Dell Dimension 8300N Owner's Manual - Page 61

Drivers, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers

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4 When the tests are completed, if you are running the Dell Diagnostics from the ResourceCD, remove the CD. 5 Close the test screen to return to the Main Menu screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer, close the Main Menu screen. Drivers What Is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program. A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes. Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed-no further installation or configuration is needed. NOTICE: The Dell Dimension ResourceCD may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system. Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft® Windows® operating system. You may need to install drivers if you: • Upgrade your operating system. • Reinstall your operating system. • Connect or install a new device. Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver. 1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance. 3 Click System. 4 In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab. Advanced Troubleshooting 61

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Advanced Troubleshooting
61
4
When the tests are completed, if you are running the Dell Diagnostics from the
ResourceCD
,
remove the CD.
5
Close the test screen to return to the
Main
Menu
screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics
and restart the computer, close the
Main
Menu
screen.
Drivers
What Is a Driver?
A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices
require a driver program.
A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the
device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.
Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed—no further
installation or configuration is needed.
NOTICE:
The
Dell Dimension ResourceCD
may contain drivers for operating systems that are
not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your
operating system.
Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating
system. You may need to install drivers if you:
•
Upgrade your operating system.
•
Reinstall your operating system.
•
Connect or install a new device.
Identifying Drivers
If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of
your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.
1
Click the
Start
button and click
Control Panel
.
2
Under
Pick a Category
, click
Performance and Maintenance
.
3
Click
System
.
4
In the
System Properties
window, click the
Hardware
tab.