Device drivers are files that connect hardware to an operating system. Common components needing drivers include keyboards, mice, and graphics cards. Laptops have proprietary drivers, and updated drivers can fix issues. Drivers are self-installing and can be checked in Device Manager on Windows.
Device drivers are small files that act as “links” between the hardware in a computer system and the operating system (OS). The hardware requires these drivers so that the operating system can “see” the devices and manage them effectively and efficiently.
Common components that require drivers include keyboards, mice, controllers, graphics cards, sound hardware, ethernet hardware, wireless cards, ports, card readers, card slots, and CD/DVD drives. Windows operating systems typically include many device drivers by default so that the operating system can instantly recognize many types of desktop hardware components and implement features. Hardware added later may require drivers to be installed before it can be used.
Device drivers for laptops are proprietary, installed by the manufacturer at build time. Unlike a desktop computer, if a laptop hard drive is erased or reformatted, it will need to relearn all basic drivers. This usually means going to the manufacturer’s website and downloading them, then installing them alongside a new operating system.
Sometimes device drivers don’t work as expected or conflict with other components. Manufacturers improve drivers just like programmers improve software. An updated driver can take care of erratic behavior or “bugs” in a component. For example, if a mouse isn’t working as expected or has intermittent problems, it might be worth checking the manufacturer’s website for an updated driver.
Drivers can be downloaded like any other file and are self-installing. Most drivers come in the form of an “.exe” or executable file. Clicking on the file will launch an installer. The program normally checks the system first to make sure the new driver is appropriate for the installed hardware. Installation takes seconds or less, but a reboot is usually required to start using the new driver.
One way to check device drivers on a Windows system is to access Device Manager. Device Manager can be accessed by right-clicking the My Computer icon, choosing Properties, and then clicking the Hardware tab. From the Device Manager window, highlight a hardware device, then right-click it. Choose Properties again, then click the Driver tab. Here you can see the device driver name and version number.
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