Driver Update

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 3:17 pm

Heya, I'm looking for a good Driver Update Software, I've been searching alot, but can't really decide what to go for.

What do you use (if any)?

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 3:55 pm

I dont use any your better doing it manually allot less problems that way..

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 4:02 pm

Been doing it manually for now as well, however since I got about 70-90 computers in my company with diffrent specs it takes quite some time to do it manually! Razz

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 4:22 pm

Driver Magician http://www.drivermagician.com/
Driver Genius http://www.avanquest.com/USA/software/driver-genius-professional-10-143514?meta=pc-utilities&cat=pc-utility-software&sub=windows-driver-software

Don't really know because don't really trust them lol

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 4:24 pm

I check manually but also have Driver Genius 10-it scans automatically every morning or whatever time you want it to.

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 4:54 pm

I use driver genius 10 too, never had a problem with it. but i also use the DELL sites, driver facility. I like having all my drivers in 1 executable file, easy backup. Very Happy

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 5:25 pm

I use windows update. anything it misses then i go straight for the manufacturers web site.

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 5:32 pm

Trying "Driver Genius 10" now, that combined with "Windows Update" and "VAIO Update" (I love Sony Wink

) I think will do it, thanks for the input guys (and girls?)

// Sued

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:06 am

The problem I had with Driver Genius once I figured out they were not really a U.S. Based company. (Asia, I think) is that I kept having to contact their service and tell them to beboot their servers because the drivers would not download, they would sit there and then eventually time out.

The service folks would then email me back and let me know that they rebooted their server and then the downloads would work. I had to tell them that their servers were not responding to driver download request??..

On a plus point the software does a fairly good job of detecting driver updates, although I could not use it on my Toshiba Laptop because it downloaded a bad video driver and crashed. I think updating any driver carries a risk so I do not blame them specifically for that.

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:09 am

Sued wrote:

Been doing it manually for now as well, however since I got about 70-90 computers in my company with diffrent specs it takes quite some time to do it manually! Razz

Dude, you could not pay me enough money to maintain that many computers. I have a rough enough time with 4.

How many times a day do you get blamed for someones computer problems? Because after all, their computer worked perfectly before you came to help them with that problem they complained about in the first place. Laughing

Edit: Did I just double post? I feel an ass whoopin coming. Embarassed

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:12 am

-Sued that file you sent me.
-Yes?
-My mail ain't working now!
-PDF files don't do that, it must have been something you did!
-Never!!
-...oki........... Let me have a look at it.........
-Thanks
-You need to pull that little button there....
-Which one?
-Then one that has "Wireless ON" written on it....

Typical senario...

"Driver Genius" did a oki job, wanted me to install an update from Dell, having a Sony Vaio and all I feelt deaply disrespected!

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:03 am

Mr fblevins a man of your standing in the community surely knows the rules on double posting, I hope you have properly castised yourself and avoided the internet for at least five seconds as punishment. Severe ? Tough !

As for Sony or Dell, blah get a Samsung !

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:43 am

[quote="Sued"]Heya, I'm looking for a good Driver Update Software, I've been searching alot, but can't really decide what to go for.

What do you use (if any)?[/quote]

My situation is similar. Patch one machine manually, keep notes, put drivers on platter or network and run installer script with switches as required. The downside is that you need to be prepared for all non-standard images. The answer to that is to work towards common platter for all machines, or at least reduce non-standard platters.

I would strongly urge you not to use a commercial service that offers to do an online scan of your machine and then install the necessary drivers; nine times out of ten, these are spyware merchants.

Not much help, I know, but I've not found any reliable alternative in ten years of doing this.

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:49 am

I've tried to work towards a common platter for all machines, but the needs of the employees are so different that it's impossible. We tried a setup with a personal office computer, and a 10 inch portable mini computer combined with a Android phone, quickly realized that it wouldn't do it - shame.

I found "Driver Genius" to do what it's suppose to do, haven't noticed any spyware so far, the scans have been quite serious on the test mahine! Smile

Sony for life! Smile

// Sued