Drivers need to be replaced

[thelma]

Hello, I hope someone can help me with this ,

I seem to have a problem with on or two drivers.

Can I de-install and replace them ( or it, if it is only one driver ) or will this stop my PC from functioning ?

I know that I can do this by going into the Device Manager, but I know also that there are some drivers that cannot be just reinstalled like that.

Thanks for any help with this issue

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Thelma it depends on what drivers you intend to replace and I for one am not a fan of the Windows feature far better off using the manufacturer's site for them. In general (I find) the drivers when downloaded and installed will auto remove the old one and replace it with the new.
You can of course uninstall the driver in the Control Panel and that it is what I do but I always save drivers to Downloads (I keep that on my desktop) first and it is then simple matter of installing from there if you go wrong they are available for a second try.
As a matter of course I tend to keep most of the drivers for a machine in Downloads ready for use

To get Downloads on the desktop if you are so inclined - Start > type Downloads > right click send to desktop.

 

[thelma]

Thanks John for helping me,

I have been doing just now exactly what you mentioned. Also, because I try out this all to help an other member on the forum with driver problems and he has a DELL Inspiron as well. Been to Dell, signed in, went to system detect with my service tag and have just downloaded 5 drivers. 3 Hard Drives, 1 Bois and 1 audio driver. I have clicked on the file in my downloads and put them all on my desktop.

The BOIS driver I did because DELL thinks it is important to replace it.

Now, I have already changed drivers in the past, but they were not Hard Drive or BOIS drivers.

I am a bit afraid to do that as I have no other computer but this laptop, so if it goes terribly wrong I can only get in contact with you ( Seven Forums ) by phone and mine is old and very small.

What do you suggest?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Thelma I might have been a little rambling in my reply - sorry but tend toward that.

Now the driver for the hard drive or any of the hardware stuff is reasonably safe the BIOS updating it needs to be carefully done and only if absolutely necessary.

The hard drive driver I almost exclusively download from the manufacturers site and not what Toshiba or whoever dictates. So if for example I have a Samsung 250GB 850 EVO in the machine I would download from Samsung direct. Anything for the motherboard of course it need to be the board manufacturer in your case Dell to do that say for the chipset, LAN or USB ports etc Now if your machine has Intel graphics the driver for it can be got from Intel of course

 

[AddRAM]

Yes, do not flash the bios if you don`t know what you are doing, the item you`re talking about is not a driver, it`s an upgrade to or a newer version of your current bios, if your bios is fine, then there`s no need to update it.

When the day arrives that you might feel more comfortable updating the bios and you have sufficient reason to do it, then go ahead and update it.

But if your pc is fine and there`s no reason to update it, then just leave it alone.

Mess up on the bios and you`ll be buying a new motherboard

 

[thelma]

OK, I understand and thanks, both of you ,

I don't want to touch the BIOS it was just that DELL figures it needs updating ???????????????

So how about that one ( or two, is it one and the same HD ?) HD in my first post?

I have downloaded ( not installed ) 3 HD drivers from DELL that are proposed for my PC by them and put them in my desktop.

 

[fireberd]

BIOS updates are mostly for specific fixes or add support for additional CPU's. If your system does not have the problem that is fixed or you are not planning on upgrading the CPU, for example, there is no need to update the BIOS. On a Dell if BIOS update is attempted and it fails and corrupts the BIOS there is no recovery, the ONLY option is to replace the motherboard.

 

[thelma]

Thanks Firebird , I will leave the Bios well alone.

But how about my first post, I still don't know if it is an issue with one or two drivers ?

And I think I should do something like upgrade ?

 

[fireberd]

Those drivers are for your AMD Radeon Video Card.
Do you have the latest drivers for the video card?

 

[thelma]

Thanks, Fireberd ,

I will find out if they are the latest, probably not. I can perhaps try to update via the Device Manager ? Only I have un-checked getting device updates via Windows update, I rather get them from Dell.

 

[thelma]

This is the audio, Video and Gaming one. I don't understand all those names

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Actually Thelma if you want detailed info on any hardware use this ditty of mine - Part B:
Using HW Info
PART A:
You can test the volts on the PSU with HW Info HWiNFO, HWiNFO32/64 - Download < download the right bit version and close the right hand window select Sensors and scroll down to the power section where you will see what the volts are doing see my pic. In my pic the section (Nuvoton) with VBATT is a dead give away you are in the section for the rail voltages. There are other section titles and one that pops up often is ITE
Now the voltage on the different rails have to be within 5% =+/- of what is required or the machine will not work properly if at all.
ATX Minimum Specs:

3.3v Rail (ORANGE) (Min: 3.14v Max: 3.47v)

5v Rail (RED) (Min: 4.75v Max: 5.25v)

12v Rail (YELLOW) (Min: 11.4v Max: 12.6v)

(GREY CABLE PIN 8 - 5v = Power Good signal)

0v “Rail” (ALL BLACK cables, case, and board fixing screws)
See this for the rail voltage info
Power Supply 101: A Reference Of Specifications - Power Supplies (Section 2.)
The original right hand window shows the machine running and is handy for that but for looking at the components in some detail close it and use the main left hand side panel
FOR OTHER COMPONENTS
PART B:
Open each small square with + in it on the section the components are in and then click on the individual component/s (it will highlight in blue) - in the right hand side will appear all sorts of details including brands speeds and other essential info that particular device. See pic for example.


So if you go to drives in that it will tell you heaps of info on what they are, who made them, model numbers etc etc

 

[thelma]

Thanks John for your precise explications . I will study this tomorrow (Sunday) probalby need a whole day