Thread: Updating drivers

Macca

This usually is required when you have updated your operating system say from XP to Vista and say you have an older printer that was produced before Vista came out and would probably not work with the XP drivers. In that case you would have to update your drivers.

You do this by going to the manufacturers website and usually go into their support section and search for your model no and look for the latest drivers for your operating system.

This can apply to all sorts of hardware e.g. Cameras, Scanners, Printers, external zip drives, external harddrives etc. etc.

Also some manufactures bring out updated drivers for some of their products that will make them work better.

It also applies to some software products as well.

Sometimes a piece of hardware is rushed onto the shelves and the included drivers are very basic. Good enough to run the hardware, but perhaps not all features it has are supported. So any time I buy a piece of hardware that's fairly "cutting edge" I always check for updated drivers a year or so down the line. Sometimes the difference an update makes is amazing!

A few more items to add to Barry's list: the motherboard, the sound cards, network cards, etc.

And graphics cards. If you play the latest & greatest games, it seems you need to constantly update the graphics drivers. (If you're lucky and don't need to physically replace the card itself with a new, improved one!)

In short I'd say "if the computer runs to your satisfaction, it ain't broke. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I do partly agree with the above. BUT and i have seen it often with a number of machines.

Unfortunately drivers also can become corrupted by such as Microsoft updates, viruses & hackers who can use them to gain access to your computer use it as a clone etc, other driver updates removal/deletion of software.

Examples of these are printer's, Graphic card memory, sound cards, even the humble mouse especially WiFi and of course WiFi, Blue Tooth etc

So if a driver is offered as an update use it you can always wind the clock back but not if it is a BIOS update

Originally Posted by wheelinround

So if a driver is offered as an update use it you can always wind the clock back but not if it is a BIOS update

Only true if you're using XP or [shudder] Vista.

And, in terms of the original question, what you're talking about isn't "doing an update" but "repairing a SNAFU."

(Sorry. I'm bored and feeling picky. I miss my shed... )

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Only true if you're using XP or [shudder] Vista.

And, in terms of the original question, what you're talking about isn't "doing an update" but "repairing a SNAFU."

(Sorry. I'm bored and feeling picky. I miss my shed... )

Pickier if your using anything prior Vista its possible


Not alone with the shed thing either Skew, have had stomach virus for a week meds making me drowsy etc half way through them thank goodness. Then this flippin weather in Sydney

Macca also asked: " ....and how do I do it." But no one offered an an answer. I'm interested in the subject, and particularly an easy to understand explanation of how to do it.
What is the hassle to upgrading the BIOS, please?

The hassle to upgrading the BIOS is that if it doesn't go perfectly smoothly, you kill the motherboard. I have successfully upgraded quite a lot of motherboards, and killed one. The one I killed, the disk that I copied the BIOS on to was corrupt, and so the whole process became corrupt. Also, upgrading the BIOS can only usually be done by using a boot disk. My currrent motherboard has a system which is supposed to recover the BIOS automatically if the upgrade doesn't work. I haven't had to test that feature yet.

Peter

Thanks Peter

If you have a brand name computer the latest drivers are usually on the supplier's web site.

For example, my wife's computer is an HP notebook, about four years old. Last week I replaced her hard disk, which meant a clean install of Windows. All the latest drivers were on one download page, packaged as .EXE files. All I had to do was download them, run them, then reboot the computer. All done.

That said, I'll sound a note of caution. You're hearing from the "fiddlers" here. The guys who fiddle the most are usually those who complain the most about problems with this feature or that feature of their computer. Don't update drivers unless you have a very good reason to do so, and always investigate other potential causes of problems before blaming drivers.

Originally Posted by masoth

Macca also asked: " ....and how do I do it." But no one offered an an answer. I'm interested in the subject, and particularly an easy to understand explanation of how to do it.
What is the hassle to upgrading the BIOS, please?

Updating depends on what it is needs updating if its a Mircosoft notification when update tells you there is one there. This can come about if you are notified and take the option to choose

Or manufacture update notification if thats turned on

or if you have been advised to go do a search for new drivers

BIOS updates are changes made to the mother board and in many cases can not be reversed.

Thanks all. My computer is custom built, about 2-3 years old and running XP.
It is working just fine so I am not going to stuff about with it.
Thanks
Macca