Should We Update Computer Drivers ?
Computer drivers are another one of those “computer’s component” that are just so much more confusing to most novice users. Here, I would like touch a little on what they are exactly, and then my habits about when and how to update them.
Drivers
Windows doesn’t recognize everything about every possible piece of hardware. For instance, it knows about graphic card, but not how to make each and every possible graphic card work. That’s the task of what’s known as “driver” software, or just “drivers”. Drivers play role as translator which translate Window’s generic instructions into the specific commands that will make the hardware do what it commanded. Each piece of hardware attached to your system needs a driver to do this translation. Beside play role as translator, driver is also control a device that is connected to your machine.
Most confusion are coming from the fact that there are plenty of drivers that just come with Windows. When you install Windows, or just add new hardware to your system, Windows will often just see the change and automatically install the suitable drivers. Even, that’s lots what “plug and play” is all about. In several case you might never even see about anything related to drivers - things just work.
Unfortunately, not all possible drivers are available with Windows. That’s when you obtain that “please insert the CD” message. When you have hardware whose drivers are not available with Windows the manufacturer is supposed to deliver them, commonly on a CD accompanying the device.
Update Drivers
Hardware might well be sufficiently supported by Windows-supplied driver, however on occasion, you have to install the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer, especially when Windows-supplied driver doesn’t support all of the advanced features of the hardware being installed. Hence, you have to use the driver made by the hardware manufacturer so that Windows understands how to use these advanced features.
Also over time, hardware manufacturers also release new versions of their drivers to cover bugs, increase performance and stability on your machine, or just add new features. When these drivers are released it’s strongly recommended that you upgrade your driver to take benefit of these new enhancements.
When to Update
I don’t really like updating drivers just for the sake of updating drivers. I typically go updating when something is indeed broken and in need to be repaired. The reasons I’ll update drivers shorten to a few scenario, presented in what I would say is the order in which they most commonly occur:
- I’m facing a problem
That seems to be related to hardware, and a driver update might help. For instance, if my graphic card is damaged and there’s an updated driver available for it, then that may be one of my first steps to trying to diagnose or even fix the problem. - I need a particular feature
Hardware might well be sufficiently supported by Windows-supplied driver, however on occasion, you have to install the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer, especially when Windows drivers doesn’t support for new feature. - Windows or driver software notifies me
The latest devices will now include software that periodically checks for updates, and lets me choose the option of installing them when the updates become available, I’ll typically allow these updates to occur, especially for non-critical devices. Furthermore, Windows will also periodically notify me for windows update. Windows update will updates the core Windows supplied drivers. It’s useful especially if you still use Windows-supplied driver.
How to Update
Unfortunately there’s no single way to update drivers. Because drivers are provided and supported by hundred manufacturers as well as hardware vendors, the places to look and the methods to update are similarly varied.
Here is what I usually do :
- check Windows Update
In particular, when visiting the Windows Update site, please make sure to take a look at “optional updates”, which is often where driver updates will stand out. Then just use the Windows Update mechanism to download as well as install the software. - check computer manufacturer’s website
Because I run almost exclusively HP equipment, the HP support site does a great job of leading me to the newest and greatest drivers for almost all my hardware. Typically installation is simply downloading and then running an installer. - check the hardware component manufacturer’s web sites
I also refer to hardware manufacturer’s web sites to check out the latest update. Here is also the first place that a driver update will typically be made available.
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