Hardware drivers are programs, bundles of code that tell one machine (usually a computer) how to interact with other machines like printers, cameras, scanners and monitors that connect via a port on the computer.

One of the reasons Windows takes up so much room on your hard drive (Vista requires about 4GBs of disk space to install) is that Microsoft has tried to include many drivers for common hardware in the operating system. This means that when you plug your new monitor in, Windows will most likely have a driver available for it already available. Windows will search its installed driver database and apply the most appropriate one. It may not be the best driver for your device. We’ll get to that in a moment.

A common frustration with other operating systems like Macintosh and Linux is that quite often the best drivers are not available for those systems. Writing driver software is hard work, so it’s often performed only for the most popular operating system. Usually the code is propriatory. This means coders who want to write drivers for the Mac or for Linux can’t access the driver application in order to adapt it to a non-Windows system. Mac and Linux users are often forced to use generic drivers that don’t provide the functionality that drivers written for Windows do.

Many devices require specific drivers in order to access all their functions. Extra buttons on a mouse won’t work with generic drivers. Multi-function printers need a driver that tells the computer how to use all its functions. Generic drivers or drivers provided with Windows are usually not specific enough to get full use out of your hardware.

This is why I recommend checking, every six months or so, with the device’s manufacturer for the latest driver specific to your device. Go to their website and look for a “Downloads” or “Support” section. You should know your device’s exact model so you can download the driver best suited to your hardware. Most drivers download as executable files (.exe) that you simply need to click on after downloading. They’ll install the drivers and any additional software your hardware needs to function properly.

There are times you’ll need to reinstall drivers. You may get a new computer you want to use your current printer with or you may want to use your camera with your laptop. Maybe Windows just lost track of your device’s driver, or you’ve had to reinstall Windows and now need to reinstall all your hardware drivers. Sometimes you can’t even use your computer until you install the correct driver especially in the case of monitors or ethernet cards. You’ll need to use another computer to download those drivers and transfer them to the computer that needs them.

My suggestion is to buy a USB memory stick. A 2GB stick would likely work, but with prices low these days why not pick up a 4GB stick so you know you have enough space for all your drivers. Use a silver Sharpie to write “drivers” on it so you know it’s your driver storage device. Then download all the latest drivers onto it. Keep it in a safe place where you can find it when you need to install a driver onto your computer. Every six months or so update the drivers on your USB stick.

Using this tip can prevent a lot of frustration the next time you need the best driver for your hardware.