Wow! There is a lot of confusion in this thread. First, let's start out with a couple basic definitions:
The term "driver" can mean a lot of things, but generally it is just a set of instructions. The most common association of the word "driver" in the PC world relates to software communication with hardware.
ANFPS26 is pretty much right. All modern (less than 5 years old) CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives use
firmware, which like the definitions above state, is just a set of instructions programmed into a memory chip known as
EEPROM. Think of it like a "driver" that is built-in to a piece of hardware, in this case a ROM (read-only memory) chip. Though the function of firmware is similar to a software driver in Windows, they are not identical. The terms are often used interchangeably, however.
TonyBose and
TSSTechie,
The entry you see in Device Manager in Windows is just a pointer that uses the firmware. It is not really a driver, at least not in the same sense as the ones for your printer, modem, or soundcard. All those links you provided to [blue]driverguide.com[/blue] reference firmware upgrades. They may use the word "driver", but if you actually download and take a look at the files, they are procedures for updating the firmware or installing some 3rd-party software program - NOT A DRIVER.
Ever wonder why a CDROM drive you purchase doesn't come with a driver on a floppy? Did you really think that the generic Windows driver in device manager was all that was needed? How did you think Windows knew what kind of CDROM drive you had? Think again...anyone who has built a PC from scratch should know!
~cdogg
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein