controller vs drivers

  • Thread starter Thread starter ~ Avery Anderson~
  • Start date Start date
A

~ Avery Anderson~

"update your driver"
"update the controller"
"reinstall the controller"
"reinstall the driver"
"update the controller driver"
"update the chipset drivers"
etc.

Is it correct to say that a "driver" is a bit of code between a piece of
hardware and the operating system, and a controller is a chip on the
motherboard whose "driver" is in the cmos?

I could never understand what was going on here.

thanks,

Avery
 
"update your driver"
"update the controller"
"reinstall the controller"
"reinstall the driver"
"update the controller driver"
"update the chipset drivers"
etc.

Is it correct to say that a "driver" is a bit of code between a piece of
hardware and the operating system, and a controller is a chip on the
motherboard whose "driver" is in the cmos?

I could never understand what was going on here.

thanks,

Avery
Click to expand...

A driver is the software between hardware and the OS. Controller is a
piece of hardware that controls things (the same goes for ports). A
Chipset is a chip that works with a sister chip to do things.

Basically, when they say the middle 2, they mean uninstall the driver,
then reinstalle the same ones, the other 4 they mean install new
updated drivers.

When they say remove the controller, they often mean delete it from
device manager.
 
Hi Gary,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my very basic question.
Please bare with me a little longer, can you elaborate a little more
on this part:

"Controller is a piece of hardware that controls things ..."

Where are the located, and can I replace them?

Thanks,

Avery
 
"update your driver"
"update the controller"
"reinstall the controller"
"reinstall the driver"
"update the controller driver"
"update the chipset drivers"
etc.

Is it correct to say that a "driver" is a bit of code between a piece of
hardware and the operating system, and a controller is a chip on the
motherboard whose "driver" is in the cmos?

I could never understand what was going on here.

thanks,

Avery
Click to expand...

Controller is hardware, driver is software. Drivers can be burned
(stored) onto a chip, but for the most part they are loaded into core
when needed. Many drivers are already contained within the O/S. Both
controller and driver is typically needed for peripherals such as hard
drives, monitors, keyboard, mouse, etc. Distinguishing between the
two can be confusing, although important for troubleshooting.
 
Nope. You usually do not. You can replace the board that has a
controller on it. Or you MIGHT flash the controller with a new set of
machine code (firmware for that controller). Odds are you will just
play with the software installed with the OS and that's the driver.
Some PCI cards have been made where one physically removed the
controller chip and inserts another chip but probably you would just
buy another card altogether for most things. Occassionally you might
download new firmware (machine code) and flash the controller. You more
probably would download a new firmware for your motherboard and
typically that is the BIOS - the basic code the motherboard runs before
it loads up your operating system. Some motherboards have other
firmwares on them like firmware for an onboard disk controller.
have fun in hardware land,
TimJowers
 
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