Printer Drivers

Are you experiencing problems with your computer printer? Or are you thinking of buying a new printer? In either case, you may need to deal with a printer driver issue. Or perhaps you just need to upgrade your printer driver. If you’re not really sure what a printer driver is or does, just read on.

What exactly is a printer driver?

A printer driver is simply one variety of what are called “device drivers”. Device drivers are “small software programs that explain to your computer how the hardware works”.(No Device)

Peripheral devices such as printers, keyboards or cameras cannot directly communicate with the operating system of your computer. The device drivers are often called translators or interpreters as they allow the operating system of your computer to communicate with a particular device. A printer driver “converts the data to be printed to the form specific to a printer”. (Wikipedia)

What does a printer driver do?

The printer driver interprets or translates signals sent to the computer through the printer cable and tells the computer how a specific printer works. Information can include such items as the functions and capabilities of a particular printer, how to access data and control printing options.

The printer driver can control and set printing options such as the paper size, print quality, etc for a specific printer, meaning you don’t have to deal with setting up all the details every time you want to print something.

How do I get a printer driver?

If you buy your printer new, you will generally get a CD-ROM or floppy disc that contains the printer driver. These will generally install automatically once you insert them into the drive. If you have a pre-owned computer or printer, you may need to install the correct printer driver, or an updated version. It is very important that you only use the printer driver for the specific manufacturer and model of your printer. Every model or version of printer uses specific commands and using an incorrect driver may cause problems with your printer or computer system.

If you need to find a printer driver for a particular printer, you will probably be able to find it online and download it. You will need to know the manufacturer and model number of the printer. In most cases, you will be able to find the driver you need on the manufacturer’s website. For example, if you have a Hewlett Packard printer, you can simply go to the HP website and there is a section titled “software and driver downloads”. Most companies should have a similar “support” or “driver downloads” section.

If you should have an older or discontinued model of printer and can’t find a manufacturer’s driver download, there is another option. There are Internet sites such as Cnet Download.com and Printer-drivers.com which list hundreds of printer models and have drivers available for download from even some of the most uncommon and obscure companies.

Can I install a printer driver myself?

In most cases, if you can push a button, you can install or download a printer driver quickly and easily. “Most drivers come in the form of an “.exe” or executable file. Clicking on the file will launch an installation program.” (Wise Geek)

If you’re working with a CD-Rom or floppy, you simply have to follow the screen prompts.

And if you have Windows XP, it’s even easier as the installation wizard will guide you through the process. “For inexperienced users, it is probably best to let Windows XP’s wizard install the hardware driver for you.” (Wise Geek)

Why would I need to change or update printer drivers?

Well, of course, anytime you change printers, you would need to add a new driver for the new printer. In addition, it is always a good idea to check the manufacturer’s site and see if there are updated driver versions available for your printer. Manufacturers generally bring out driver updates fairly frequently as there may be bugs or errors in older versions. “Driver software is just as prone to errors and compatibility issues as any other software.” (PC Nine One One)

In some cases, printer or other device drivers may conflict or be incompatible with other components, causing system errors or non-functioning of devices. If you experience problems with your printer or computer system, you might want to check and see if an updated driver is available. Drivers from manufacturer’s websites are generally the newest versions available. This applies even if you bought your printer new and just installed the driver that came with it. “Even when you buy a new piece of hardware…most of the time the driver is already outdated by the moment you open the box.” (PC Nine One One)

And, just as a general security precaution, always remember to virus scan any files you download.