How does drive work? Do I need to update device drivers and how? Driver: what is it in a general sense?

Computer driver is a type of software that has the purpose of telling the operating system how to operate the hardware. The driver is like a translator or intermediary between the hardware and operating system.

What devices are there drivers for?

For RAM(RAM) there are none. Drivers exist for all other hardware components. Naturally, the power supply does not need a driver, but this does not count, since the operating system does not have direct contact with it.

Most devices require common drivers, i.e. if the device is not complex, then the driver for it is basic. Therefore, the operating system installs most drivers automatically, and the user must/can install several additional drivers for more complex and/or specific devices.

Can a computer work without drivers?

No. Without drivers, your computer cannot function. Yes, right after Windows installations the computer works, but this is only because the main devices have already been detected and the drivers for them have been installed automatically, without user intervention.

Is it necessary to install drivers?

Actually yes, but not necessarily from a purely technical point of view, since Windows automatically installs drivers for all critical important components. Those. The computer will work, but its functionality will be very limited.

Let's look at the example of video cards. In order for you to be able to see anything on the screen, Windows uses a basic driver. However, if you want to do something more serious: enable Aero (in Vista or 7), have hardware acceleration video decoding, etc., you will need to install a driver. Another example would be sound cards, which are rather poorly supported in Windows. If sound card not detected, there will be no sound in the system. This is not fatal - you can work with a computer without sound, but you cannot work without an image on the monitor. However, we all understand how limited a computer will be if it cannot produce sound, i.e. from a practical point of view, the driver must be installed.

Do I need to install additional drivers if Windows has already installed everything and everything works fine?

As a rule, if an additional driver is available for a device from its manufacturer, then it is advisable to use that driver rather than the driver from Microsoft. However, there are some exceptions.

The first exception is network cards, whether standard or wireless. If network card is detected and everything works fine, then there is no need to install an additional driver because it is unlikely to offer anything more for the average user.

The second exception is CRT monitors. The most important thing for these monitors is to be able to operate without flicker, i.e. maintain a refresh rate of 100 Hz at the required resolution. Sometimes with the default driver installed, the monitor cannot run at 100 Hz with the required resolution, so you need to install a separate driver. However, in most cases everything works fine without additional drivers. This does not apply to TFT monitors as they will not flicker even at the low 60Hz refresh rate thanks to LCD technology.

The third exception is mice and keyboards. Windows recognizes and supports basic level absolutely all mice and keyboards, even those equipped additional buttons. However, there may be special driver(or application) from a mouse and keyboard manufacturer that offers additional options to configure these buttons. Fully gaming-oriented mice and keyboards usually have a lot of specific buttons, and for them to work, they definitely require installing a driver/application from the manufacturer.

For everything else, it is either necessary or preferable to install separate drivers.

How can I look at hardware components to know what drivers to look for?

By using specialized programs.

The best tool for this purpose is AIDA64 Extreme Edition. It is paid, but offers the most accurate and full information. All you need to do is go to the section (“Computer”) -> Summary (“General Information”).

Excellent free alternative is PC Wizard. The database of this program is not as accurate as the previous one, but it is good enough. The sound card information is not on the c tab. general information, and in the Multimedia window, i.e. you need to click on the icon with a note and a speaker.

Another good free alternative is HWiNFO. If you don't want to see detailed information, you can check Summary-only to see only basic information.

I have a device from an unknown manufacturer/brand and no program recognizes it. How do I know what it is and/or where can I find a driver for it?

Very often this situation occurs with webcams, but it can also happen with other types of devices from the most different manufacturers. One way or another, you can find drivers for unrecognized devices by their identification codes. Here's how...

Click right click mouse on Windows 7 orXP) -> “Management” -> “Device Manager”. Find the problematic device in the list of available categories, double-click on it, go to the tab "Intelligence" and select from the drop-down menu "Equipment ID". Use the manufacturer (VEN), device (DEV) and subsystem (SUBSYS) codes to try to find information/driver information for the device online.

Here is an example of my device:

Important information in this window are VEN_1969, DEV_1083 and SUBSYS_E0001458, i.e. almost the entire second line.

Where can I get drivers?

On the Internet, on the manufacturer's website. By manufacturer I mean the manufacturer of the corresponding chip, not the entire hardware. For example: if your video card is equipped with a chip from NVIDIA, but was manufactured by, say, MSI, then you need to look for the driver on the NVIDIA website.

In the case of motherboards, the situation is a little more complicated, because they usually contain more integrated components: a network card, a sound card and a USB controller are mandatory today (if 2.0 is recognized automatically, then 3.0 is not always), but can be and other integrated components such as the graphics chip.

Typically, drivers for all integrated components are available on the manufacturer's website motherboard, i.e. collected in one place. However, they are not always updated and therefore become outdated. To get the most latest versions Drivers should be checked on the websites of the manufacturers of the chips/components themselves.

What about the driver/software disc that comes with the hardware?

This is not the most best idea, since the most current drivers you will only find on the Internet. Drivers on disks become outdated over time, making them unpreferable. If you do not have access to the Internet and/or you need to install any drivers immediately (urgently), then you can use installation disk, but it will be good if you update these drivers as soon as possible.

Do you need to update your drivers regularly and stick to the latest versions?

This is not required, but is recommended. New driver versions add new features, functions, and eliminate errors and incompatibilities. Of course, there are no guarantees that new driver will be better than the previous one, and that you will feel the difference - it is quite possible that the new driver will be even worse, but this is the exception to the rule. It's generally best to keep your drivers up to date, although you don't necessarily need to update them on the same day new versions are released.

How to check driver version?

Launch "Device Manager": right-click on "This Computer" ("Computer" or "My Computer" if you have Windows 7 orXP) -> "Management" -> "Device Manager". Find the device whose driver you want to check, double-click on it and go to the tab "Driver". There you will find information about the date and version of the driver. In principle, the same can be done using specialized software to obtain information about the equipment.

How to install drivers?

Most drivers these days come with an installer that you simply run and it will guide you through the entire installation process. Some drivers do not have such an automated installer and are supplied in an archive. In this case, you should resort to manual installation through the “Device Manager”:

• launch "Device Manager": right-click on “This Computer” (“Computer” or “My Computer” if you haveWindows 7 orXP) -> "Management" -> "Device Manager";
• if the device is not recognized at all, it will be in the “Other devices” section, otherwise it will be in the appropriate category;
• right click on the device and select "Update drivers...";
• select "Search for drivers on this computer";
• then click on the button "Review" and specify the path to the driver (that is, the folder where you unpacked the driver files);
• you need to specify the folder that contains certain .inf files;
• when you press a button "Next" Windows will check the folder and install the driver;
• after installation click "Close" and restart your computer.

How can I return to the previous driver for a specific device if it does not work correctly with the new driver?

Again, this can be done through the Device Manager:

• right click on “This Computer” (“Computer” or “My Computer” if you haveWindows 7 orXP) -> "Management" -> "Device Manager";
• find desired device and double click on it;
• go to the tab "Driver" and press the button "Roll back"(To to the previous driver).

How to remove the driver?

Typically, drivers that have their own installer also have their own uninstaller. Not always, but often. If there is an uninstaller, to remove the driver you need to go to the same location from where you uninstall programs (“Add and Remove Programs” in Windows XP and "Uninstall or change a program" in Windows Vista/7/8/10).

However, these uninstallers do not always do their job completely, and some things may remain. Therefore, after removing the driver, it is recommended to clean the system using special applications.

For this purpose you can use .

Note #2

In progress Driver installation Fusion select custom type installation and uncheck the "Install PC Mechanic" option. Otherwise, this program will be installed along with Driver Fusion.

Working with the program is actually very simple:

• start the system in safe mode;
• launch Driver Fusion;
• select the category to which the driver you want to completely remove belongs;
• mark the required driver;
• click on the button "Delete"(Delete).

Device Manager shows an unrecognized device, but I know exactly what it is and I'm sure they won't use it. Do I need to install a driver in this case?

No. If you are 100% sure what the device is and also 100% sure that you will never use it, then you can safely not install the driver for it. This is even better, because this way you will save system resources and reduce the likelihood unstable work computer. Of course, not all drivers consume a significant amount of resources and not all of them are unstable, but if you are sure that you do not need this device, then you can skip installing the driver and can even disable it in Device Manager.

Is there a way to check how stable a driver is?

Yes, I have. Before describing the method, some things should be pointed out. The test is designed to test all drivers - not only drivers for hardware devices, but also drivers that are installed by applications (that is, all files with the .sys extension).

The test is not absolute. If a driver passes this test, it means it is stable on your computer installed in at the moment software. This also means that this driver should also be stable on other computers, but this is not guaranteed, since completely different drivers may be installed on another computer, with which conflicts may arise.

If you want to check more than one driver, it is advisable to check them one by one. Those. if you want to check the driver antivirus program and for the video card, it's better to check one first and then the other.

Basically, this is how testing is done:

• run Driver Verifier Manager:
• On any version of Windows, press the Windows logo key + R to open a window “Run” -> write "verifier" -> OK;
• on the first page select “Create non-standard parameters (for program code)” and click " Next»;
• on next page check the boxes next to the following options and click "Next":

For Windows XP: “Thorough, but possibly overly strict or unacceptable tests”;

For Windows Vista/7: and "journaling"IRP";

For Windows 8.1/10: "I/O check", "Force processing of pending I/O requests" And "journaling"IRP";

• on the next page select “Select driver name from list” and press "Next";
• now from the list select the drivers you want to check and when done click "Ready";

Note

If you want to check a driver that is not listed (sometimes drivers for some programs do not load), click the button "Add unloaded drivers to this list" and specify the required driver (.sys)

• then a message will appear asking you to restart your computer; restart the system so that during Windows boot could check the driver(s).

If the driver is unstable you will get blue screen during loading or shortly after loading. If Windows boots and works normally for several minutes, then the driver can be considered stable. However, if it fails (due to an unstable driver), then you should tell the Driver Verification Manager to stop checking. If the system won't boot, you will have to enter Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, run Driver Verifier Manager again, but this time select "Delete existing parameters» , press the button "Ready" and restart the system.

Is it fatal if the driver is unstable?

No, it's not fatal. Even if a driver fails this test, it does not guarantee that there will definitely be problems. This is very thorough testing and it is quite possible that during daily work With a computer, the driver will never be in a situation where it crashes during these special tests. On the other hand, this means that your system has a potentially unstable driver that may cause a crash at some point.

If you have suggestions, ideas and criticisms of the material, write in the comments below.

Have a great day!

Inexperienced PC users are often faced with driver installation questions: what is a driver? Why do you need a driver at all? Where to get and how to install drivers? And in general, what exactly do they eat this driver with?

What is a driver - a simple explanation

A computer is a whole set of devices, not just one device. Every device connected to a computer - a screen, keyboard, printer, video card and any other - requires that the operating system “understand” what can be done with such a device. The newly connected device is not yet known to the system. Windows simply does not “understand” what kind of new device was included in its equipment.

A driver is a program that allows the operating system to “talk” to the device. A kind of “translator” who is able to talk to Windows and explain to the system how to use the new device. Each device has its own driver. For a video card you need one “translator”, for a mouse - a completely different one.

How to install the driver?

For most devices, drivers are already included in the operating system. For example, when detecting new flash drive, Windows sends an electrical signal to it. As if asking: “Who are you going to be?” In response, the flash drive says: “I am a drive that is connected via USB interface, and to communicate with me, download driver No. 15619, which is in your archive.” In a split second, Windows finds required file, reads it, and finds out the entire work history of the flash drive, using all its capabilities. This is roughly how drivers are installed.

The fresher Windows version, the greater the chance that you will not need to install separate drivers for the newly connected device - they will be included in the operating system. For example, Windows XP can immediately start working with the vast majority of flash drives, but for the oldest Windows 98 this is an almost impossible task. Windows 7 contains a huge collection of programs for working with printers, scanners, video cards and other equipment. But the same XP does not recognize office devices such as office equipment, three-in-one, scanners, and other things so well. There is no such large collection of drivers in its depths.

What to do if the driver does not install automatically

However, many devices are unknown even to the most latest versions OS. Manufacturers release new printers every day, more modern video cards. Even ordinary mice “overgrow” a huge amount unusual buttons.

If the driver is not installed automatically, then in such cases a message that many people dislike appears on the screen: “The device is installed incorrectly.” This problem is easily solved - you need to install required driver. Install it manually, because the operating system has already informed you that its collection does not have a suitable “translator” program to work with this device.

Installing the driver from disk

For manual installation drivers, first of all, look in the box in which the device was sold to you. As a rule, CDs with programs recorded on them are supplied with the devices. After inserting the disc into the drive, answer a few simple questions systems that will appear in the Found New Hardware Wizard, and the driver is installed! And the questions are really simple - at the level:

• Do you want to install the driver now?
• I want to install the driver in the folder C:/Windows/Drivers. Can I install the driver there, or do you suggest another location?
• You will probably have to restart your computer after installation. Do you allow us to do this now, or will we reboot later?

There is no driver disk. Where can I get the driver?

If the device came to you without a disk or it was lost, then the latest version of the driver can always be found on the manufacturer’s website and downloaded from there. Look at the brand of the new equipment and look for the official website for that model. Simply enter the company name and device model into a search engine (Google or Yandex).

For example, let's try to install the driver for the network adapter. This is the internal structure of a computer, the connector of which is similar to a telephone “socket”, only slightly thicker and larger. It is inserted there network cable, and the computer connects to local network. By the way, this method of installing the driver is also suitable for any other device - webcam, mouse, modem. Just replace the name of the manufacturer and model with what is written on your device. It’s even better to immediately formulate a request that will lead us to the manufacturer’s official website. In our example, this will be “Realtek Ethernet controller official website”.

So, the computer detected a new device. And I couldn't install the driver for it. We don't have a disk at hand.

First, let's open Device Manager. This is a program that shows all the devices that make up the computer and that are connected to it. The Device Manager is called up like this: Right-click on the “Computer” icon, a menu will appear. In it you need to select the bottom line (Properties) and left-click on it.

In “Properties” you need to select “Device Manager” (also known as Device manager V English version OS).

This is what Device Manager looks like in Windows 7. It looks a little differently in Windows XP and other versions of the operating system, but the essence remains the same. Please note that at the very bottom line of Device Manager, a device called Ethernet Controller is highlighted. Uninstalled devices are always marked with a question mark or exclamation mark to the left of the device name. This means that Windows cannot really work with this device yet.

The first response from Yandex will lead us to the official website of the manufacturer. Please note that you should not pay attention to sites like “[email protected]”. They have nothing to do with the manufacturer's website. The maximum that they will advise is to download some kind of stupid program with incomprehensible tasks. From unknown source, By the way. You should always use only the official websites of the equipment manufacturer.

On the site, pay attention to the sections called “Technical Support”, “Drivers and Software”, “Downloads” and the like. On English-language sites, as in our example, look for the headings Download, Support, Drivers. And in our example, the website of the Taiwanese network adapter manufacturer Realtek already offers to choose the most popular queries users - pay attention to the lower right corner of the picture. What we needed was a driver " Realtek GBE Controller Driver". Let's click on it...

And select the desired operating system. This is Windows 7, in the case of our example. The very first link.

A window opens asking you to save or run the driver program. It’s better to select “Save”, because the driver may be useful someday. A few minutes (or seconds - it all depends on the speed of your Internet connection) - and you’re done. The driver is saved on your PC.

All that remains is to launch it by double-clicking on the driver file. Left button, of course.

The driver installation window will appear. A few simple questions...

And everything is ready! The device called Network Adapter has been successfully installed. It's ready to go. The driver is installed.

Finally about drivers

Experienced users prefer to install drivers not from the included disk, but to download the latest version from the official website - often this method allows the equipment to work faster, more stable, and sometimes even adds new features. Drivers are updated very often, so it's best to work with the latest version.

Finally, you can try installing the driver in semi-automatic mode. Using not the internal “collection” of Windows drivers, but a huge library from the Microsoft website. Read about such driver installation in the following article about drivers.

And one more thing. IN modern computer doing something wrong is a very difficult task. The computer will not deteriorate, will not break, and will not stop loading. Installing drivers only seems at first glance difficult task. Everything is very, very simple. There is no need to call a "geek" for this purpose. Installing the driver can be compared to wiping your computer from dust. Let's take it damp cloth, gently wipe, and electronic friend the family is sparkling clean again. Is it easy? Same with the driver. Installing it yourself is very easy. Don’t be afraid of anything and feel free to try: now the answer to the question “how to install the driver” is completely resolved!

Good luck with your experiments!

(from English driver)- This small program, which helps manage hardware devices in the operating system, and there are many of them in modern computer technology. The primary function of most drivers is to translate high-level programming languages ​​into electrical signals. High-level languages ​​are native to the OS and applications, but the hardware is used to understanding electrical signals. Drivers receive data from the operating system and translate it into bit streams located in special storage areas of drives or in a series of laser pulses, if we're talking about about the printer.

The driver ensures the interaction of the computer with equipment and devices. Impossible without drivers normal operation connected equipment, such as a video adapter or webcam.

In most cases, the driver is installed along with the OS. For example, let's look at Windows; drivers for this operating system can also be found using the Center. Windows updates in the Control Panel. As a rule, a driver missing in Windows OS can be found on the disk included with the equipment or device or on the manufacturer’s website.

Given that hardware devices vary quite a bit, each of them requires an individual driver. Most drivers are loaded when the device they control is needed. While the driver is running, the operating system sends it blocks of data containing high level priority. Based on this, hardware device will do its job as quickly as possible in a particular configuration.

Users very often experience discomfort that the drivers of many devices are not included in the operating system and it is necessary to monitor their updates, this is especially true for video cards. Constant updates drivers are necessary because they are often modified various changes, and if they were integrated into the OS, then each driver change would require modification of the entire operating system as a whole. In addition, driver development falls on the shoulders of hardware creators, not operating system developers. I think this is logical, since those who developed and tested the device itself for a specific OS should provide it stable work with the provided driver.

Will provide full compatibility and the functionality of the device with your operating system. If your device is not working correctly, most likely you need to update the drivers or install them. Drivers do not require user control, do not confuse them with accompanying software, just download the driver version for specific model device that matches your OS.

Do-it-yourself Windows 7 setup. How to make work easy and convenient Gladky Alexey Anatolyevich

Drivers and their purpose

Drivers and their purpose

To connect equipment to a computer, it is not enough to simply physically connect it to system unit. For the operating system to recognize this hardware, you must have special program– driver. Only after this the computer will “see” the equipment and be able to work with it in a single connection.

It is worth noting that the operating room Windows system 7 by default contains large number built-in drivers. When connecting new equipment to a computer, automatic search suitable driver for it, and in fact the user can only wait for the moment when the desired driver is selected and the screen displays information message that the equipment is connected and ready for use.

However, if the system was unable to find the required driver, it will have to be installed separately. In this regard, the question immediately arises: where can I get the necessary driver, and how is it installed?

Currently having trouble finding the required driver, as a rule, does not arise. Firstly, the new equipment comes with a CD, on which, in addition to other materials (operation manual, etc.), there is a driver distribution kit. Secondly, the driver can be found on the Internet - either on the equipment manufacturer’s website, or on other resources, of which there are a great many (for example, www . f reesoft . r , www . s oftodrom . r, etc.).

As for installing the driver, in most cases this does not present any difficulty. To install the driver, run the installation file and then follow the instructions of the Installation Wizard. If you are not very knowledgeable about computers, in particular, you have little knowledge (or no knowledge at all) of hardware installation issues, then it is not recommended to change the driver installation parameters that are offered by the system by default.

After the driver is installed, the equipment will be ready for use, and a corresponding information message will be displayed on the screen.