Flashcard Set on Drivers in Operating Systems

Front

What is a driver in operating systems?

Back

A driver is a program that acts as an interface between a specific hardware component and software.

Front

What are the two types of drivers?

Back

Generic drivers and specific drivers.

Front

What are generic drivers?

Back

Generic drivers are of two types based on who designed them: Type I (by hardware manufacturers) and Type II (by operating system developers).

Front

What is the advantage of Type I generic drivers?

Back

They are the best because programmers have direct access to the technical specifications of the hardware chip.

Front

What is the focus of Type II generic drivers?

Back

They focus on compatibility with the operating system and stability, but less on performance.

Front

What happens when a user adds a new hardware component?

Back

The operating system searches its collection of drivers and installs a suitable one or starts a wizard to help the user install the driver from a CD.

Front

What are specific drivers?

Back

Specific drivers are provided by companies that assemble the computer parts and are based on Type I generic drivers.

Front

What is a disadvantage of specific drivers?

Back

They are released much later than Type I generic drivers, which may have newer versions available.

Front

What does the Windows operating system include regarding drivers?

Back

Windows includes many necessary drivers for hardware operation, but their performance is average.

Front

What is the recommended action for each hardware piece in Windows?

Back

It is necessary to install the Type I generic driver for each piece.