Updating Drivers

[Match]

As this is what I spent a fair amount of time doing last night thought I'd ask how you do yours

 

1. Manually search the manufacturers sites for the latest

2. use an on-line update application

3. Just use the device Manager and 'Update' Button

4 What is the point the ones I have work fine

 

Personally I go for the go find them myself option as I have doubts about whether on-line driver applications actually find the best driver

[Dalo Harkin]

There are only a few places you actually need to update drivers:-

 

MOBO manufacturer (ASUS,MSI etc)

GPU maker (ATI or NVIDIA ONLY)

SOUND CARD (manufacturer CREATIVE 99% of the time)

 

Driver searchers are dangerous and a waste or time and normally cost money and dont update anything!

[Match]

Driver searchers are dangerous and a waste or time and normally cost money and dont update anything!

 

LOL you say that and directly above your post is an advert for one :)

 

But I must say I agree with your point of view on them.

[Tootech]

Bit of mix for me really.

 

Unkown devices in Device Manager - if I don't know what they are I'll see if Update can sort it.

 

The rest I'll go the the board or Video manufacturers site.

 

I never use update tools, pretty much a waste if time, and they cost money!

 

Onboard Sound - yeah that can be a pain, Realtek or Creative these days.

 

I don't bother with driver updates unless there's an issue

 

:)

[Goku]

I tried using the software once but the attempt was futile as it came up with all ??? and unknown devices, lol. Since, then I have stopped relying on that kind of adware to assist myself in my quest for updating drivers.

 

Other than that, I agree with all your options but the second. :D

 

-- Goku

[lordmat0]

I only tend to update graphic drivers. Only update other drivers if there's a problem.

[Dalo Harkin]

I did fail to mention the MAIN update of MS auto updates - everyday when the PC boots :)

And I have to admit they are getting better with the optional hardware updates.

[RandyL]

If it works then why fix it?

 

I say this for many reasons but I'll give one example.

 

When I first got my HP with Vista there was an update for my nvidia graphics drivers. The one from Vista was the same one as from the nvidia site and windows updates.

 

All three made dvd movies playback choppy and jerky in media center. It didn't matter the type of dvd disks or whether it was a movie I bought or one I made.

 

But never use a third party program.

[Dalo Harkin]

I do agree in some respects that if its not broke why fix it, BUT if you are using an add in GPU you need to keep on top of the drivers for it - they do more than just boost frame rates they stop any unwanted crashes and bugs in the driver that previous people have had

[lordmat0]

I did fail to mention the MAIN update of MS auto updates - everyday when the PC boots :)

And I have to admit they are getting better with the optional hardware updates.

Yeah optional hardware updates are really good. In windows 7 it picked up my Lan, sound when starting up and then graphic, mouse from windows update.

 

Only needed to install mobo drivers.

[maynardvdm]

There are only a few places you actually need to update drivers:-

 

MOBO manufacturer (ASUS,MSI etc)

GPU maker (ATI or NVIDIA ONLY)

SOUND CARD (manufacturer CREATIVE 99% of the time)

 

Driver searchers are dangerous and a waste or time and normally cost money and dont update anything!

 

I agree with Dave. :)

[bella]

I leave well alone until there is a issue and then try to sort it :D

[Jelly Bean]

I use manufacturers websites to search for drivers.