Driver update software from slimware......

[Maclean Kew]

Hello,
My problem is this.......driver update software completed its diagnostic, installed new drivers. The computer went into power saving mode overnight. When I tried to access my computer the next day, I could not get a response from my computer. I shutdown the computer, restarted it and I was staring at a blank black screen with a blinking cursor. I tried to use the keyboard commands to get a response, nothing. I restarted the computer again and toggled f8 to bring up the advanced startup options. I see a message that says something similar to, try to restart the system again or delete the restore option and restart. I tried the try again option only to find the blank black screen again with the blinking cursor.

Then I turned off the computer, this time I placed the startup disk for windows 7 in the dvd drive and gave myself the option to boot from disk, using the f8 key again I was able to bring up another advanced screen different than the first one that prompted try again or delete. I tried to boot my os from disk but it wanted me to insatll windows again, so I turned off my computer. Then I tried the same procedure again, this time when the advanced startup screen came into view I asked it to start in safe mode to avoid the newly installed software. Safe mode booted my computer but wanted me to re-install windows, so again I turned off the computer. Then I took out the startup disk, and started the computer without a startup disk. I can't remember if I used the f8 key to get to the next screen or not, but the advanced options screen appeared. I used safe mode to start the os, again suspecting the newly installed software may have caused a conflict. Safe mode booted my os, everything appeared as it was last night before the computer went into power saving mode except that the drivers weren't working.

I did nothing at this point, only wanted to see if the system would boot into windows. I turned off the computer and restarted it. The next thing that happens is that the computer boots up just like normal, as though none of this ever happened. All my files and software are still in place, nothing has been changed, the desktop looks the same and everything is back to normal.

What happened? My concern is that this will happen again. I wonder of I installed some new drivers that are causing conflicts?

If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate it.

I'm thinking that by booting from the startup disk I may have completed a manual hard boot, and for some reason it prompted whatever the conflict was to correct itself? Or, somehow I lucked out.

Help!

 

[fireberd]

Programs such as the Slimware, are basically "registry cleaners" (may also be called repair programs, PC speed up, etc) and they have a history of many times causing more problems than they claim to fix. They are basically not needed.

Same way with drive updates. The old adage "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies. However, if you do need a driver update, the PC vendor's site is the best place to go (and its free). Many times with drivers, they are issued to fix specific problems and if you do not have the problem, it isn't a requirement to install it.

 

[Stephanie]

Hi Maclean Kew

Driver update software can cause problems (some time back AMD - then ATI had problems because Driver update software was only downloading there Driver but not the CCC), as fireberd advises it is better to go to the manufactures web site and download Drivers/Software also its another possess on your system you don't need

 

[Callender]

Driver Updates

As suggested it's better to search for, download and install driver updates yourself when needed. However if you're going to use Driver Update software then I'd suggest the following approach.

Make a system image backup first:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

That way if anything goes wrong you won't have a problem restoring your system to the state it was in before drivers were updated.

If using SlimDrivers:

Check the program's settings and uncheck the following:



Backup your existing drivers first:



Only download and install driver updates one at a time. Download one update and let it install. Reboot before going ahead with the next driver update. (Where Download Update is shown - don't select them all at once!). Sone security software could interfere with driver updates and could block or sandbox new unrecognized files.


.
Use your computer for a while after updating a driver before installing anything else. If you notice problems either restore your original drivers using the Restore feature of SlimDrivers or else roll back the last installed driver using Device Manager.



Problems arise when installing drivers in the wrong order or attempting to install multiple drivers in one update session!

In my experience SlimDrivers has never attempted to install the wrong driver unlike some other similar software.

The usual advice from experienced users is not to mess about with updating drivers unless something has stopped working or unless it's a security issue that needs fixing.

Sometimes new drivers are released just to add new features or remove old ones rather then fixing compatibility issues. If that's the case you'll need to know if you want to actually make use if those new features or are happy with the removal of existing features.

 

[Maclean Kew]

I appreciate you advice, the only problem that occurs by simply taking your advice is that the reason Slimware exists is to auto sift through the millions of drivers that are available to find the ones that are compatible to my computer. Other than that I agree, using the manufacturers drivers would be ideal. I'm only commenting on your advice though, see the problem is that some computer manufacturers have gone out of business and finding a driver that is compatible with my hard drive and os is a little more challenging than I though at first. It was either buy the slimware software or take the hard drive into a tech and have them tell me what I already know, while they charge me whatever price they want.

Although I am a new member to the forum, I think that some of the advice that I am receiving from some of the people here.......is a little of target. I don't think that anything is wrong with the slimware software, I think maybe it depends on what a person needs it for that makes the difference.

In the end, it was the tech team from slimware that honoured their service contract that came with the software that I purchased who was able to find the missing driver from my os.....I think what happened was that somehow one of the drivers got bumped out or disabled when the driver update software processed my requests to install new software....must be a glitch? Don't worry I reported it to slimware and they are aware of the problem, although this is not a problem specific to windows 7 I felt it was relevant because this could be a very time consuming headache if a person were to re-install windows.