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Device Drivers and Windows OS- How It Works?
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Posted On :
Jul-30-2011
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Article Word Count :
523
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Windows drivers are essential part of Windows computers which need to be updated to use the driver to the fullest.
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Printer, scanner, webcam and other computer appliances comes with a CD or DVD that contains Windows Drivers and Application to manage the device. So what is the use of this Windows Driver to the Device? Let us first define what a Device Driver is first.
Wikipedia.com defines Windows Drivers as:
“A computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device.
A driver typically communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects. When calling a program invokes a routine in the driver so the driver issues commands to the device. Once the device sends data back to the driver, the driver may invoke routines in the original calling program. Drivers are hardware-dependent and operating-system-specific. They usually provide the interrupt handling required for any necessary asynchronous time-dependent hardware interface.”
I would simply say that this is a small application specially designed by the manufacturers to allow the communication between the device and the operating system. These drivers are device and Operating System specific.
Windows Operating System on the other hand is also an application that acts as foundation of all other applications including the drivers. When Device Drivers are installed into a computer, it will then become part of OS system files. Windows OS are made by Microsoft.
Windows Operating System through the years had developed different versions starting from Windows 1.0 up to Windows 7, the latest version.
Windows Driver basic features
1. Identify the device to the Operating System
2. Translate input signals coming for the device if its an input device like keyboard, mouse, web cam or scanner, translate output signals coming from the computer if it is an output device like printer or monitor.
Advanced features
1. Manage or configure the device based on user requirements. Not all devices will have these features but devices like printer, scanner, web cam and other devices may come with device manager.
Microsoft Driver Database
Windows Operating System also maintains Driver Database for basic and commonly used device. Below are list of commonly used devices:
1. Mouse
2. Keyboard
3. Monitor
4. Hard drive
5. CD or DVD drives
6. Network adapters
7. USB Devices
So how to install Devices Drivers?
There are couples of ways installing device drivers.
1. Install or update device drivers using CD or DVD that comes with the device. This is the best option for new devices.
2. Install or update using downloaded latest driver version from manufacturer’s support page. This is the best the option for lost driver or old devices.
3. Use of windows Driver database. This is not the best option around as these drivers are generic and cater basic functionality of the devices.
4. Use of Device Driver Updater I myself have one of this. This is the best option if you are like me that want to keep device drivers updated to the latest stable release by just simply running the tool. This tool will do all the searching, verification and installation of required driver.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Device Drivers and Windows OS- How It Works?_70084.aspx
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Author Resource :
Use your computers efficiently with the right Windows XP drivers
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Keywords :
Windows Drivers, Device Driver Updated,
Category :
Computers
:
Software
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