How to install drivers on a new motherboard

You can install a new motherboard while either building or rebuilding a desktop PC. If you plan to run your PC under Microsoft Windows, you also need to install motherboard drivers. For Windows, no motherboard is a "plug and play" device: a Windows PC cannot run correctly until you install its motherboard drivers.

If you plan to run your new PC only under a LInux distribution, such as Ubuntu or LInux MInt, you do not need to install motherboard drivers. Of course, if you plan to dual boot Windows and Linux, you do need to install motherboard drivers for Windows.

Each new motherboard ships with a driver-installation disc (CD or DVD). I developed and tested the below procedure on my rebuilt PC; your actual procedure will vary according your specific motherboard. Therefore, to install your motherboard drivers, do approximately the following:

1. Install MS Windows. Note: Do not expect your Windows PC to run correctly until after you install its motherboard drivers.
2. Insert the driver-installation disc, and then navigate to its contents.
3. Click Setup.exe to display a dialog window.
4. Click the Driver icon to list the drivers to install, such as Chipset, Display, USB2, Network Chip and HD Audio.
5. Select (checkmark) all drivers, click Install and then observe the installation progress.
   
6. After the drivers have installed, click Exit and then reboot your PC.
7. If your PC is not running correctly, repeat steps 3 through 6. (My PC required this.)