How to Install Scanner Drivers

Drivers are operating-system-specific programs that act like a middle man between your devices/ hardware and your hierarchy of software programs. Changes to computers, particularly to the serial bus, can cause a driver particular printer's driver to be incompatible with your hardware or your computer. Every device requires its own programs. Programming on a higher level is simplified by the use of drivers. Drivers also allow computers to connect with a large variety of hardware.

Ensure that you install any hardware for your scanner. If you have a SCSI scanner, then you will also need an SCSI adapter. Refer to your hardware documentation, such as a manufacturer’s manual. You must do this before you install your scanner driver.

Connect the USB plug on the scanner to your USB port on your computer. Most computers have at least two USB ports.

Restart your computer by clicking on the Start menu, then "Turn Off Computer," and select "Restart." If you are running Windows 98, then Windows will install the driver for you, and you will only need to follow the onscreen instructional steps. If this is not the case, then proceed to the next step in this article.

Using your mouse, click on the Start menu in Windows. Point to "Settings," and then click on the Control Panel.

Double-click on the icon labeled “Add New Hardware.” Click "Next." Continue to click through the setup process until windows has finished detecting the hardware. Windows will prompt you to restart your computer. Do so and wait for the system to finish loading your new settings. Save any settings if you are prompted to do so.

Install the software and twain drivers included with your scanner. The instructions are in your scanner’s software manual. If you purchased a scanner without the software, then you will need to contact the manufacturer or try downloading all the drivers from the Internet. See the Resources section of this article for locations to search for scanner drivers.