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A few days ago I was trying to install a USB WiFi adapter in old version of linux. I installed it successfully.
But the procedure I followed required me to install not only driver, but also the firmware of the chip used in that adapter.
I searched about firmware and came to know that firmware is software that runs on hardware. But isn't the firmware preloaded in the adapter like the firmware in routers? Why if it isn't preloaded in chip?
1Your last paragraph about firmware may be generally true; however, it's not a given. The Chromecast, for example, updates itself automatically. – None – 2015-10-07T12:02:54.307
@Alex Thanks, I did not know that. – MariusMatutiae – 2015-10-07T12:12:55.900
Can't BadUSB update itself?
– Cees Timmerman – 2015-10-07T12:21:07.923This describes what firmware is, but it doesn't explain why the firmware has to be uploaded by the operating system. – Twinkles – 2015-10-07T13:16:42.343
@Twinkles: Doesn't the second quoted paragraph explain why? It basically says some hardware ship without a firmware but Windows users don't see the firmware upload because it's usually done by the driver installer. – slebetman – 2015-10-07T14:24:22.623