Updating Drivers
Sun Review March 31, 2001

Every device connected to your computer, whether it be a printer, keyboard or disk drive, requires a specific "driver" in order to operate correctly. A driver is a program that controls a device. Many drivers for basic devices such as a mouse are included with your operating system, but other devices usually require you to install new drivers.

A device driver acts as a translator between the device and the programs that use the device. As long as the device continues to work, chances are that you never even think about the driver. That probably also means that you may be using an older device driver. New operating systems, new programs and new hardware appear every day, and so do new drivers. If you're not using the most recent drivers, your peripheral devices may not be running at peak efficiency. There are many types of devices and drivers available, so you will need to exercise caution and common sense as you explore updating the drivers for your specific devices and system.

Driver updating involves three steps: determining the version numbers of currently installed device drivers, locating updated drivers, and installing the updated drivers.

Please keep the following cautions in mind:

1. Get the right version. Know the exact model number (and sometimes the serial number) of any hardware device before downloading new drivers.
2. Don't be a guinea pig - do not download beta drivers.
3. Follow directions. Read all the documentation and do what it says.
4. Uninstall old drivers first. Use the 'Add/Remove Software' option in the Control Panel, or go to Device Manager by right-clicking 'My Computer' and selecting 'Properties'.
5. Justify updating. If your sound card is working perfectly, why upgrade?
6. If you are unsure about your current driver, download software that will help you find your current driver version and manufacturer.

Visit these websites for more information:

Drivers Headquarters (drivershq.com), Updates.com, WinDrivers.com and DriverGuide.com

Questions or comments? E-mail inge@ingenius.bc.ca. or visit www.ingenius.bc.ca/webwoman.