Device or hardware drivers might be described as technological go-betweens. They’re simple software programs whose job it is to ensure that any hardware you install on your computer is recognised by your operating system. Without a driver your printer wouldn’t print, your scanner wouldn’t know which way was up and your sound card would be struck dumb and silenced forever. Even keyboards and mice require drivers to interact efficiently with your system and function properly. Microsoft Windows operating systems include a wide range of default drivers so that most commonly used hardware installed will be acknowledged. When you set up new hardware you may need to load the driver as well if Microsoft Windows doesn’t already have it stored. This can either be done by using the disc provided with the device, or you can download the appropriate driver from the manufacturer’s website free of charge.

So what exactly is a hardware or device driver? A hardware driver is basically a little piece of computer code in a file package. And while it is a relatively small bit of software it carries out an important task. It tells the computer’s operating system how to use a given device or piece of hardware.

Every now and then, a piece of hardware that has been performing well for years might need a driver update. Bugs in driver software can cause glitches, but most device and hardware manufacturers are quick to rectify these situations and release new and improved versions of the software frequently. Computer viruses or software hiccups can also corrupt hardware drivers. Again, manufacturers generally make updated drivers available at no cost on their websites so it’s easy to troubleshoot driver-related problems.

Common components that need drivers to function are keyboards and mice, as mentioned above, controller devices, graphics cards and audio hardware. Ethernet devices, ports, card readers and disc drives also require individual drivers. In the case of laptops, the manufacturer usually installs drivers when the system is built. If the hard disk of a laptop is ever wiped or requires reformatting, the drivers will need to be reinstalled. This is not necessarily the case with all desktop computers.

On occasion device drivers can conflict with other computer components. In most instances uploading and installing the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website will solve the problem.

All drivers for the hardware on a computer can be accessed via the Device Manager that features in all versions of Microsoft Windows. To check the status of or find details about a particular driver go to Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager.