Drivers for Hardware

"Drivers" are software components that the operating system (Windows) needs to interact with the hardware located inside or attached to your computer. They are usually system files with *.drv, *.dll or *.vxd extensions. Your hard drive, USB ports, sound card, printer, mouse, camera, etc., all need drivers.

Your computer has drivers for all the hardware that came with it. New hardware almost always comes with the driver included. It usually is on a CD. Often Windows already has the driver already installed. This is especially true for printers, scanners and other universal items. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully for installing any drivers that come with your new hardware or peripheral.

Sometimes drivers have bugs or need to be updated. New drivers are available for download on the Internet. Check at the manufacturer's site first. If that doesn't work, try the resources below.

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