Printer Drivers

A device driver is a computer software application designed to facilitate communication between a hardware device or peripheral and the operating system. When an individual needs to print a document, the individual communicates the command to the PC and the software or printer driver, translates the command and sends it to the appropriate peripheral which is in this case, a printer. Printers differ from manufacturer to manufacturer and by printing modality. Although, there are some basic similarities or operating protocols that will remain the same regardless of the manufacturer, each manufacturer attempts to establish a competitive edge either through modality or through proprietary design. Since, the differences in the designs are proprietary, printer drivers are employed to communicate how each manufacturer’s printer should communicate with the operating system.

There are several types of printer designs that manufacturers have employed to meet certain needs of the consumer and also establish a competitive edge. Some of these types of printers are the dot matrix printer, the ink jet printer, monochromatic laser printers, color printers PostScript printers, and even printing fax machines.

Each of these various printers require a different printer driver in order for the operating system to determine how to format the information in a language the printer will understand.

Common Driver Problems

If the wrong printer driver is installed, most times the printer will not work at all. Other times the printer will yield an undesirable output, such as a garbled post scripting language, upon request.

The user may encounter driver errors when one or more of the following errors are true:

1. Conflicts between two or more drivers caused by missing or busy resources
2. Missing drivers
3. Corrupted driver files
4. Poorly designed drivers that reduce a system’s stability and performance
5. Incompatibility with the operating system or hardware device
6. Problems in the Windows Registry

Stop errors and printer driver errors indicate a problem with the driver itself.

Troubleshooting Printer Driver Errors

If there is a stop error or printer driver error, the individual can perform one or more of the following troubleshooting techniques to isolate and repair the problem. If the user does not receive this type of error or the problem is not resolved by troubleshooting, it could simply be a hardware problem with the computer, a power problem, or a host of other possibilities unrelated to the driver.

Begin by checking the device settings. Go to the Control Panel. Open the System Properties dialog. Use the Device Manager to browse through the categories to identify any conflicts. Select the problematic device for more information on the problem.

Many times faulty device drivers are the source of hardware. There are three ways to alleviate corrupted driver problems:

1. Upgrade the printer driver to a new version
2. Reinstall an older version of the printer driver
3. Reinstall the existing printer driver

The Device Manager typically keeps track of existing and previously installed printer drivers if the user needs to access them. To obtain an upgraded driver, the consumer can typically obtain it from the manufacturer’s website.