Driver updates

[Guest]

Hi-Other than MS updates for SP2 & manu. websites, is it useful to buy a
driver update program? Or will the former suffice? I tried a one day deal
for $7.00 with a company & not only was the one driver download I tried a
complete mess, I think? the other drivers the program indicated I needed were
the same that I already have. All of my current drivers are dated 2001 (from
MS) or 2004, & newer from the manufacturers.
HP Pavilion, 530J, XP Pro, Pentium 4, 200 gig HD, 1 gig RAM.

 

[Malke]

Hi-Other than MS updates for SP2 & manu. websites, is it useful to buy a
driver update program? Or will the former suffice? I tried a one day
deal for $7.00 with a company & not only was the one driver download I
tried a complete mess, I think? the other drivers the program indicated I
needed were
the same that I already have. All of my current drivers are dated 2001
(from MS) or 2004, & newer from the manufacturers.
HP Pavilion, 530J, XP Pro, Pentium 4, 200 gig HD, 1 gig RAM.

I would never pay for drivers from a third-party company like that. In
particular since you have an HP box, you're *always* going to want to get
drivers from HP only for your specific model machine. OEMs like HP usually
have the hardware made especially for them and so you only want to use
their drivers. The exception would be - obviously - for hardware you
install yourself. In that case, you would always look to the device mftr.
for drivers.

I strongly suggest you do *not* update drivers from Windows Update. It
almost always results in tears before bedtime.

To reiterate, get drivers only from the computer OEM or, if you have a
generic PC or have added the hardware yourself, from the individual
hardware mftrs.' tech support websites.

Malke

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi-Other than MS updates for SP2 & manu. websites, is it useful to buy a
driver update program? Or will the former suffice? I tried a one day
deal
for $7.00 with a company & not only was the one driver download I tried a
complete mess, I think? the other drivers the program indicated I needed
were
the same that I already have. All of my current drivers are dated 2001
(from
MS) or 2004, & newer from the manufacturers.
HP Pavilion, 530J, XP Pro, Pentium 4, 200 gig HD, 1 gig RAM.

Generally, no, these services aren't worth it. I sometimes have to find
drivers for systems or hardware where the disks are long gone, but that's
the only circumstance where these services might be helpful. Even then,
Google can be extremely helpful in locating free downloads for driver
packages.

The other issue is that if you can't find a driver for a piece of hardware
at the manufacturer's site or Microsoft, there's a large chance that it
isn't supported under XP and won't work anyway.

HTH
-pk

 

[Brian A.]

Don't waste your money on something you can do yourself. MS updates is the
last place I would get drivers from as there are many resources to obtain them
starting with the machines manufacturer. Although OEM's mostly propriortize
their systems, unless any really dramatic change has been made to the
drivers/software by the OEM, you could get drivers from the separate hardware
component manufacturers. Ex: nVidia graphics card = get driver from nVidia,
nVidia graphics on Intel chip = get drivers from Intel.

In case you don't know: OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts:
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Guest]

Don't wast your money on driver update programs, more times than not these
programs that apear to be to good to be true usualy are not.
Not only do these programs do more harm than good, in order to compensate
their running cost these programs also utilze spyware and even if you have
anti-spyware and anti-virus programs because you list this programs as
trusted all actions done by them are trusted or apear as allowed by you.

Your best course of action is to get your drivers updated by your OEM (HP)
or by Genuine MS update servers