subject: The Importance Of Usb Drivers For Windows [print this page] In this day and age, it is not uncommon for the typical computer user to have a myriad of peripherals connected to their computer at any given time, especially with the advent of the USB port. These days a lot of peripherals take advantage of the Plug-and-Play convenience and capability of the USB port. However, while a lot of users now take advantage of the convenience that the USB provides, they are also ignorant of the importance of drivers where their USB ports and peripherals are concerned. This article will attempt to enlighten readers on the importance of USB drivers for Windows XP.
For the uninitiated, a driver is an essential piece of any hardware. It is a miniscule piece of code whose complexities actually determine the operation of any hardware that interfaces with the computer and operating system in general. Without drivers, practically every known hardware will be rendered inoperable and non responsive. This is in fact one of the more common problems that a lot of computer users face, but they have no idea what causes it or how to resolve the matter.
The same principle applies to any USB device or port. Because the USB is a hardware that needs to interface with the operating system, it requires a common set of instructions or language with which it uses to communicate with the operating system.
A common problem arising from a compromised driver is the issue of the USB device not being recognized by the operating system. Whether the device happens to be a printer, a scanner, a camera, or any portable storage device, if the driver is corrupt or missing, then Windows will not be able to recognize the device, even if it does detect the new hardware being introduced to the system.
Before you install any hardware, you will first need to install the drivers for it. This is to ensure that Windows will recognize the new device for what it is, so that you can avoid that pesky "USB Device Not Recognized" error popup. A key point to note is that older devices may not be recognized, as the drivers for them may already be outdated compared to the current operating system.
There are a few ways of going about obtaining the latest drivers that you require for your hardware. One of the ways is to do a manual search on the internet for the specific driver that you require. These drivers can usually be found on the manufacturer's official website, but they can also be located on third party sites acting as collectives, run by computer techies and enthusiasts who have the noble intention of helping others overcome their technical issues.
One infinitely simpler method is to download a driver scan program. A driver scan program makes the updating of any drivers easy, as it will go through your system and seek out outdated or corrupt drivers for all of your devices, and it will automatically download the necessary updates, with absolutely no hassle at all. Consider getting a driver scan software if you ever encounter a problem with your USB drivers for Windows XP.
Driver Helper's simple and friendly interface will show you exactly what you need to do to update USB drivers in less than two minutes with just a few clicks of the mouse button.
