subject: How to Install Device Drivers For Keyboards, Monitors and Pointing Devices [print this page] How to Install Device Drivers For Keyboards, Monitors and Pointing Devices
A computer operating system interacts with a wide range of software applications and hardware devices. In order for the system to understand how the hardware works, it must have information on each device connected to the computer. This information is provided by files known as device drivers. Each piece of hardware needs a device driver to function accordingly on a computer.
Input and Output Devices
Keyboards, mice and touchpads are known as input devices. Hence the name, these devices are used to input information into a computer. Display devices such as monitors are known as output devices, which mean they output or display information.
For the most part, all you have to do is plug in a mouse, keyboard and monitor, as these devices generally fall into the category of plug-and-play hardware. With these types of devices, you typically will not have to manually install device drivers because the operating system recognizes and installs them automatically. In the event that these devices are not recognized, installing the appropriate drivers to your computer is no difficult task.
Manually Installing External Devices
If you want to install an external device, such as a USB mouse, simply plug it into a free USB port on your computer. If it is not a plug-and-play device, it will not be recognized by the operating system. This calls for you to insert the installation disc and follow the prompts for the setup process. After installation and setup is complete, you will be prompted to reboot your computer. Even if no prompt is displayed, it is always recommended to restart the system so the changes can take effect.
Regularly Updating Your Devices
While installing a mouse or keyword is relatively easy, sometimes their device drivers need to be updated to enjoy optimal performance. For example, installing a new piece of hardware could overwrite the device drivers for your mouse. In addition, some drivers simply become outdated because of upgrades performed by the manufacturer. Many times, manufacturers update device drivers to give their hardware added functionality or address known problems. Installing the updated drivers is typically enough to fix all the issues you are experiencing.
How to Install Device Drivers
Updating the for your keyboard, mouse or monitor is as simple as taking a trip to the Device Manager. To access this utility, open the "Control Panel" and click on "Device Manager." In this window, you will see a list of all the devices installed on your computer. You can find keyboard devices under "Keyboards," mouse devices under "Mice and Pointing Devices" and monitors under "Monitors." Other than the different categories, the steps for installing their device drivers are exactly the same.
