Driver Update Tool

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Can anyone recommend both a Freeware and a paid version of any excellent Driver Update tools?

Thank you.

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IMO, these driver update tools are snake oil. You are better off using a tool from your PC vendor if you use one such as Dell or HP. Or check at the peripheral or component OEM site for updates.

--Joe

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You can use the free version of Driver Easy to scan your system and tell you which drivers it thinks are out of date or have new versions.  But take it no further;  then go to the manufacturer’s web site for each listed driver to see if there really is a new version available.

Windows 10 Pro 64 bit 20H2

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What is your PC and how old is it? Older machines may not have updates.

cheers, Paul

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Unless you are having crashes, or are a gamer seeking better performance with a graphics driver, I would try to avoid updating drivers even if you are able to find them.

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A good option would be driverscloud.com, where you can scan your PC then view/share full details, access suggested driver updates and a lot more.

You can save your detection online and link it to a trusted helper, use the details supplied to get second opinions from your favourite help site or download the drivers directly.

It’s worth a look, even for advanced/expert users.

3 users thanked author for this post.

BigBadSteve, wavy, Paul T

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I spend a lot of time helping out on the MS Answers forum. Lots of people get into serious trouble “updating” drivers. I have been managing and looking after hundreds of Windows systems for years. My advice:
Never update a driver unless you have a specific problem and then only that driver
Your ONLY source of valid drivers is the OEM of the equipment

CT

1 user thanked author for this post.

SueW

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How do we know why a driver is being updated, for example to correct a vulnerability exploit?

I have memories of using a trial payware driver updater. It stuffed up my Intel drivers and another driver I no longer remember. The author was grateful for my feedback and offered it free. “Thank you but, no”.

Personal advice is to find a driver check tool but never use it to update. Always update direct from the manufacturer.

 

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I would agree that getting the drivers from the hardware manufacturer is the safer and better route. And the likes of HP, Dell, Lenovo/IBM are pretty good at supporting this requirement for their kit.
However, in the case of using legacy hardware with a current OS then a driver finder can be of benefit and of course you don’t have to use it if you find what might be needed, but as such it does provide a pointer to the chance of one existing in the first place, as quite often a driver for say Vista or Win7 will often work when there isn’t one specifically for Win10. Drivers for chipsets and the likes are vanilla stuff from Intel et al, whereas other pieces like touch-pads, card readers, screens, camera’s, wifi adapters, iR devices, etc can prove to be more tricky as the manufacturer of the system unit more than likely added or had bespoke additions made to drivers for integration with the rest of the machines hardware architecture.
Iobit.com have free and paid for versions of ‘Driver Booster 7’, boasting some 3.5M drivers on their database, it works well, backs up your system prior to updating a driver (at the request of the user) and saves the old driver so there is a route back to what was, should it be required.

Gordon.

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[WSRolandJS]

For the first time ever using a pay-for driver updater, on both laptops, after making full images onto external media, I used Auslogics Driver Updater.  It actually did its job.  One laptop was rolled back from W8 to W7 by me, so Acer driver site only had W8 stuff.  Thankfully, ADU gave me no W7 trouble after updatings and restarts.  Maybe ADU will for your computer, don’t know.  It has drivers backup before updating.  ADU at the time had a one-time license fee, don’t believe they went to subscription since then.

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by WSRolandJS.

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For HP machines use HP’s Support Assistant that can be found at https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/hpsupport.html

For Intel drivers use their Driver & Support Assistant at https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html

Both are free.

1 user thanked author for this post.

SueW

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