Windows 7 - What drivers to check?

Hi all,

A real rookie question from, suprisingly, a rookie. I regularly have windows update and check my graphics card for updates in the drivers.

What other areas/elements of my PC should I be checking in terms of updates?

Providing you have opted to receive Windows Updates automatically you have to do nothing.

However, I think it's better to use the manufacturer's updates for things like your graphics card, but even here you've got to be careful.

If your hardware is provided by the computer manufacturer it is likely to be the OEM version (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and as such may be configured differently to the retail version.

In terms of updates, I'd be inclined to use your computer manufacturer's support site where you'll get plenty of good advice.

Always use the OEM manufacturer's website for driver updates. Not the Windows updateer as it loves to misled.

Everyone on here's going to hate me but I bought an Advent from PC World. As such I can't really see where there is a dedicated site. Assuming The Tech Guys are the nearest site though.

Cheers for the pointers though!

This for UK.

http://support.pcworld.co.uk/

Don't go to the Tech Guys, you'll get far better help on WSF. Have a good look in the Tutorials forum, it's an absolute mine of excellent help.

And if you're struggling, never hesitate to ask on here - there's always someone around to offer a solution.

PC World are the OEM manufacturer of Advent PC's.

You may have bought a pre-built/branded computer, but it is built with the same components that those of us that build our own use. There may be a few less features and/or locked bios settings on a pre-build, but at the heart of it they are the same. For a laptop yes you pretty much have to rely on the computer manufacturer, but for a desktop you can go directly to the component manufacturer's site(s).

As for drivers for yours here is the motherboard that is in it,

Foxconn - Products: Motherboard

which has an AMD chipset (780V +SB700) as well as from your specs you have a HD 4350. You can get the latest drivers for both directly from AMD,

Downloads

for the audio it has the Realtek ALC662 and you can find links to the latest for it here,

Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version

Then again you could also just leave well enough alone if everything is working as expected. Also on a properly working system the only drivers that should be updated after the initial Windows install are the video and possibly the audio drivers, as they can and do contain fixes usually for new games as they come out. If you're not a gamer or there is nothing in the new driver that would benefit you, you can leave them alone.

Hi chaps,

really appreciate the help here! I'll get onto it.