Solved when is it necessary to update drivers and Bios

[thelma]

I went to all the 10 pages of Threads on drivers updates and did not find a recent answer to this general question.

After resetting my Dell Laptop to better that ever before (due to the help of Noel ), I have now cleaned up all files and folders, cookies, taken empty and doubble things away, plus cleaned register and the lot with Super Antispyware, Glary Utilities and so on.

I have updates 4 programmes and now they keep reminding me to update my drivers and BIOS

I read that many people have problems after doing so, but on the other hand, my laptop is from 2010 and I cannot remember having ever updated a driver.

Also with windows 7 being soon not top priority of the Windows Big Bosses any more, I wander, is it now the good moment to attack this, ( after a System Image of course ) or just forget about it as all runs smoothly.

Thanks for any idea's on this - sort of - general subject !

 

[pbcopter]

In my opinion, unless you are having a problem that the new driver or BIOS is designed to fix, I would not necessarily update.

Many times the BIOS is only updated to allow adding new CPU's or other hardware.

The same with drivers.

 

[LMiller7]

A BIOS update should not be done unless the update specifically addresses a problem you are having. It should not be done just because there is a newer version available. A failed BIOS update, which can happen even if you do everything right, can be a very serious matter. In some cases only physical replacement of the BIOS chip (often not socket mounted) will restore operation.

There are differing opinions regarding driver updates. In some cases an update will be necessary to solve a problem. But otherwise my view is "If it isn't broken don't fix it".

Just for interest: An updated drive may improve performance. On the other hand, there have been cases where an updated video driver was tuned to do well with a specific benchmark that was popular at the time. Real world performance was no better.

 

[thelma]

Thank you booth pbcopter and Lmiller7 for responding to my general question. You more or less confirmed what I thought.

Do not wake up sleeping dogs as we say in Holland.

 

[NoN]

Thank you booth pbcopter and Lmiller7 for responding to my general question. You more or less confirmed what I thought.

Do not wake up sleeping dogs as we say in Holland.

That's really depends of the version history too, of the drivers, Bios and firmware.

Some Bios or firmware, drivers are there to update some security settings, give the compatibility for newer hardwares, improve the computer respond, fix...etc.
I'm trying (when it's possible) to always have the version history for Bios and firmware before updating.

For the Drivers i recon it is starting to be a real mess nowadays to update because of those new OSes that is Windows 8.1 & 10 (for those having upgraded too) and it is not always safe to update them. I started to avoid some drivers that are not coming from either from manufacturer or official brand makers and are not digitally signed.

I can give an example, my Marvell Sata Controller (dedicated to a hot-swap bay) installed on my machine have some older drivers because the version history tells for the newer, some hard drives are not anymore handle by the latest drivers. Since it does works fine with older, i decided to stay with actual ones as i have older HDDs too.

 

[thelma]

Thanks NoN for your replay, I do understand the underlining idea of it.

It could be, that I am at the moment losing out on newly developed bits of security and maybe technology by sticking with my drivers and Bios from the start.

I am not at all a computer geek and it took me ages to realise that drivers can be actually things you can hold in your hand and fix to a computer and software that changes there attitude by downloading it or uploading it, what ever is the right expression. Same with Bios I think ?

But it all fascinates me and the more I learn the more I like it. Its all so amazing and most goes way above my head, but I'm learning.

So, for the moment I keep with what was installed in and programmed on this laptop when I bought it, but I will do some resurge in the DELL community about other owners of this particular model I have and there experiences.

My biggest worry is, once this quiet old laptop ( friend) gives up, I have to buy a new one with Windows 10 on it and I so much like my Windows 7.

Cheers and thanks for your time,
Thelma

 

[NoN]

Since your laptop is around year 2010 it might already have the latest Bios, one thing you shouldn't worry much about. Just in case i would download the latest from manufacturer and put it in a dedicated folder.


Two days ago i was browsing with pure curiosity at laptops on retailers online shops (i mean also that i'm quite frustrated that Windows 10 upgrade won't properly install on my older machine!!), and yes, they already have on sell some laptops/computers with Windows 10 license.

I wouldn't worry that much if i'll have to buy, for example, a computer/laptop with a Windows 10 OEM license on it now, because this new OS is going along those new hardwares and those had been freshly tested/installed and surely have dedicated and customized drivers that they might hide to public in general release. The problems might come sometimes from the bloatwares they do provide with it (you can always uninstall some).
Also, I mean, all this have a warranty that can be extended, therefore i'm little protected while warranty is running, it's the deal even if it can be painful to have to return it more than once.

Unfortunately Windows 7 will die one day and force we are to upgrade.

 

[thelma]

For me, the hardware part of the computer, is even more difficult to understand than the software.
To fill in my System Specs is almost impossible. What is CPU ( found it Control Processing Unit ), what the hell is a Motherboard? the same as a processor ? PCB ?

All the different drivers you see when you open up your Device Manager !!!

I have 34 different System Drivers, I am sure some are out of date or double up.

There are so many questions I would like to find the answer for, like what do you actually need and what not.
I have just today taken Java of my programs list, but do you need Microsoft Silverlight as an example ?

Don't want to get on there nerves here so try to find the answers in old threads, it is a lot of resurge, but I
pick up a lot in the meantime.

Thanks NoN for your replays and explications. Hope your old computers keeps going !

And ......

Yes, Windows 7 will dye one day and that of coarse is a subject in many of the threads found every were on this forum.

 

[thelma]

Found a lot about Microsoft Silver light on this forum amongst them on 14 dec 2014 " Do I need it or not ", so that one is off my list

I just keep going - when a bit of time- and in the end I know it all .................. ( only kidding )