Enterprise Storage Forum   Earthweb  
Events Research Images Premium Services Media Kit Network Map E-mail Offers Whitepapers Vendor Showcases
   subjects:
Search EarthWeb Network


IT Newsletters
CIO Digest
CodeGuru Update
C#/.net Tech Notes
Visual Basic Tech Notes
CrossNodes Networking
Windows Networking
Practically Networked
EnterpriseStorageForum (text)
EnterpriseStorageForum (HTML)
Optically Networked (text)
Optically Networked (HTML)
Datamation IT Management Update
Developer.com Update
XML Tech Notes
Gamelan Java Update
Goodies to Go
Web Design Goodies
Javascripts Update
JARS Java Update
OpenSource Update
OpenSource Project
SysOpt Tech Notes
Search for TERMS:
Enter a keyword...
 
...or choose a category
 

 driver
LastModified: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 

A program that controls a device. Every device, whether it be a printer, disk drive, or keyboard, must have a driver program. Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with the operating system. For other devices, you may need to load a new driver when you connect the device to your computer. In DOS systems, drivers are files with a.SYS extension. In Windows environments, drivers often have a.DRV extension.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver knows. In contrast, most programs access devices by using generic commands. The driver, therefore, accepts generic commands from a program and then translates them into specialized commands for the device.

Sponsored listings

Freight Shipping Services - Dependable, Low-Cost Trucking Services. US, Canada & Mexico. Request a Quote Today!

  Related Links

Drivers HeadQuarters 
The home page of Drivers HeadQuarters provides information on computer hardware drivers including BIOS updates, video adapters and monitors, printers, fax modems, network adapters, and multimedia devices.

Windrivers.com - device driver information 
A comprehensive resource for information about Windows 3.1, 95 and NT device drivers. Offers searchable categories for companies, products and FCC ID numbers as well as hard drive and memory specifications, and downloadable utilities.

Baseband Technologies home page
Baseband Technologies specializes in communications driver design development, and offers this page with links to their services and company information.

Mister Driver
Search engine for all device drivers.

The Driver Zone
Offers a quick way to find and download a device driver. Links to all the major hardware vendors will take you straight to the driver-download page.

Yahoo!'s drivers page
Yahoo!'s directory of drivers.

Windows 95 Driver Library
Simple step-by-step instructions on downloading and installing new drivers for your hardware. This library is hosted by Microsoft and updated on September 22, 1997.

related categories:

Operating Systems

related terms:

ANSI.SYS

ASD Agent

CONFIG.SYS

controller

device

ODI

safe mode

SP

virtual device driver

WDM

Shopping
driver Products
Compare Products,Prices and Stores

Shop by Category:
Sport and Outdoor
34408 Store Offers

Tools and Accessories
9370 Store Offers

Cellular Accessories
537 Store Offers

Sunglasses
495 Store Offers

Auto Parts and Accessories
166348 Store Offers







IT ManagementNetworking & CommunicationsWeb DevelopmentHardware & SystemsSoftware Development
Earthweb Homeglobe
IT Jobs Events Training & Certification


The Network for Technology Professionals

Search:

About Internet.com

Legal Notices, Licensing, Permissions, Privacy Policy.
Advertise | Newsletters | E-mail Offers