Solved Driver Scanner?

[markg2]

I've just upgraded from 32 bit to 64 bit. Driver Scanner came along with either ImgBurn or Magic Partition.

I ran the scan and ~20 drivers (a lot of which were Intel) showed old to very old. Is this an instance to leave well enough alone or is it a good idea to update the old drivers--even if Lenovo's update driver tool is not finding these and suggesting updates?

Mark

 

[Mark Phelps]

Don't know about THAT product, but I've used similar products in the past -- and their suggestions ranged from useless to dangerous.

My own advice would be to NOT use any of the driver scanners. The component supplier websites are generally the best sources for drivers. In a pinch, you can use Microsoft Update Catalog to find drivers, or even, Windows Update.

 

[SlasherIT]

Used it before, its reliable and good... But take everything listed with a grain of salt. I merely use it to check if a product needs updating, if it does, I will go to the manufacturer of the component and get the updated driver from there.

 

[FranzB]

Don't know about THAT product, but I've used similar products in the past -- and their suggestions ranged from useless to dangerous.

My own advice would be to NOT use any of the driver scanners. The component supplier websites are generally the best sources for drivers. In a pinch, you can use Microsoft Update Catalog to find drivers, or even, Windows Update.

Hi Marc,
I have been looking on the forum where to find an answer or post a question about drivers and I found your posting. So here it goes.
I wanted to find out whether driver updates were necessary. I googled and
downloaded Uniblue driver scanner. It came up with something like 30 drivers that were outdated, some even with "antiqated". To check those results I tried another driver scanner, viz. the one from PC Pitstop. The latter found none that should be updated!!
Actually you have answered my question already but how on earth is it possible that there is such a huge discrepancy of scanning results and advice about what to do, i.e. update or not? I beats me.

 

[theog]

Don't know about THAT product, but I've used similar products in the past -- and their suggestions ranged from useless to dangerous.

My own advice would be to NOT use any of the driver scanners. The component supplier websites are generally the best sources for drivers. In a pinch, you can use Microsoft Update Catalog to find drivers, or even, Windows Update.

Hi Marc,
I have been looking on the forum where to find an answer or post a question about drivers and I found your posting. So here it goes.
I wanted to find out whether driver updates were necessary. I googled and
downloaded Uniblue driver scanner. It came up with something like 30 drivers that were outdated, some even with "antiqated". To check those results I tried another driver scanner, viz. the one from PC Pitstop. The latter found none that should be updated!!
Actually you have answered my question already but how on earth is it possible that there is such a huge discrepancy of scanning results and advice about what to do, i.e. update or not? I beats me.

Stay away from Driver scanners & use the OEM manufacturer's updates. In your case Acer.

 

[Mark Phelps]

Actually you have answered my question already but how on earth is it possible that there is such a huge discrepancy of scanning results and advice about what to do, i.e. update or not? I beats me.

The discrepancy is based on HOW the so-called driver scanner determines that drivers are out of date. You're presuming that it even checks to see if your drivers are current -- and there's no real proof that it does.

I tried several of these a while back -- when I was struggling to get current, working drivers for a Tablet PC that the manufacturer said could NOT be upgraded to run Win7. They ALL said that one or more of my drivers were out of date -- and I know for a fact that NONE of them were out of date.

One in particular said that nearly half of my drivers were out of date! But, when I went to download one of their suggested updates, they want me to PAY. That was a clue to me that ALL they wanted was my money -- and once they had that, they didn't really care what happened to my PC.

As others have said, these serve some use in identifying possible out of date drivers -- but you should then go to the hardware site to download any updated drivers.

 

[FranzB]

Hello Marc,
Yeah, i noticed that too about the pay for updates and that is probably the reason for all these "outdated" drivers found by some scanners. However, I did not want to say it because ... well you know .....UniB....