Computer drivers are programs that control devices on your machine. All the devices on your computer, such as the printer, disk drive or the keyboard, must have a driver program. Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, are already installed and come with the operating system when you first get the computer. The purpose of a device driver is to simplify programming by acting as a translator between the hardware and the applications or operating systems that use that hardware.
Drivers operate in many different kinds of environments. Devices that they interface with include:
- Printers
- Video adapters
- Sound cards
- Network cards
- Computer storage devices
- Digital cameras
- Image and picture scanners
When you buy any computer hardware, they will almost always come with a CD (in the past it would have been a floppy disk) that contains the driver. Your computer will automatically install the driver when it is inserted into the drive in your machine. In recent years, drivers can be installed using your internet connection rather than relying on a physical disk such as a CD.
If you are having difficulty locating and installing a driver for one of your devices, then try to find out the model number and manufacturer. If you do an online search using the model number, you should be able to find answers about how to find and install its driver.
Drivers operate in many different kinds of environments. Devices that they interface with include:
- Printers
- Video adapters
- Sound cards
- Network cards
- Computer storage devices
- Digital cameras
- Image and picture scanners
When you buy any computer hardware, they will almost always come with a CD (in the past it would have been a floppy disk) that contains the driver. Your computer will automatically install the driver when it is inserted into the drive in your machine. In recent years, drivers can be installed using your internet connection rather than relying on a physical disk such as a CD.
If you are having difficulty locating and installing a driver for one of your devices, then try to find out the model number and manufacturer. If you do an online search using the model number, you should be able to find answers about how to find and install its driver.