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Device Drivers
Learner’s Module in
Technology and Livelihood Education
Computer System Servicing
Quarter 2 ● Module 7

RYAN L. ASTUDILLO
Developer

Department of Education • Cordillera Administrative Region

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 Lesson
Device Drivers
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What’s In

Directions: Read the statement carefully and rearrange the jumbled words to
come up with the correct answer/statement. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Kernel-mode device driver includes some generic sewarrahd which loads

with operating System

2. Devices need device drivers to function, those drivers fall under resu-
odem device drivers.

3. iveced riversd are necessary to permit a computer to interface and

interact with specific devices.

4. The BIOS is stored on remomy built into the motherboard.

5. Lutriav viceed drivers emulate a piece of hardware and essentially trick

the computer into thinking that it is reading from a piece of actual
hardware.

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 What’s New

Directions: Identify the images provided and write the driver type
Kernel-mode, User-mode or Virtual mode device driver. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Part Type of Driver

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 What Is It

Device Drivers
A device driver is a special kind of software program that controls a specific
hardware device attached to a computer. Device drivers are essential for a computer
to work properly. These programs may be compact, but they provide the all-important
means for a computer to interact with hardware, for everything from mouse, keyboard
and display to working with networks, storage and graphics.

Purpose of Device Drivers

Device drivers are necessary to permit a computer to interface and interact
with specific devices. They define the messages and mechanisms whereby the
computer (OS and applications) can access the device or make requests for the
device to fulfill. They also handle device responses and messages for delivery to the
computer.

User

Application Software

Operating System

Other System Software

Device Drivers

Types of Device Drivers

1. Kernel-mode Device Driver

This Kernel-mode device driver includes some generic hardwares
which loads with the operating system as part of the OS. These are BIOS,
motherboard, processor and some other hardwares which are part of kernel
software. This includes the minimum system requirement device drivers for
each operating system.

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 A. BIOS (basic input/output system)
The most basic computer driver in existence and is designed
to be the first program that boots when a PC turns on. The BIOS is
stored on memory built into the motherboard and is designed to boot
the hardware connected to the PC, including the hard drives, video
display output (whether it be video card or on-board), keyboard and
mouse.

B. Motherboard Drivers
Motherboard drivers are small programs that are read by
Operating systems and allow for basic computer functions while inside the
system. These drivers normally include programs that allow broadband
ports, USB ports and I/O ports for the mouse and keyboard. Depending
on the make of the motherboard, the drivers may also have basic drivers
for video and audio support.

BIOS are not the same as motherboard drivers.

2. User-mode Device Driver

Other than the devices which are brought by the kernel for working of
the system the user also brings some devices for use during the use of a
system that needs device drivers to function. Those drivers fall under User
mode device driver. For example, a user needs any plug and play action that
comes under this.

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 A. Hardware Drivers
Hardware drivers are programs that are designed to allow pieces of
computer hardware, such as expansion slots, to function on a computer.
Video cards, sound cards, network cards and other expansion cards come
with driver discs to ease the installation process of the hardware. Other
devices, like certain kinds of digital cameras and MP3 players, have PC
drivers programmed into their software for easy use on most makes of
personal computers.

3. Virtual Device Driver

Virtual device drivers are different from most drivers. Unlike the
majority of drivers, which allow pieces of hardware to work with a particular
operating system, virtual device drivers emulate a piece of hardware and
essentially trick the computer into thinking that it is reading from a piece of
actual hardware. A particularly popular use for virtual device drivers is with
reading .iso files without having an actual disc, using one of these drivers to
emulate a CD or DVD drive.

Update drivers in windows

Driver updates for Windows, along with many devices, such as network
adapters, monitors, printers, and video cards, are automatically downloaded and
installed through Windows Update. You probably already have the most recent
drivers, but if you'd like to manually update or reinstall a driver, here's how:

Update the device driver

1. Go to the Device Manager by simply typing on the search box on the taskbar.
2. Select a category to see names of devices, then right-click (or press and hold)
the one you would like to update.
3. Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
4. Select Update Driver.
5. If Windows does not find a new driver, you can try looking for one on the
device manufacturer's website and follow their instructions.

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Reinstall the device driver
1. In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device
Manager.
2. Right-click (or press and hold) the name of the device and select Uninstall.
3. Restart your PC.
4. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.

Computer devices that requires drivers

Hardware devices that are unknown by the operating system or that have
features that are unknown by the operating system all require drivers. Below is a list
of hardware devices and peripherals that require drivers.
● Card reader
● Controller
● Modem
● Motherboard chipset
● Network card
● Printer
● Scanner
● Sound card
● Tape drive
● USB devices
● Video card

Computer devices that may not requires drivers

Today's operating systems have a lot of generic drivers that allow hardware
to work at a basic level without needing drivers or software. However, if that device
has features unknown to the operating system, it will not work without drivers. For
example, you could plug any keyboard into a computer and expect it to work.
However, if that keyboard has any special keys or features, they will not work until
the drivers are installed.
● CPU
● Disc drive
● Fan
● Hard drive
● Heat sink
● Joystick
● Keyboard
● Mouse
● Monitor
● Power supply
● RAM
● Speakers
● Thumb drive
● UPS

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 What’s More

Directions: Given a list of computer parts and peripherals identify if they

require or does not require drivers. Write required if driver is needed or not
required if does not need driver Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.

Driver
Computer Part Required/Not Required

1. Joystick

2. USB Keyboard

3. Flash Drive

4. Sound Card

5. Hard drive

6. Power supply

7. Video card

8. CPU

9. Memory

10. Cooler Fan

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 What I Have Learned

Directions: Complete the diagram by selecting the right word from the
choices provided. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Application Softwares Computer User Windows/MAC

Other Softwares Hardware Drivers

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 What I Can Do

Directions: Provided are images involved in updating of device drivers. Label

each by selecting your answer from the choices provided. Use a separate
paper for your output.

1.

2.

3.

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 4.

5.

Restart your computer Click Update driver

Go to Device manager Search automatically for updated driver
Select a category to access devices, and right click device to update

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen
letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The school is facing problems while using computers as there are certain
devices which are removed from the computer, but the device drivers are still
present. The teacher wants to fix the problem so that the computer works
properly. What should be done to fix the problem?
a. Install new Drivers
b. Replace Drivers
c. Uninstall Drivers
d. Delete Drivers
2. If the speaker does not sound, you need to check......
a. power supply
b. buses
c. parallel port
d. driver

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3. What is the main function of a device driver?
a. Acting as a translator between the hardware device and the application or
operating system that uses it.
b. To fail Management.
c. Acting as a storage medium that can be accessed directly by cpu.
d. Organizes and coordinates how multiple users access and share
resources on the network.
4. Teacher Maria has bought a new printer and wants to install the appropriate
driver, as Windows does not have the required driver. She needs to install
the driver manually. Which option can be used to install the driver manually?
a. Search automatically for updated driver software
b. Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
c. Browse my computer for driver software
d. Installation CD
5. What is a device driver?
a. Mobile operating system
b. To fail management
c. Software computer
d. Utility Program
6. The ________driver is signed by organizations other than Microsoft.
a. Untrusted publisher
b. Windows Signing Authority
c. Unsigned
d. Trusted publisher
7. To improve the efficiency and performance of a driver you need to
___________ the driver.
a. Uninstall
b. Update
c. Hide
d. Use
8. These are programs that are designed to allow pieces of computer hardware
to function on a computer.
a. BIOS Driver
b. motherboard driver
c. virtual driver
d. hardware driver
9. These are small programs that are read by your operating system and allow
for basic computer functions while inside the operating system.
a. BIOS Driver
b. motherboard driver
c. virtual driver
d. hardware driver
10. Computer operating systems can be programmed to automatically download
driver updates.
a. True b. False
11. Driver updates for Windows, along with many devices, are automatically
downloaded and installed through ________________.
a. Device manager
b. Windows update
c. Setup
d. Downloader

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 12. What emulates a piece of hardware and essentially tricks the computer into
thinking that it is reading from a piece of actual hardware.
a. BIOS Driver
b. motherboard driver
c. virtual driver
d. hardware driver
e.
13. _________is software that allows your computer to communicate with the
hardware or any other device you want to install.
a. Device
b. USB
c. Driver
d. Plug and Play
14. Where is the BIOS stored in your motherboard?
a. CPU
b. Built in memory
c. RAM
d. Hard drive
15. The most basic computer driver in existence and is designed to be the first
program that boots when a PC turns on.
a. BIOS Driver
b. motherboard driver
c. virtual driver
d. hardware driver

Additional Activity

Direction: True or False write T if the statement is correct and F if the

statement is not correct. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Keeping your software up to date is a crucial practice in Internet safety.

2. Hackers can take advantage of the weakness by writing code to target
the vulnerability.
3. Software is released in a perfect condition.
4. Drivers are software program that tell computer features such as
graphics and sound how to function.
5. Many apps in both macOS and Windows will automatically check for
updates when you open them.

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