| Getting the right driver is essential for your computer | | | | upgrade or a hard drive formatting. Sometimes our |
| and your peripherals. It might even be detrimental to | | | | drivers are not compatible with new systems and |
| the health of your entire network. In this article you | | | | other times we need new copies just because there |
| will learn about what a driver is, what you need to | | | | was something corrupt on our computer that |
| know to determine what driver you need and where | | | | disrupted the integrity of the driver or deleted the |
| you can get the right device drivers for you | | | | software. |
| computer. | | | | If you don't install the right driver, not only will your |
| What is a driver anyway? A driver is a small piece of | | | | device be unlikely to work but you could cause other |
| software that is installed on your computer. It is | | | | problems. When a computer is looking for a device to |
| software that "drives" a device. Your computer | | | | initialize or command and it cannot find it, it can cause |
| needs to know how to get each individual device | | | | other networking problems including fatal errors. Be |
| working, whether it's installed or plugged in, so if you | | | | sure that when you download a driver, not only does |
| consider the driver as the instructional manual that | | | | the manufacturer and model number of the peripheral |
| your computer reads, you can get the picture. You | | | | match but also that the operating system matches |
| need the right device driver for your computer, | | | | as well. This is something that is discussed in more |
| because not all device drivers are created equally. | | | | detail on the website which is filled with information |
| The device is based upon both your device and your | | | | on how to find the right driver for your laptop. |
| operating system. A printer driver won't be the same | | | | There are programs that can help you find the right |
| for your Vista machine as a video card driver. | | | | drivers whether you are having problems with your |
| Without the right device driver, the computer | | | | computer after an upgrade or if you are determining |
| becomes illiterate. If you have drivers for the same | | | | what your requirements for upgrading an operating |
| device but on two different operating systems, | | | | system will be. Beyond this, manufacturers and third |
| there are differences. Some people will also describe | | | | party websites exist to guide you and help you find |
| a driver as a liaison or a translator between the | | | | the right driver. |
| computer and the peripheral. Anything you add onto | | | | You might require drivers for any number of devices |
| your computer can require a driver. Some items are | | | | including: monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, |
| considered plug and play but many require just a | | | | plotter, USB port, Bluetooth device, video cards, |
| small program to act as that translator or instruction | | | | PCMCIA cards and other hardware as well. But |
| manual. | | | | whatever you need it for, the golden rule is to make |
| You may need device drivers when you install a | | | | sure that the device driver is the right one or you |
| piece of hardware or plug it in. You may also need | | | | could end up with malfunctioning equipment, not to |
| device drivers when you do an operating system | | | | mention a bad headache. |