Updating drivers

rmg1

Hi all

I've just tried updating various drivers and apps and it's going badly.
Firstly, trying to find which apps or drivers are out of date is a nightmare and secondly trying to find updates is taking ages.

Is there such a thing as a free program that will scan all the apps installed, check for which need updating and point you in the right direction to get updates?

It's a big ask, I know, but would save me an awful lot of time.

rmg1

True........but (hopefully) the newer versions will be quicker/more efficient/smaller/more robust which is what I'm hoping for.

superscaper

I'm a bit of a sucker for updating drivers but I agree with loaner's sentiments (even if i'm being a hypocrite). The only exception to that really in my opinion is keeping your graphics drivers up to date.

rmg1

But what about keeping general apps (not including AV and anti-malware) up to date?

Mercenary

For apps like Adobe Flashplayer , Quicktime, Realplayer etc (all the ones which have security implications) go to https://www.secunia.com for an online scan or download the standalone version which scans more of your installed programmes.:D

superscaper

rmg1 wrote: »

But what about keeping general apps (not including AV and anti-malware) up to date?

Apart from checking individual programs, I tend to use filehippo's update checker a lot http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/
Occasionally use Secunia https://psi.secunia.com/
And for games I use gameshadow http://www.gameshadow.com/

I've yet to find a perfect solution/all in one. But the above is what I genuinely use.

rmg1

Superscraper - thanks for that - just using the filehippo checker now.
I've got an ATI graphics card and it's showing me the ATI Catalyst Driver version 8.7 (apparently I have version 6.5 but when I try to install it, it says no compatible hardware installed.

Any ideas?

P.S. Anyone tried IE8 (beta) yet?

Marty999

rmg1 wrote: »

Is there such a thing as a free program that will scan all the apps installed, check for which need updating and point you in the right direction to get updates?

I think there is, if you are running Vista (I am still on XP). I came across DriverMax recently which does an online scan of your PC and lists practically everything technical about it. You can save this info in your online DriverMax account so you can access it from any computer if you want, and you can repeat this with other PCs and keep all the information in the one account too.

DriverMax also allows you to back up all your PC's existing drivers into a local folder just in case. And for Vista users only, it claims that it will also search for more updated drivers and you can download them easily from the results page.

Oh, and it's free too!

Marty999

superscaper wrote: »

I tend to use filehippo's update checker a lot http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/

Thanks for the tip Superscaper, I have tried the update checker and agree that it's a good utility.

rmg1

Just tried to install the ATI Catalyst Driver 8.7 again for my graphics card and got the same message.

Any ideas?

iviv

What graphics card do you have? I don't know about ATI, but Nvidia don't support laptop graphics cards with their drivers (Or at least not mine).