Noun

Wikipedia has an article on: Device driver

Singular device driver

Plural device drivers

device driver (plural device drivers)

  1. (computing) software, supplied with the operating system or by a hardware manufacturer, that communicates between the operating system of a personal computer and a specific hardware device

From Wiktionary under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Sat Feb 13 15:20:18 2010

In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device.

A driver typically communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects. When a calling program invokes a routine in the driver, the driver issues commands to the device. Once the device sends data back to the driver, the driver may invoke routines in the original calling program. Drivers are hardware-dependent and operating-system-specific. They usually provide the interrupt handling required for any necessary asynchronous time-dependent hardware interface.

Purpose

A device driver simplifies programming by acting as a translator between a hardware device and the applications or operating systems that use it. Programmers can write the higher-level application code independently of whatever specific hardware device it will ultimately control, because code and device can interface in a standard way, regardless of the software superstructure or of underlying hardware. Every version of a device, such as a printer, requires its own hardware-specific specialized commands. In contrast, most applications utilize devices (such as a file to a printer) by means of high-level device-generic commands such as PRINTLN (print a line). The device-driver accepts these generic high-level commands and breaks them into a series of low-level device-specific commands as required by the device being driven. Furthermore, drivers can provide a level of security as they can run in kernel-mode, thereby protecting the operating system from applications running in user-mode.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Sat Feb 13 15:20:43 2010

Are Catalyst and Device Driver two different things?
Q. I have two 4870s in crossfire mode. I apparently updated my drivers to the most recent version. However when I look in ATI Catalyst Control Center, it says my catalyst version is 09.3 (latest), but my Driver Packaging Version is 8.591. This does not match up. Are they supposed to be different numbers? I thought when I update to 9.3 it will say 9.3 in device manager in windows, but it only says 8.591. Is this normal?
Asked by younggrasshoppa8 - Fri Mar 27 12:28:39 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. That's normal. Catalyst is the ATI control panel. The driver is the actual video card driver that Windows uses.
Answered by Mercuri - Fri Mar 27 12:35:18 2009

why operating system require the loading of device driver before a peripheral can be used?
Q. Why does an operating system require the loading of a device driver program before a new interface or peripheral can be used
Asked by megha L - Sun Mar 1 08:35:48 2009 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Check below URL for your ref:
Answered by Abdullah Ebrahim - Sun Mar 1 08:57:46 2009

Can anyone tell me how to fix an error caused by a device driver?
Q. I was working late at niight and the problem started the screen went dead. There was still power to the notebook but no response. Then it gave me a blue screen, then restarted. It said it recovered from a serious error. Microsoft it was caused by a device driver, but couldn't fix it. Do you know what that driver is? I was nine minutes away from completing my backup when it crashed.
Asked by matt c - Tue Jun 5 01:39:08 2007 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. On the boot up of the computer hit F8 and boot to safe mode. find out if there is any updates for your devices if you find one, install the device in device manager which will install the Microsoft default if needed. boot to normal mode and install the new driver. If this doesn't fix the issue you probably need to contact a technician to fix the issue because it gets more complicated from this point on
Answered by NeonLights - Tue Jun 5 01:45:43 2007

From Yahoo Answer Search: "device driver"
Tue Mar 9 06:20:38 2010

See also:

  • PC Driver DoctorPC Driver Doctor
    pcdriverdoctor.com
    Provides a driver download utility to locate the latest drivers for PCs. Offers free scan to locate latest drivers. You need to pay to actually download the drivers, or you can get them yourself.
  • DriverRequest.comDriverRequest.com
    driverrequest.com
    Volunteers locate any device driver for free.
  • UpDriversUpDrivers
    updrivers.com
    Provides 40000 drivers for free download from the site after you skip the ads.
Custom search only device driver sites:

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Fri Feb 19 15:29:23 2010
Calling All Cabbies: Remove Device From Ear. Now. - New York Times (blog)
news.google.com
Calling All Cabbies: Remove Device From Ear. Now.

New York Times (blog)

In fact, any electronic device in the immediate proximity of the driver's ear is now forbidden by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. ...

New laws in effect for nyc taxi drivers TV.com

New Fines for Mobile Devices Silence City Cabbies Gothamist



all 7 news articles »
CUP: Drivers Take Lumps At Daytona - FOXNews
news.google.com
CUP: Drivers Take Lumps At Daytona

FOXNews

And, in the easiest pairing for the two, both require the use of engine restrictor plates, the power-sapping device that keeps race cars most of the time, ...



and more »
Snow-laden roof collapses, killing man: Burlco school-bus driver, 51, on porch ... - Philadelphia Daily News
news.google.com
Snow-laden roof collapses, killing man: Burlco school-bus driver , 51, on porch ...

Philadelphia Daily News

Manning said the crews eventually used an inflatable device to lift the roof and cut part of it away before taking Boles through the home and out a ...



and more »

From Google News Search: "device driver"
Sun Feb 14 17:26:05 2010

Device Driver S jpg
advantech.com
Device Driver S jpg
151px x 150px | 31.60kB

[source page]

Device Driver and Utility

usb device 2303hx driver instal03 png
panther-mobil.com
usb device 2303hx driver instal03 png
446px x 657px | 78.20kB

[source page]

usb device 2303hx driver instal03 png

19432d1186813765t nforce2 usb driver conflict issue abit device manager jpg
aoaforums.com
19432d118681376​5t nforce2 usb driver conflict issue abit device manager jpg
196px x 300px | 17.00kB

[source page]

Attached Thumbnails

From Yahoo Image Search: "device driver"
Tue Jan 12 22:11:20 2010

user space control for device driver
cboard.cprogramming.com
user space control for device driver

itisravi

hu, 25 Feb 2010 15:33:04 GM

Hello, I'm currently learning how . device drivers. are written for Linux (and have to write one shortly). From what i understand, the final control.

 HP OfficeJet J6480 All in One Printer Locating Device Drivers
replacelaptop.com
HP OfficeJet J6480 All in One Printer Locating Device Drivers

unknown

ue, 23 Feb 2010 07:41:14 GM

The Importance of Updating HP . Device. DriversIt is essential to ensure your HP OfficeJet J6480 All In One Printer . drivers. remain updated. When you bought your.

 Driver Checker 2.7.4 Full
digital-kaos.co.uk
Driver Checker 2.7.4 Full

Audel

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:08:02 GM

Driver. Checker 2.7.4 Full | 6MB . Driver. Checker is excellent in the aspects of functioning, looking, and organization. It not only contains the advantages of the standard Windows . Device. Manager, but also has its own advanced features, ...

From Google Blog Search: "device driver"
Wed Mar 3 23:26:07 2010