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How Did I Lose My Drivers?

The advent of computers and other electronic devices has brought a wealth of knowledge and items to enrich our lives. It has also worked to raise our level of stress when things don’t perform the way they’re supposed to. Computers, available in all kinds of shapes and sizes, are an excellent source of information. However, what do you do when something stops working?

All of the hardware on your computer, whether it is a sound card, video card or DVD player, is run by drivers. These drives serve to communicate between software applications and the hardware they’re linked to. Sometimes these drivers can disappear, and the hardware will no longer work. This can be frustrating as well as costly if you can’t solve the problem yourself. Sometimes drivers can fail just moments after previously working, making the situation almost maddening.

There are several reasons why these drivers can disappear. A driver can be functioning perfectly, then suddenly disappear. This can happen when installing software. Something can go wrong with the installation process, and the driver isn’t properly installed. If you look at the hardware in the Device Manager of your Control Panel, there will be a yellow question mark beside the device, showing there is an issue. The problem can usually be fixed by reinstalling the software.

Another issue that can make your driver disappear is compatibility. Sometimes upgrading a hardware item on your computer can result in the driver’s inability to communicate with the software. This can happen no matter if you replace the modem, keyboard or hard drive. You will usually get an error message stating that there is a compatibility issue. The driver can be upgraded by visiting the website of the part’s company. These websites usually have a download area with drivers for all of their products that you can access. You normally just need a model number. Downloading is simple as is the new installation process.

Drivers can become damaged during use. This can happen if the setup file is corrupted, resulting in a need for a new, clean file to be installed. Drivers can also be installed improperly, leaving a damaged file that needs to be reinstalled. If a fatal error happens during an installation, your computer will likely crash and display what is known as the “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD). If this happens, you may or may not be able to recover and restart your computer successfully, depending on which driver you were installing. If it is a major driver, such as a video card, you may have to go to a professional service to rescue the file.

When using your computer, it is important to protect your system with antivirus software, like System Optimizer Pro. Viruses and malware can both take a toll on your system, including all of your drivers. By taking care of your computer and staying aware of the signs of problems, you can ensure a system that will have a minimum of problems, and your drivers will no longer disappear.

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