Storage Drivers

The purpose of storage drivers are to control a computer’s data storage system. This includes hard disk drives (HDD), DVD and CD drives, as well as external hard drives, USB flash drives and memory cards. Every storage device is run by a controller, which is located on the device itself, in the case of external drives, or is located on the computer’s mainboard, in the case hard drives and DVD drives.

Due to the number of different controllers out on the market, the computer’s operating system needs a specific piece of software in order to operate the controller. This is known as a driver. The driver interfaces with the controller and allows the operating system to read and write data onto the storage media. In many cases, the drivers are already included in the operating system, but in some cases, drivers will need to be installed in order for the device to work properly. This is common in such devices as RAID controllers, which allow multiple hard drives to act as a single drive. Add-on cards will usually also need a separate driver installed in order to function properly.

Storage devices that do not have the correct drivers may have reduced functionality, may malfunction, or may not function at all. Missing drivers will usually result in the device not being able to detect the storage media, meaning that it cannot be used. Mainboards that support RAID will only allow for independent disk operation if drivers are not installed. Microsoft Windows operating systems will have an option to install RAID drivers before installing the operating system itself. Other operating systems will have similar options or may already have the appropriate drivers included.

Corrupt or incompatible drivers will cause the storage device to not work properly, cause system crashes and may even corrupt data stored on the device, making the stored information unusable. If a problem with a driver occurs, it is best to try and resolve it immediately, in order to prevent any data loss. If possible, remove the storage media. Removable devices include flash drives, external hard drives and memory cards. If the drive cannot be removed, back up the data if possible. Windows users may be able to get around corrupt drivers by booting into safe mode. It is also possible that the supplied drivers may also have a bug, in which case, it is important to get the latest version of the drivers.

Drivers are normally supplied along with a product if they are required, so missing drivers can normally be installed via the provided CD. If there is no CD, the manufacturer will typically have a site that users can download the drivers from. Contacting the manufacturer directly can also be an option. In the case of corrupt drivers, re installation normally fixes the issue. However, it may not be the storage drivers causing the problem. For example, a corrupt USB driver can cause a flash drive to malfunction, even if its drivers are good. It is important to keep this in mind. Lastly, the manufacturer’s website will typically have newer versions of drivers, so updating to the latest driver versions can help fix bug-related issues.