Using the System Utilities
Hardware Management
Device Drivers
- A device driver is a software that allows Windows 7 to properly communicate with and use the functionality of a device. A device driver acts as an intermediary between a hardware component and an operating system.
- A device driver contains the instructions on how to use the full capabilities of a device properly. In some cases, a device driver not specifically designed for a hardware component may allow that component to function. For example, the SVGA display driver works with almost all video cards. If an incorrect device driver works, it is because the basic functionality of a class of hardware devices, such as video cards, is similar. However, installing the wrong device driver for a hardware component results in poor performance and does not let you use the advanced features of a device. Using the incorrect device driver for a hardware component may also make Windows 7 unstable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Device_driver.