Updating drivers

[Fayla]

I want to update my drivers. I already have all the latest drivers from the HP support page for my computer, but I think a few of them may be out of date. Problem is that I cannot find the exact model number of my installed hardware. For example, my Intel display chip just lists as "Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family", which isn't helpful at all.

Is there some program i can download that will tell me the exact hardware models I have, etc?

 

[Mashed1316]

Here you have the direct link for the download center:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/

That's your Chipset.

You could also check the manufacturer's website, let's say you have a Realtek HD Audio Card. instead of downloading it from the HP website, go to the Realtek website. of course this is just an example

Check the manufacturers of your PC's devices. and then do some research although most likely you have all your drivers updated (if you have installed the latest from your OEM's website)

EDIT:

Audio: IDT High Definition (need to download from HP's Website)
Video: Intel, from the link above. AMD from here AMD Graphics Drivers & Software
Touchpad: Drivers | Synaptics
Network: Atheros: (unofficial) ATHEROS drivers for Microsoft Windows (need to search your model), realtek LAN: Realtek, Intel pro: intel download center (above)
Storage: Realtek Card Reader: the same link i posted above (Realtek)

That'd be it. the other devices, download them from HP.

 

[fireberd]

The Belarc Advisor (free) will profile your system - both hardware and software. It won't tell you if there is a later driver version.

However, unless you are having a problem, there may be no need to update the driver(s). Keep the old adage in mind, "If it ain't broke don't fix it". Many updates are only for specific issues and if those issues are not for your specific installation or if it adds support for some new hardware, for example, and you don't have or plan on getting that hardware there is no need to install the update. Most PC manufacturers generally only issue driver updates if the specific device does not meet their published specs.

 

[Fayla]

I thought all the drivers were up to date too, but some devices had the driver date of 2009!

So I tried belarc like Fire suggested, but it only pulled the device manager names, not the actual hardware name (what I needed.)

Ended up having to search out my old hp manual to get the display adapter name (hate hunting down lost items), which was "Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD". I went to your intel link, put that in and got a 2011 driver. You can see the difference in the second attached DXDIAG file (DXDIAG-NEW)

Here you have the direct link for the download center:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/

That's your Chipset.

You could also check the manufacturer's website, let's say you have a Realtek HD Audio Card. instead of downloading it from the HP website, go to the Realtek website. of course this is just an example

Check the manufacturers of your PC's devices. and then do some research although most likely you have all your drivers updated (if you have installed the latest from your OEM's website)

EDIT:

Audio: IDT High Definition (need to download from HP's Website)
Video: Intel, from the link above. AMD from here AMD Graphics Drivers & Software
Touchpad: Drivers | Synaptics
Network: Atheros: (unofficial) ATHEROS drivers for Microsoft Windows (need to search your model), realtek LAN: Realtek, Intel pro: intel download center (above)
Storage: Realtek Card Reader: the same link i posted above (Realtek)

That'd be it. the other devices, download them from HP.

 

[Mashed1316]

Yep, the driver was outdated. Usually, the manufacturer has the latest ones!

But in some cases (as your IDT High Definition) you have to download it from the HP website. The other devices can be found in the links i provided

 

[Fayla]

+I downloaded the touchpad drivers from your link, it updated successfully. The realtek link works too, albeit at a rather slow download speed on my end (81 megs to do @ 50kb/s lol)

I'll have to make a new updated driver disc it seems!

Yep, the driver was outdated. Usually, the manufacturer has the latest ones!

But in some cases (as your IDT High Definition) you have to download it from the HP website. The other devices can be found in the links i provided

 

[Mashed1316]

Glad to read the links worked. but i still find a little weird that the Realtek driver is 81MB??? :shock: usually my NIC driver from realtek is a 600KB file (of course with no installer, i have to manually update the driver from the Device Manager)

You're probably downloading the 32/64 bit complete installer, which i find useless hehe.. just download the driver alone, it should be on the links :huh:

 

[Fayla]

Yup I did and in that case it was for the HD audio codec. The NIC was about 624KB. Now those both have 2011 driver versions too

Glad to read the links worked. but i still find a little weird that the Realtek driver is 81MB??? :shock: usually my NIC driver from realtek is a 600KB file (of course with no installer, i have to manually update the driver from the Device Manager)

You're probably downloading the 32/64 bit complete installer, which i find useless hehe.. just download the driver alone, it should be on the links :huh: