Understanding How HP Printers Work

Think of a driver as the manager and translator for your printer.

When you tell your printer to print something, you are sending it a command. The driver works with a translator to translate your command into a language the printer understands, directs the printer what to do with the command, manages other tasks the printer might be doing, and instructs the printer to carry out your command. The drivers control the device and communicate with other hardware devices that you have installed on your computer.

In more complex terms, drivers are small software programs that help control devices attached to your computer. Drivers enable your operating system and other software to communicate with various hardware devices, controllers, and other peripherals.

Your HP printer doesn’t know what to do without a driver to manage it. Without a driver to translate, manage, and execute your commands, a printer can't do anything. It needs guidance.

Also, drivers help computers identify and run installed hardware (printer). Without drivers, computers cannot distinguish between a sound card and a modem. Most computer devices and peripherals need drivers to run, which means that computer accessories, like printers, also need drivers to function.

Choosing and installing the correct drivers for your printer is often a key component of computer system configuration.

It depends. Print drivers are specific to several factors, including (but not limited to):

• The specific printer model. Many printers have variations within a range (series). For example, the HP Photosmart 4200 has 11 different models within the series. Each of these models requires a variation on the print driver.

• The operating system (OS) on the computer. Print drivers are different for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, even for the same printer. Of course, Mac operating systems require different print drivers as well.

• The features that the connection type supports. The way the printer is connected also contributes to the variations in print drivers. Printers that are connected with a USB connection require different features than a printer connected to a wired (Ethernet) or wireless network.

• The features of the printer. Features like automatic duplexing (printing on both sides of the paper), multiple paper trays, faxing, scanning, and copying all have their own sections within the print driver. Each unique functionality requires a set of instructions specific to that printer.

• The printer's command language. Printers and computers communicate with each other using command languages. These languages are unique and contribute to the need for unique print drivers.

• The print mechanism. Many printers have different ink cartridges, nozzles, and printheads, all of which make up the print mechanism. This also requires a unique print driver.

So, for models that are similar to other models, it might not be as time consuming to create a driver. But if a printer has a new mechanism or other new features, it can take over a year to create a new driver. Then, print drivers all have to be tested individually, which is the most time and labor intensive part of the process.

In a couple of places:

• Software CDs. HP ships CDs with its printers, and it is a good idea to hang onto them for future use.

• Downloaded software. You can always find the latest drivers on HP's web site.Quick link: Get Software and Drivers

• InOS drivers. Especially for newer operating systems, like Windows 7, there is already a basic driver included in the operating system.