Help with computer drivers

tellyerworraldowivyer

Hello everyone!
I am getting into how my computer works and I have auto updates on my computer for the Microsoft Windows XP site and it recently prompted me to install a new driver for a wireless card in my PC.
I looked a little deeper into these driver things and forgive me for sounding a bit unsure about them.
I went to a website called driverzone which offered a free driver scan of my computer so I did this and it came back with a list of drivers that it thought were out of date, I clicked for it to update them but was directed to a page asking for a $15 yearly subscription to the service.
I then tried CNET's download.com for a similar service, only to be directed to the same website.
I would have thought that there would be a free website out there to do this and wondered if any other moneysavers had found one?
Any help on this would be appriciated as I have been told that some things run better with the most up to date drivers.
Thank you.

Browntoa

I'd only take updates from Windows Update or the Manufacturers web sites (for audio drivers...etc)

alwaysskint96

Go to the manufacturers site of your hardware- dfriver updates can usually be found there- for free

tellyerworraldowivyer

Yes, I have done that for a railink 1394 card on their website but was greeted with a whole array of different drivers, not sure which one is suitable!

Browntoa

if you have taken the wireless updates from Windows updates then you have the latest drivers

aerostar

If it ain't broke - don't fixit !!!!!!

winged_avenger

I have used driver zone and it is very good. I am presently using Drivers HQ at http://www.drivershq.com/ which costs $30. They will both scan your computer and tell you what drivers you need but if you want to use their auto downloads you have to pay but the licence is forever. I repair home computers and thes sites save me loads of time by auto selecting the correct drivers.:T

spud17

I've used this one a couple of times for drivers, once for an old scanner, once for an old modem.
There is a simple registration, but they have never contacted me so no spam.

http://www.driverguide.com/

tellyerworraldowivyer

Thanks for all the great advice, the site seemed to scan the devices section of my computer, it said that the ATA controller driver was out of date, also the AMD processor driver, I have been to the AMD website but was met with an array of drivers, not sure which one is correct.

tellyerworraldowivyer

Does anyone know about ATA drivers or the correct driver for the AMD 4000+ processor?

Toxteth_OGrady

Download and install the 2nd, 7th and 14th items on this page:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_9706,00.html

The ATA drivers wil be specific to your mobo chipset so you'll need to go to the motherboard's support site.

:cool:

TOG