted, click "Save File" to save it to your hard drive.

Double-click the file you downloaded to open it in the program your computer uses for opening .zip files. Click the button to unpackage the file, which may say "Unzip," "Unpack" or "Extract." When prompted, select your desktop as the extraction location.

Double-click the extracted file. Follow the on-screen prompts in the Broadcom installer to complete the driver installation process. You'll see a confirmation dialog box when the process is complete.

Update the Driver Through the Device Manager

Click the "Start" button in Windows, then select "Run." Type "devmgmt.msc" in the Run window and click the "OK" button.

Expand the "Network Adapters" entry in the Device Manager by clicking the plus sign next to it. Find the Broadcom device listed under this category.

Right-click the Broadcom device and select "Update Driver" from the list of pop-up options. Wait as the Device Manager searches for, downloads and installs any available driver updates. At the end of the process, you will see a dialog box either confirming that the drivers were successfully updated or that no new driver updates were available.

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