In the case of a CD-RW, could someone please explain what the difference is
between firmware and a driver please.

Firmware updates the software stored in a chip within the CD-RW player. This
may repair detected software bugs or improve functionality.

A driver allows the device to interface with Windows (allows it to operate).

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

"Guy Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In the case of a CD-RW, could someone please explain what the difference
is
> between firmware and a driver please.
>
>

"Guy Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In the case of a CD-RW, could someone please explain what the difference
is
> between firmware and a driver please.
>

Guy, In hugely simplified terms.

Firmware is software that physically sits within the unit on a chip.
It is usually responsible for controlling the physical hardware - spin the
disk up, move the laser etc
The driver is a piece of software that is part of Windows and talks to the
device to request it to do something like read the first track on the CD.
The firmware knows how to physically turn on the electrics etc to make this
happen.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

"Guy Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In the case of a CD-RW, could someone please explain what the difference
is
> between firmware and a driver please.
>
>

Thank you both.
That is what I thought.
So why is it when I go to LG website and look for a CD-RW driver update all
they offer is firmware update?

Read the note at the bottom of the manufacturers page. I was just there this
A.M. to get the latest firmware for my DVD-CD player. It is very clear as to
why there are no drivers available.

Hint! They come with Windows XP.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

"Guy Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thank you both.
> That is what I thought.
> So why is it when I go to LG website and look for a CD-RW driver update
all
> they offer is firmware update?
>
>

In news:(E-Mail Removed),
Guy Smith <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:

> In the case of a CD-RW, could someone please explain what the
> difference is between firmware and a driver please.


In general, for CDRWs as well as other devices, firmware resides
on the device itself, and drivers run within Windows.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

I still cannot see it! It does not matter realy but which site were you on
UK or US?
Anyway what do I do if the driver is suspect?

Guy Smith wrote:

>In the case of a CD-RW, could someone please explain what the difference is
>between firmware and a driver please.

Firmware is the code in the device itself which turns a request to (say)
'write the block of data that follows' into the detailed control signals
that work the machinery. A driver is the software in the computer -
installed as a part of windows - that turns a request from you to write
a file into the more detailed instructions sent to the device to tell
the firmware what is wanted


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. (E-Mail Removed) (remove the D8 bit)