Drivers (of the PC variety) have developed a bit of a bad reputation over the years, because they can cause conflicts with Windows, but without them our PCs and peripherals would grind to a halt. Every piece of hardware attached to your computer needs to have the correct driver installed for it to function as it should – using the wrong driver, or one that has been damaged, can send a device doolally. But drivers are not as daunting as they first seem and, armed with the right information, you can keep your computer running as smoothly as possible, and get the best performance from hardware.
Good communication
Drivers, also referred to as device drivers, are small pieces of software that enable Windows to communicate with and control devices attached to the PC. Every piece of hardware, be it a graphics card, mouse or scanner, needs a driver to function properly. When the print option is selected in a program, it is the driver that tells the printer what to do.
There are a number of generic drivers built into Windows that provide basic support for the most common pieces of hardware, such as keyboards and mice. This means that as soon as Windows is installed, it is possible to use these devices without having to install additional software. But not all drivers are generic.
A basic driver will enable you to use the universal functions of a mouse and keyboard; but if these devices have extra buttons or special features, they require their own driver, so that the PC knows how to use the extra bits and bobs. Some drivers provide access to a range of options that enable you to adjust settings for the device.
With so much hardware attached to the average computer, it should come as no surprise that a large proportion of computer problems stem from drivers. Driver problems can rear their heads in a variety of ways – the most obvious being that hardware will stop working. However, an unstable system, random crashes and erratic performance can also be indicative of driver issues.
When you buy hardware, there is a high chance that it will come with an installation CD including the necessary drivers. As drivers undergo constant development and refinement, it may well be the case that the driver supplied on the CD is months or even years old.
Even if hardware appears to be working properly, it may still be worth checking to see if there is a newer driver available. The reason for this is that, just like with any other piece of software, bugs can be found with drivers, and a new version will hopefully address these issues. Additionally, a new driver can help to improve performance and stability.
There are a number of sources from which updated drivers can be obtained – the first of which is the website of the company that manufactures the hardware. In the case of graphics cards, two key players are Nvidia (www.nvidia.com) and ATI (www.ati.com).
Most hardware manufacturer’s websites include a download or support section where all the latest drivers can be found. Be sure to download the driver designed for the exact model of hardware you own. A quick way to discover this is to right-click on the Desktop, and select Properties. Click on the Settings tab and then on the Advanced button. Finally, click the tab marked Adapter; the information you’re looking for can be found next to Chip Type.
Drivers test
To ensure complete compatibility, Microsoft introduced the ‘signed drivers’ scheme. A driver that has been digitally signed has undergone rigorous testing by Microsoft to ensure that it functions correctly within Windows. Wherever possible, it is advisable to install only signed drivers as this minimises the risk of running into problems. Drivers downloaded from major manufacturers will usually be digitally signed, but in the case of some older or more obscure hardware this is not always the case. When installing unsigned drivers, Windows will warn of the risk but give you the option of continuing.
Another way to obtain signed drivers is to use the Microsoft Update website. Click on the Start button and select All Programs, then Microsoft Update and click on the Custom button. As well as searching for updates for Windows, your computer will be scanned to see what hardware is installed. Any new drivers will be listed in the Hardware, Optional section to the left of the screen, ready for download.
The fact that a driver has not been signed by Microsoft does not make it unsafe. In fact, with the large number of devices available for PCs, many manufacturers decline to submit drivers to Microsoft for testing. This is because the process can take months, so don’t panic if Windows displays a warning about unsigned drivers when installing new hardware.
Should you install a driver, signed or not, and run into problems, Windows XP includes a handy feature called Roll Back Driver which can get things up and running again. This feature enables you to quickly uninstall the troublesome driver and revert to the previous version. Open the Control Panel (in Classic View) from the Start menu and select System. Move to the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button. In the list of hardware displayed, locate the entry for the device which is causing problems and double-click on it. Move to the Driver tab and click on the Roll Back Driver button. Click on Yes to confirm the action and the older driver will be reinstated.
Drive safely
Drivers are essential for every computer, and they are not as daunting as they first appear. So long as care is taken to install the correct drivers for different hardware devices, installing updates should be painless and beneficial.
In the case of older hardware, it may not be possible to track down drivers from the manufacturer’s website. In such cases, driver database sites come in useful. Some sites worth visiting include Driver Guide (www.driverguide.com), Drivers Planet (www.driversplanet.com), Help Drivers (www.helpdrivers.com) and Driver Files (www.driverfiles.net). Take a look around and you’re almost certain to be able to track down the driver you’ve been looking for.
Windows Vista and drivers
It has been a long time coming, but the successor to Windows XP, Windows Vista, is now just around the corner. There will be 32- and 64-bit version of the new operating system, and 64-bit Vista will require the use of signed drivers. Both versions of Vista also handle drivers in a different way to Windows XP, separating them from the operating system. This means a driver will not be able to crash Windows. In many cases it will also be possible to install a driver update without the need to restart. A Crash Analyst team will monitor drivers that are causing problems and rate them accordingly. It is hoped the scoring system will encourage more companies to get approval for their drivers.
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