7 replies to this topic

[Burned_Follower]

Ok, i thought about an hour ago that i had all my drivers updated. But the program i used only updated my GPU's driver.

I've done google searches for drivers updates but i keep running into driver manager programs that will scan my system, tell me that most of my drivers are out of date but when i try to update, the programs ask me for money, lol.

How do i manually check everything on my PC to see if my drivers are up to date and how do i update my drivers? I'm a complete noob at this, lol.

I'll give you my system specs if you'll ask. If it helps, i'm using Windows 7, Ultimate, 64bit OEM

[CyBerkut]

START > All Programs > Windows Update

[Daddys Revenge]

1) DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF DRIVER SCANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously. . EVER.

You don't know what it REALLY is, or what it's putting on your computer.

Typically the only driver you'll REALLY have to worry about is your graphics card driver. Depending on your make [nvidia or ATi] you will google "nvidia driver download" or "Catalyst driver download" and go to the manufacturer's website. They will ask you for your graphics card make/model information and your O/S and will provide a download link for you. Check back every few months. . they do tend to update often.

For everything else Cy pretty much hit it on the head. Yes, you can get chipset updates directly from intel/amd, but those are periodically pushed along by update anyway. If you bought a pre-made computer [Dull, HP failenware, etc] you can go to the company's website/support section. If it's new enough, they SHOULD support updated drivers. Don't get too optimistic though, tyipcally these companies think their obligation to the hardware they sell ends the minute it leaves their warehouse

[Seth Deathstalker]

Cy and Daddys covered it.
Stay away from those driver programs. You will get the basics over Windows Update.
Although Microsoft isn't foo fast or precise when it comes to drivers from other companies

If you are a bit more meticulous about it (like myself) then there are some points.
Go to the hp of the manufacturer of the piece of hardware you want to update the driver for.
Second best if you have a premade one, go to their hp. (See remark above, too.)
Usually, it is enough to check every six to ten months if there is something new.
When you do this expect it to be let's say a bit time consuming.

As mentioned above the gpu driver is the most important. There you might want to check more often.
nVidia has a software tool on their site to check what kind of gpu you've got. Quite handy. In my case it worked well.
If you have any problems with your latest gpu driver you might want to try an older version. The newest is not always the best.

My two cent.

[CyBerkut]

I was tired at the time, or I would have added:

Obtain reputable Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware programs, update them and scan your system. Using the 'driver manager' programs you mention has quite possibly brought along an uninvited guest, or three, to your system.

By reputable, I mean something like AVG, Norton (Symantec) or McAffee (the software, not the creator )... NOT some virus scan that is offered when you land on some web site.

Good luck!

[Tarl Cabot]

1. Check with motherboard or system mfg for drivers.
2. Check individual components - video card, sound card, net card, mouse. Some components come with their own check for update software.

3. Do not be the type of person who has to install a driver update each time it becomes available. New drivers could cause issues. Just become they are new does not mean they are perfect.

[Sen]

"3. Do not be the type of person who has to install a driver update each time it becomes available. New drivers could cause issues. Just become they are new does not mean they are perfect. "

The odds of a driver actually causing an issue in today's day and age are beyond remote [ATi cards exempted, and even those issues have become few and far between in the last year or so]. this may have been true 10-15 years ago, but doesn't really apply today.

This is, of course, making one HUGE assumption: that the driver errors are not caused by PEBKAC. Sadly, PEBKAC is the one issue that IT cannot repair.
If you do not know what PEBKAC is, I offer the following link, for your consideration:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pebkac

Edited by Sen, 18 November 2012 - 05:30 AM.

[Burned_Follower]

Sen, on 18 November 2012 - 05:26 AM, said:

"3. Do not be the type of person who has to install a driver update each time it becomes available. New drivers could cause issues. Just become they are new does not mean they are perfect. " The odds of a driver actually causing an issue in today's day and age are beyond remote [ATi cards exempted, and even those issues have become few and far between in the last year or so]. this may have been true 10-15 years ago, but doesn't really apply today. This is, of course, making one HUGE assumption: that the driver errors are not caused by PEBKAC. Sadly, PEBKAC is the one issue that IT cannot repair. If you do not know what PEBKAC is, I offer the following link, for your consideration: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pebkac

Never heard of the term PEBKAC before. Looked it up...ROFL