Whenever you install a new hardware device on your computer, drivers are used to detect the settings and act as a layer between the software and hardware. Without them, Windows would be unable to use devices like webcams, printers…you name it. In certain cases, the devices will be detected and noticed, but Windows won’t know how to operate them correctly.

Drivers can also become corrupt. They’re vulnerable to viruses and if you have a habit of deleting your core files, it’s possible to “break” a hardware device. At least until you re-install it, at least!

Never tamper with the driver files unless specifically instructed, as a slight alteration can cause them to fail completely.

You might be sitting there with a blank look wondering why you’re receiving driver errors when you haven’t actually edited them at all. The most likely answer is that the drivers are out of date and need replacing. Most manufacturers release patches to their drivers after the product has arrived in stores. The patches and fixes might be to improve the processing speed of the hardware, or to improve visual quality on a video card.

Hardware manufacturers can’t design with anticipation of what millions of customers are going to have configured on their system. You may experience problems installing a device if the driver is not recognised. Sometimes your system is a generation ahead of the device that you’ve purchased!

All manufacturers have websites offering the latest drivers and you should get in to a habit of browsing these from time to time and updating your driver library. The Windows Installer makes it easy to update drivers. Just download the zips and run through the quick installation. You’ll be asked to restart your computer for the drivers to load up properly. Once you’ve done this, you should notice that your hardware device is being recognised by Windows.

If you’re receiving an “Unknown Device” warning, that’s generally a sign that there’s a problem with the driver. Try re-installing the software that came with your device. Make sure not to connect it until you’re asked as this can interfere with the detection of the device.

Most driver problems are graphics related. Video cards are constantly on the change and technology advances over months rather than years. This can compromise the performance of your device. If you’re noticing slow cursor lag, display problems, and font contortion – there’s a pretty high chance that your video drivers are becoming obsolete.

Head on over to the manufacturers website and download the latest driver, being sure to look out for any operating system specifications that might be in place. Remember that Windows isn’t the only operating system and hardware manufacturers have to design for other platforms too! Some people have even tried installing the wrong drivers on their Windows OS!

Some developers now offer driver backup utilities to protect against virus attacks and corruption via malware. Discrete spyware is capable of jeopardising Windows’ communication with certain drivers. This can make it seem like the hardware is to blame when the real problem is buried somewhere in your downloaded files.

Run a regular scan of your system to locate and eliminate third party junk. Keeping a computer clean and free of malware should lead to much fewer driver collisions.

You should also remember to trust what already works. Don’t bother updating drivers if your current set is performing correctly. Newer drivers are just as likely to cause problems as the older kind!