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Autodetect refers to the ability of software or hardware to find changes to a computer system. It can detect new hardware, scan files, and adjust internal information. Plug-and-play is an older standard synonymous with automatic hardware detection. Hotpluggable devices can be connected and detected after the computer is running.
When it comes to computers, automatic detection is a general term that refers to the ability of software or hardware to find changes to a computer system. Most commonly, autodetect refers to a system in which a computer’s basic input and output services (BIOS), operating system, or busses can automatically identify when a new piece of hardware has been attached to the computer. This can be internal hardware such as random access memory (RAM) chips or an external device such as a printer, although the detection method may be different in each case. Auto-detection can also be used to describe the process in which software automatically scans newly introduced files, archives, or other media to determine if immediate action is required, such as may occur when a compact disc (CD) is inserted in one unit.
Over many years of development, autosensing went through several modifications and went through a series of standards until it reached a stable implementation. An older standard was known as plug-and-play, and while the standard was eventually dropped, the term remains synonymous with automatic hardware detection. Devices connected to a computer via a universal serial bus (USB) or FireWire® cable are often called hotplugs, indicating that the device is active when connected.
When the internal components of a computer are changed, very often the system BIOS will automatically detect the new hardware and adjust the internal information accordingly. This doesn’t eliminate the need for a user to provide appropriate software drivers for the hardware, but it does eliminate the need for other laborious tasks, such as setting switches on the motherboard. Autodetect can happen in a number of ways, but most often it involves receiving a signal across one of the buses on the motherboard. If new internal hardware is incompatible with a computer system, or if it is installed incorrectly, most often the result is a startup malfunction that will prevent the computer from starting properly. With some devices, such as hard drives or disk drives, the hardware is often automatically assigned a letter designation during startup so that it can be identified within the operating system.
Hotpluggable devices that use a USB or FireWire® cable to connect to a computer can be connected and detected after the computer is already running. A signal is sent to the computer indicating that a new device has been connected. The operating system or BIOS can then enter discovery mode, where it will poll for new hardware and get some kind of information about what new hardware is. At this point, the user can provide drivers for the new software to work, or you can allow the operating system to search for the correct drivers or install generic drivers so that the device can be used. Some non-standard, older, or differently designed hardware may not be detectable, in which case you must follow other procedures for installation.
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