Printer drivers are software programs that
allow the computer and printer to communicate. These programs also
provide the user with an interface to configure the options of the
printer. Every printer model has its own unique driver program.
Printer manufacturers frequently update drivers to increase the
performance of the printer, add new and improved printer options, and
to address general compatibility issues. These drivers can be
downloaded from the printer manufacturer website. The process of
installing and updating a printer driver should follow the following
steps:
Step 1
Determine the version of the installed printer driver – All
printer manufacturers use version numbers to uniquely identify
print driver software. In general, the higher the version number
of the printer driver software, the newer the version. It is
important to know the version of the currently installed printer
driver to ensure that it will not be replaced with an earlier
version.
Step 2
Check to see if a newer, compatible driver is available – Use
a web browser to visit the printer manufacturer's website. The
URL for the site is usually www.manufacturer_name.com. If this is
not the case, use a search engine to find the manufacturer's
site. Since driver updates are fairly common, most websites will
have a link from the main page to the drivers (or support) page.
Once the driver page is found and a newer version of the printer
driver is located, be sure to research the printer driver to
ensure that it is compatible with the computer's operating system. Compatibility issues
include required operating system, system hardware specifications
(such as RAM, hard driver space, and so on), application issues, and
communication cabling.
Step 3
Download the driver – Once the user determines that the
driver is compatible with their system, it is time to download the
printer driver file(s) to the local machine. Be sure to download
all files that are necessary as well as any documentation for
installing the newer software. These items should be downloaded and saved to
a unique folder on the computer.
Step 4
Install the downloaded driver – Installing the downloaded
driver may be accomplished either automatically or manually. Most
printer drivers are "packaged" with extra software that, when
executed, will automatically search the system for an older driver
and replace that driver with the new one. Manual printer driver installation is accomplished by navigating to the Printers folder in the Control Panel. Double-click the
Printers folder, right-click on the desired printer, and click
Properties. Depending on the OS, the name of the tab to click on will vary (Windows 98 is the Details tab, Windows 2000 is the Advanced tab). Click on
New Driver and navigate to the location of the new driver.
Step 5
Test the newly installed printer driver – The final step in
updating a printer driver is to test the driver to ensure that it
is working correctly. It is recommended that multiple tests be run
to ensure compatibility. These tests should include using
applications to print different types of documents, changing and
trying out each printer option, and noting any problems that
occur. If there are problems once the new driver software is
installed, restart the computer and printer and run the tests
again. If the problems still arise, contact the printer
manufacturer or visit their website to report any bugs.
