DriverFix is a great program that has been in development for several years. We can say that the amount of effort put in is evident when using the program. It will quickly and efficiently scan your system for out of date drivers, and then find the right ones in your database to update your system to use whatever you want. If you are tired of searching the internet just as you plug in your new digital camera, get rid of the delay in using your new equipment and with DriverFix.
Ashampoo Driver Updater does a pretty good job of updating the drivers that are out of date on your system. All of its features are useful in updating, backing up, and restoring drivers. It has an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate for all users. It also comes with helpful tools such as a regular scheduler and a driver ignore list. We foudn that this program is one of the most affordable driver update tools which makes it a good option as it still does a pretty good job finding and updating out of date drivers.
Driver Genius has some of the best features for a driver updater including a backup, restore, and system optimization feature. This ensures that all of the drivers of the computer will always be at its best version and that the computer’s performance will also improve. The only downsides to the application are its lack of live chat support and its high pricing compared to other driver updating applications.
DriverMax is a driver updater product made by Innovative Solutions. It is available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10. It is designed to enable users to scan, back-up, restore, and update the drivers of their computer with just a couple of clicks. It is a popular choice for many because of its ease of usage and its user-intuitiveness. The application comes in both a paid and a free version. It was released back in 2007.
There are a lot of concerns about applications that can be downloaded online which claim to be able to fix the computer’s issue. This is mostly attributed to its aggressive advertising tactics that may be quite annoying for some especially if it comes in the form of pop-ups. They may also be everywhere on different websites. Aside from this, some may also be scared of the possibility that these applications are only mere viruses which may infiltrate their computer in the guise of being a computer optimizing application.
DriverMax is a completely safe application that delivers all that it promises. It is capable of updating the drivers of the computer and making the whole process easy for users.
Last updated October 7, 2024
A driver is a set of files that is responsible for communicating with the operating system to make sure your hardware works properly. In a way, a driver is a bridge that connects your hardware and your Operating System. Without a driver, your hardware won't be able to do its function.
Every piece of hardware that you use in your computer needs a driver. From the internal component such as the graphic card to the external device like a printer, all of them need a driver. Usually, when you first connect a device to your computer, it will automatically install the appropriate driver.
For the main components that make up the core of your computer, the update would come prepackaged with the OS update. That's why it is always recommended to turn on the automatic update feature for your operating system.
But not all of them are like that. There are also certain devices and components that need to be updated manually. And in case you don't know, it is a very laborious thing to do and if you get it wrong, you won't be able to use the hardware at all.
There is another alternative though, and it's called driver updating software. This article will tell you all you need to know about this convenient software.
Before we get into the driver updating software, let's talk about the reasons why you should update your driver in the first place. First of all, as mentioned above, an out-of-date driver would make it impossible for you to use your hardware properly.
But that's not all, there are also other system and security threats involved when you don't update your driver. These are some of the most important risks that you would face when you don't update your driver:
Usually, when you wish to update your driver manually, you have to locate your device manager first. You will see all of the hardware that is connected to your computer there. Then, you will need to manually look for the ones that need to be updated. After that, you could simply follow the prompt that would automatically download the necessary update files for that particular device.
But not all of them are like that. Some hardware requires you to manually look for the most appropriate updates from the manufacturer's website. For this kind of update, you would need to download the update files for the exact models of your device. Otherwise, it wouldn't work.
If all of those steps sound like a hassle to you, then you need to use driver updater software. As the name implied, this is a piece of software that was designed specifically to find updates for your drivers. There are lots of different brands out there, but most of them work using similar methods.
First of all, the software would do deep scans of your computer in order to find every piece of hardware that is connected to your computer. Then, it would display the ones that need to be updated. Again, different developers would offer different things at this stage, such as sorting out the results based on the priority, showing detailed information about the update files to make sure you get the correct one, etc.
After that, you will be prompted to download the necessary updates for each driver. Once the download completes, you would be prompted to install them all. Also, please do keep in mind that whether you decide to manually find the driver updates or use the driver updated software, you should wait for the installation to finish properly. Do not ever disturb the installation process if you want your computer to work as it should.
As mentioned above, most driver updater software out there does its job following the same three steps. Scan, download, and install. Different brands might have different features that might make the whole process easier or more streamlined, but the steps remain the same.
For the most part, driver updater software could be divided into two separate kinds. A free and paid software. Each version could be further divided into different kinds of products based on their limitations or payment method.
The paid version is usually simpler. For the most part, once you paid for it, then you would be able to use it however many times you want. The difference mostly comes in the pricing plans. There is software that only requires you to pay only once and there are those that require you to pay a small monthly or yearly subscription fee. For both methods, some offer different kinds of licenses, either based on time or the number of users, with different prices for each license.
The free version is much more diverse. More often than not, you could download and install them for free. But that is where the similarities ended. Some would display ads all over the software. Some lock the main features behind a paywall. And then there are also those who offer everything truly for free but you would only get the most basic feature from them.
And finally, there is the hybrid version. A paid software that also has a free version. This type of software usually offers a free trial period where you can enjoy its full capabilities for a certain amount of time or usage for free. After that, you have to pay for it.
Drivers are a very essential part of your computer. Without it, you won't even be able to use your computer properly. And just like everything else, it also needs proper and regular maintenance and improvement that comes in the form of update files.
You could certainly update your drivers manually. But not only that it takes a lot of time, especially if there's a lot of devices connected to your computer, there's also the risk of damaging your drivers if you don't know what you're doing.
The solution then is to use driver updater software. There are numerous brands that you could choose from out there on the internet. Both free and paid. You could pick any brand you like as long as it has the essential features that have been laid out above.
