What is another recommended action to take before installing a new sound card?

Before installing a new sound card, downloading the latest driver from the manufacturer's website is an essential step. Sound cards require specific drivers to function correctly, and manufacturers often release updated drivers to improve performance, fix bugs, or provide additional features. By ensuring that the latest drivers are downloaded beforehand, you can streamline the installation process. This preparation can help avoid complications later on, as using outdated drivers may lead to compatibility issues or suboptimal performance.

It's important to note that while running a virus scan can be a good practice in maintaining overall system health, it is not specifically related to the installation of a sound card. Disconnecting the power supply is critical for safety during hardware installation, but it does not prepare the system software for the new hardware. Installing additional RAM is a separate upgrade that may improve performance in certain contexts, but it’s not necessary for adding a sound card.