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Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.

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What is a driver?

A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or devices. Without drivers, the hardware you connect to your computer—for example, a video card or a webcam—will not work properly.

In most cases, drivers come with Windows or can be found by going to Windows Update in Control Panel and checking for updates. If Windows doesn't have the driver you need, you can find it on the disc that came with the hardware or device you want to use, or on the manufacturer's website.

Illustration showing how drivers allow communication between hardware devices and the computer where they are installedA driver is a small software program that allows a hardware device to communicate with a computer

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