Driver update tools?

[Percival P. Cassidy]

Is it worth using any kind of driver update software, or can we assume
that Windows Update will do what is necessary?

I ran Driver Navigator, which claimed to have found 28 out-of-date
drivers but wanted payment to do anything about it.

When I chose "Update Driver" on some of these in Device Manager I got
the message that the drivers were already the latest.

Perce

 

[John Williamson]

Is it worth using any kind of driver update software, or can we assume
that Windows Update will do what is necessary?

I ran Driver Navigator, which claimed to have found 28 out-of-date
drivers but wanted payment to do anything about it.

When I chose "Update Driver" on some of these in Device Manager I got
the message that the drivers were already the latest.

MS only updates to the latest driver held on their servers, and not many
makers upload every new driver to MS, not to mention the ones that
bypass the quality testing.

If you want the latest drivers, go direct to the manufacturers' web
sites and get them from there. I'd also say, having had a few driver
updates (Not on 7 so far, but it's early days yet) fall over big style,
don't update drivers unless you're having problems which are known to be
fixed by the update.

Driver update software, especially the free stuff, is often just a front
to sell you a service which you can get for free with a little effort.
Sometimes, it's a front for malware.

 

[MetalStorm©]

MS only updates to the latest driver held on their servers, and not many
makers upload every new driver to MS, not to mention the ones that
bypass the quality testing.

If you want the latest drivers, go direct to the manufacturers' web
sites and get them from there. I'd also say, having had a few driver
updates (Not on 7 so far, but it's early days yet) fall over big style,
don't update drivers unless you're having problems which are known to be
fixed by the update.

Driver update software, especially the free stuff, is often just a front
to sell you a service which you can get for free with a little effort.
Sometimes, it's a front for malware.

agreed! leave well enough alone if you dont ahve the expertise. i
updated a sound card driver recently and had no sound. its a good
thing i had the original driver and just reinstalled it.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

MS only updates to the latest driver held on their servers, and not
many makers upload every new driver to MS, not to mention the ones
that bypass the quality testing.

If you want the latest drivers, go direct to the manufacturers' web
sites and get them from there. I'd also say, having had a few driver
updates (Not on 7 so far, but it's early days yet) fall over big
style, don't update drivers unless you're having problems which are
known to be fixed by the update.

Driver update software, especially the free stuff, is often just a
front to sell you a service which you can get for free with a little
effort. Sometimes, it's a front for malware.

Agree with all that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and get drivers
*only* from MS (preferred) or the equipment manufacturer. I prefer
getting them from MS, even if they aren't the very latest, because then
I know they have been tested with my operating system.

 

[Jan Alter]

Agree with all that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and get drivers
*only* from MS (preferred) or the equipment manufacturer. I prefer
getting them from MS, even if they aren't the very latest, because then
I know they have been tested with my operating system.
--
Crash

"The future ain't what it used to be."
~ Yogi Berra ~

I'm also in agreement to leave the drivers alone if you aren't having
trouble or don't need the ability to do what the newer drive offers.
However, I have found the driver service I use (Driver Agent) to be quite
time saving when I receive an unknown computer to repair, especially if the
OS has to be reinstalled.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Is it worth using any kind of driver update software, or can we assume
that Windows Update will do what is necessary?

I ran Driver Navigator, which claimed to have found 28 out-of-date
drivers but wanted payment to do anything about it.

When I chose "Update Driver" on some of these in Device Manager I got
the message that the drivers were already the latest.

Perce

I've used Driveragent.com and Driver Genius (from Avanquest) with good
results. Neither is perfect, and neither is anywhere near free, but I
thought it worth it. Driveragent can be used on multiple PCs; not sure
about Driver Genius. Both provide a detection utility and a library of
downloadable drivers.

For a stand-alone detection utility, try SIW (http://www.gtopala.com/).

 

[Peter Jason]

Is it worth using any kind of driver update software, or can we assume
that Windows Update will do what is necessary?

I ran Driver Navigator, which claimed to have found 28 out-of-date
drivers but wanted payment to do anything about it.

When I chose "Update Driver" on some of these in Device Manager I got
the message that the drivers were already the latest.

Perce

I just go to "Computer Management" / "Device Manager" / then click on
an item to the "update driver software" and Windows will do a
computer/Internet search for any possible update. I use this all the
time.

 

[BeeJ]

Go to the motherboard mfr website and see it they have a universal
updater.
MSI has one.
Nice feature.
I installed it and it found all the drivers were out of date.
Their Updater tool downladed all the updates and installed them. Wow!
This was on a brand new OEM Win7 Pro install.

And what a big difference it made!
The video came alive, for one thing.
This motherboard has video, 7.1 sound etc. chips all built in.
They also offered other utilities that I did not install.

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

Is it worth using any kind of driver update software, or can we assume
that Windows Update will do what is necessary?

I ran Driver Navigator, which claimed to have found 28 out-of-date
drivers but wanted payment to do anything about it.

When I chose "Update Driver" on some of these in Device Manager I got
the message that the drivers were already the latest.

Perce

As long as the computer and programs run ok, there is
no real need to update drivers.
However, if you really need them, go to the parts manufacturer's
web site and get them there.