Control Hardware Access

Last Updated on Wed, 14 Jun 2023 | Operating Systems

The operating system manages the interaction between applications and the hardware. To access and communicate with the hardware, the operating system installs a device driver for each hardware component. A device driver is a small program written by the hardware manufacturer and supplied with the hardware component. When the hardware device is installed, the device driver is also installed, allowing the OS to communicate with the hardware component.

The process of assigning system resources and installing drivers can be performed with Plug and Play (PnP). The PnP process was introduced in Windows 95 to simplify the installation of new hardware. All modern operating systems are PnP compatible. With PnP, the operating system automatically detects the PnP-compatible hardware and installs the driver for that component. The operating system then configures the device and updates the registry, which is a database that contains all the information about the computer.

Note

The registry contains information about applications, users, hardware, network settings, and file types.

Continue reading here: Partitioning and Formatting

Was this article helpful?

+7 -5

Recommended Books

  • Operating System Concepts
  • Computer Organization and Design
  • Computer Networks
  • Computer Architecture
  • Computer Security
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Science Theory
  • Algorithms and Data Structures
  • Artificial Intelligence

Related Posts

Readers' Questions

  • DAVID
    What is the name of the pass that detects hardware and installs?
    4 months ago
    • drivers The Windows Driver Kit (WDK) is a software toolset from Microsoft that enables the development, testing, and deployment of device drivers for the Microsoft Windows platform. The WDK includes a hardware detection pass that scans the system for installed hardware and installs the appropriate drivers for that hardware.
    • milena
      Which of the following controls the process of interaction between the user and the operating system?
      6 months ago
      • ? Answer: Graphical User Interface (GUI).
      • Minto
        Which software allows the operating system to communicate with a specific hardware device?
        7 months ago
        • A device driver is software that allows the operating system to communicate with a specific hardware device. Device drivers contain instructions that the operating system uses to communicate with a device.
        • Marshall
          What is the piece of software that helps hardware devices interact with an operating system?
          7 months ago
          • This is known as a device driver.
          • briffo
            Which software control the computer hardware?
            8 months ago
            • The operating system is the main software that controls the hardware of the computer. It directs the hardware to respond to user commands and interact with software applications. Examples of common operating systems include Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.
            • LOGAN
              Which program controls the hardware and software in a computer?
              10 months ago
              • The operating system.
              • T
                What is used by an operating system to communicate with hardware components?
                10 months ago
                • Device drivers
                • tanja
                  How access a devices operating system?
                  1 year ago
                  • It depends on the type of device and its operating system. Generally, the easiest way to access a device's operating system is by connecting the device to a computer and navigating to the settings menu within the device. Some devices may require users to enter in a code or use special tools to access the system, while others can be accessed with a few simple clicks.
                  • emanuele
                    How operating system control hardware?
                    1 year ago
                    • Operating systems use device drivers to control hardware. Device drivers are specialized software programs that act as a bridge between the operating system and the hardware. They receive requests from the operating system, translate them into commands for the hardware, and respond to data from the hardware. They provide a layer of abstraction that allows the operating system to interact with the hardware without needing to know its details.