It's time to go back for a driver's training class. No, not because you've piled up a bunch of speeding tickets (at least, not that we know of). This is a class in device drivers, nuggets of software that help your operating system work with various hardware and peripherals.

Last year, CNET offered a brief course in driver education, in which we examined these tricky necessities. Since then, the rule book has changed a bit. And drivers can toss up plenty of twists, turns, and obstacles.

In other words, you can never take too many refresher courses. With Windows XP wreaking havoc on your device compatibility, and USB 2.0 and FireWire on the move, you need to learn the rules of the road more than ever before. We'll look at driver basics, issues with XP, and some troubleshooting tips. Let's hit the road.

Basic instruction
What's the best way to keep your drivers running smoothly? Check under the hood. Here's how.

Driving while under XP
Every new operating system brings a new set of driver rules. Find out what's new in XP.

Driver safety
Stay crash-free with this selection of troubleshooting tips and tricks.