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Driver updater programmes, are they useful?

RISC OS user
Resolved

Likes # 0

Posted November 28, 2012 at 12:55PM

I have been offered a programme called "Advanced Driver Update" from Systweak inc. through Ashampoo.

Have downloaded and run it. It reports that 14 drivers are out-of-date on my HP Pavilion dv6 laptop and 20 are out-of-date on my HP Pavilion p6325uk desktop. I have used the Device Manager to check and download new drivers for the ones indicated but the Microsoft programme which runs a check reports that the drivers are up to date.

To be able to use the data to download the drivers which the programme has indicated need replacement I would have to pay them in the region of £13.50.

Has any one out there had any experience with this or similar programmes? Both my computers are becoming quite slow at boot up.

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Jock1e

Likes # 1

Posted November 28, 2012 at 1:03PM

Never found them to be much good.Make sure you never download an unsigned driver for anything as Microsoft reacts badly to unsigned drivers.

I would imagine you would get any drivers needed from the HP Site or the Motherboard site.

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northumbria61

Likes # 1

Posted November 28, 2012 at 1:16PM

I am with Jock1e on this one - never found them any good. Having said that you could use it to search and list outdated drivers for you but I would always recommend going to the manufacturers website for the driver you require.

I have used the program you mention for such purposes in the past and I have a few programs from Ashampoo which I like and are quite safe to use. No need to pay to update any driver when you can get them for FREE.

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northumbria61

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Posted November 28, 2012 at 1:19PM

RISC os user - Both my computers are becoming quite slow at boot up. Very unlikely to be as a result of outdated drivers. Download and Run CCleaner to do a good clean up of "rubbish" on your computer - this will do the trick and you will notice a difference.

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RISC OS user

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Posted November 28, 2012 at 2:02PM

Thanks all, have run cclean, will see what the results will be.

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northumbria61

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Posted November 28, 2012 at 2:07PM

You could also go into CCleaner - Tools - Startup - disable those you don't want to start when you switch on - it does make a difference!

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Ian in Northampton

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Posted November 28, 2012 at 4:00PM

Rules one, two, three, four and five (in my house at least) Never EVER update a driver just because there's a newer version available. Update if you have problems that are driver related, update if the new driver will give you better performance, update because the new driver has features you want/need - but never update just because you can.

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