PURPOSE: To prevent misoperation by returning the name of a control instruction system in a peripheral equipment to a computer when data from the computer is received and permitting software to automatically select an appropriate peripheral equipment driver.

CONSTITUTION: When the installation (Is) Sw of application (Ap) software (Sw) is started in a host computer (Hc) 1, Is Sw transfers data of one byte to a printer 3 and causes the printer 3 to report the name of the self control instruction system at the time of selecting a printer driver. If the name of the printer control instruction system which the printer 3 itself understands is XYZ, it returns the name by adding CR (carriage return ASCII code 13) after XYZ. Is, Sw in Hcl receives returned information, selects the printer driver which can control the printer control instruction system of XYZ and sets Ap, Sw in such a way that the printer driver is used hereafter. Thus, the selection of the driver can be automated, Is work can be simplified and the erroneous selection of a user can be prevented.