Dell PP24L manual Reinstalling Software, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers

Models: PP24L

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Reinstalling Software

Reinstalling Software

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.

Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed—no further installation or configuration is needed.

NOTICE: The Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft Windows operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

Upgrade your operating system.

Reinstall your operating system.

Connect or install a new device.

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

Microsoft® Windows® XP

1Click Start→ Control Panel.

2Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance, and click System.

3In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab, and click Device Manager.

Microsoft Windows Vista™

1Click the Windows Vista start button, Drivers, and right-click Computer.

2Click Properties→ Device Manager.

Reinstalling Software

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Page 107
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Dell PP24L manual Reinstalling Software, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers