Software to update drivers – good idea or not?

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Keeping track of programs and hardware and installing the latest drivers is something I’ve tried to keep up with, but, for example, I haven’t checked out my video card manufacturer’s website or scanner’s website recently.

Are programs that offer to update drivers helpful or sources of malware? I haven’t seen programs of this sort from the major companies. Maybe it is too small a niche.

Has anyone used DriverFinder or DriverHive? One review with screenshots showed 117 drivers found in the reviewer’s system. That seems like an awful lot. Is such a result realistic?

Thanks in advance.
Mark

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No, I do my best to avoid any kind of applications that offer to scan for and download so called “needed drivers”.
SIW or Everest can be a decent tool in looking up current hardware driver version number and other identifying features of hardware, but that’s all.
Your best to go to the manufacturers website and get them yourself.

Many video and audio card manufacturers will offer a means of checking your hardware’s drivers from their respective websites. I suggest a look see
if it’s been a while since you have last visited.

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Clint,
Thanks. That’s what I had thought, but I didn’t want to put my system at risk by avoiding possible underlying driver problems. Since I posted, I saw a thread where some driver software actually loaded extra unneeded drivers onto a user’s system.

Caveat emptor!

Mark

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I agree with Clint. On another note, I do however like CNET’s tech tracker software for notifying me when new updates to the software I use are available.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Or run the Secunia PSI checker to find apps with security holes.

cheers, Paul

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Paul,
Tried PSI. Just what the doctor ordered!. Very elegant program!

Thanks

Mark

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For most devices the latest drivers are a good idea, but generally from the manufacturer’s site. Graphics drivers are a different matter. I have heard and seen more problems developing from “update” graphics drivers than all others combined. One adage I follow is that if you are pleased with how your graphics drivers seems to be working, then perhaps you should leave well enough alone.

One site I do use to update apps is filehippo.com.Click the link in the upper right corner to add a link to the free Update Checker. This checks apps you have installed for updates. Works very well.

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Ted,
Thanks for suggesting filehippo. It picked up some things PSI didn’t. I’m currently using both programs…….

Mark

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You’re welcome

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My experience has been different. I have been using Driver Genius for about three years. While the older version was iffy, the last two editions have given me excellent results (version 10 is current). It even runs the installation of the driver updates. I have not had an error or problem in the last two years. It saves me a lot of time checking out the dozen or so sites I would have to do manually.

Bill Rice

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My experience has been different. I have been using Driver Genius for about three years. While the older version was iffy, the last two editions have given me excellent results (version 10 is current). It even runs the installation of the driver updates. I have not had an error or problem in the last two years. It saves me a lot of time checking out the dozen or so sites I would have to do manually.

Bill Rice

Or, if you like to get your updates for free, try DriverMax . It even lets you make a Backup Folder containing all your current drivers, in case anything goes wrong.

-- rc primak

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I am not trying to shill for Drive Genius, but it also has a back up feature, as well as a restore drivers function in case the new drivers do not work properly. It will also uninstall existing drivers if you want to make a fresh install rather than an upgrade.

These have again saved me a lot of time on several occassions. I am aware that a lot of these driver update programs are shoddy and create problems. I can only speak about the one I use.

Bill

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Thanks for the tip about FileHippo that immediately showed me several programmes needing an update, shame the update didn’t fix Acrobat Reader, version 9 has refused to update itself for as long as I can remember and I’ve now got 10 that displays an “unknown software exception” every time it’s opened, although it seems to work OK after that.

Graham

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Graham,
I have been using Foxit Reader for some time now and it works well for me. Seems to be quicker than Acrobat Reader without all the Adobe baggage. FWIW.
Larry

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Graham,
I have been using Foxit Reader for some time now and it works well for me. Seems to be quicker than Acrobat Reader without all the Adobe baggage. FWIW.
Larry

I did try it some years ago but it was incapable of some basic operations including copy and paste and I dropped it almost immediately. Actually Reader 10 seems to have one or two nice new features, regrettably every time I open a file I get this error message, although as I speak it seems to have stopped doing it, really weird as it was doing it all day until I stopped work about half an hour ago.

Graham

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I have had very good luck with SlimDrivers which has been better in my experience than Driver Genius ( Note to Bill Rice: I think the version of Driver Genius I had was from the iffy stage of development). Your mileage may vary! The best approach with all these utilities is to pay attention to the recommended drivers. Nothing says you have to install what the program offers. If in doubt, do not update from the program. Go to the appropriate website and see if you need an update. To the credit of both programs, they can catch updates that that you may othewise miss.

Both programs can save you a lot of time when used wisely.

I am not connected with SlimDrivers in any way other than as a user. It also backs up your old drivers. I think this is probably a standard feature
for these programs. (If not, it should be).

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