Dell OptiPlex 740 User's Guide - Page 301

13 Reinstalling Drivers and the Operating System CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: You must use Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 1 or later when you reinstall the Microsoft Windows XP operating system. NOTE: If you installed a unique image on your computer or if you had to reinstall your operating system, run the DSS utility. DSS is available on your optional Drivers and Utilities media and at support.dell.com. 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 optional Drivers and Utilities media 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. Windows Vista 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 Start , and right-click Computer. Reinstalling Drivers and the Operating System 301