Users often encounter problems related not to “bugs” in programs or the operating system, but to drivers. For example, if there is no driver for the network card, you will not be able to set up an Internet connection, and an incorrectly installed video card driver means that not a single game will run.
Specialists who often set up computers and laptops know this problem firsthand. This article will introduce you to the most effective driver update applications. So, let's start setting up your computer.

Driver Pack Solution

Driver Pack Solution(Driver Pack Solution) is one of the best utilities for updating drivers. The program is implemented in ISO image format. This is a virtual disk that is opened through a special program (for example, Daemon Tools or Alcohol 120%). The ISO image is large (about 11 GB). But there is also a version that takes up much less space and requires the Internet to work.



An important feature of the application is that it can be used on computers without an Internet connection. Many other driver update programs must go to the Internet to download the required driver from there. And this is the key advantage: you download the image only once and use it.


Open the downloaded file and the program will automatically scan your computer. Based on the scanning results, a report similar to this is issued (in the screenshot below):


The user needs to check the boxes of those drivers that need to be installed and click the button to begin the operation. Some users prefer to click " Update all" This operation takes no more than 10-15 minutes, after which the computer or laptop receives all the required drivers. In some cases, you have to look for rare drivers yourself, since they may not be in the program database. However, this does not happen often - after all, the assembly is quite large.

Driver Booster

Convenient Russian-language program with a free version. It will quickly scan your computer and identify old drivers.



The utility will not only show outdated drivers, but will also mark the criticality of the update, that is, those drivers that are strongly recommended to be updated as soon as possible.


A special feature of the application is the ability to update drivers in the background. You press one button and the program starts the installation. A checkpoint is automatically created to roll back the system to a working state if the installation of new drivers fails.


If you often deal with drivers (you professionally configure computers, update programs), this utility will be very popular in your software package.

Driver Checker

It is impossible not to mention this useful utility. Imagine the situation: you are about to reinstall the Windows operating system, but you have not saved a single working driver for your devices. This application allows you to create backup copies of all active drivers in use, and then restore them on a new OS. In such situations, the program turns out to be indispensable!



The utility is very easy to use. Launch it, and it will prompt you to scan the system. Example in the screenshot:


After the scan is completed, the program will provide a report indicating which drivers need updating.

Slim Drivers

A simple and free program for checking drivers and updating them.



It is not capable of installing drivers in the background, but will quickly scan your hard drive and provide a list of direct links to new drivers. Naturally, this saves a lot of time.


The program has found 5 outdated drivers and offers to update them.

DriverMax

Another simple and fast program for searching and updating drivers. It only takes 10-20 seconds to scan your computer. There are two versions of the utility: free and professional. For home use, the free version is sufficient.



The interface is made in English, but there are no difficulties - everything is intuitive. During the first launch, the program offers to scan the system. Click the button to start the scanning process.


Once the scan is complete, DriverMax generates a recommendation report, indicating which drivers need to be updated. The report is very detailed and understandable.

Results

Some readers will argue that it is better to download drivers from the website of the manufacturer of a particular device. We can agree with this if the user knows the manufacturer, and the drivers for the device in your series are posted on the official website. It often happens that components (video card, network card, etc.) become outdated, and the manufacturer stops supporting its product for the new operating system. Moreover, manually installing ten or more drivers is not a pleasant task.

The proper operation of your computer or laptop and the devices connected to it depends on having the appropriate current drivers installed.

A driver is a kind of program that is responsible for a given device and acts as an intermediary between it and the rest of the system.

You can install or update them in two ways: manually and using programs.

The first method is preferable, but not everything is simple with it. Many people switch, for example, from Windows 7 to Windows 10, but there may not be drivers for dozens on the website, since at the time the PC was released, there was no trace of Windows 10.

Although this is not the main thing. The websites of some manufacturers are designed in such a way that they cannot be reached, then this task is greatly facilitated by programs.

There are dozens of programs for automatically updating drivers for Windows 10, but almost all of them are paid and no offense to the developers, they do not always install what is needed.

A good program of this type scans the system, compares the detected drivers with the database and indicates those that require intervention, and then searches for them on the websites of device manufacturers, downloads and installs them.

I have my own favorite, reliable and free. It didn’t let me down, so I’ll share it with you below. You can download it at the end of this post.

The best free program to automatically update drivers for Windows 10

It's called "DevID Agent" and will help you easily update or install missing drivers, for example, after installing Windows, when the system does not recognize some components, for example, there is no sound or Wi-Fi.

It searches and allows you to download them. All you have to do is check the boxes and click the install selected button.

Identifying device drivers connected to your computer is the main feature of this free program.

The intuitive operation, high efficiency of the program and the availability of the Russian language deserve special attention.

Also, before installing new drivers, the program suggests creating a computer configuration restore point, which allows you to restore the system to its previous state in the event of a failure.

You can download it below. After downloading, to install, extract it from the archive.

Developer:
https://devid.info

OS:
XP, Windows 7, 8, 10

Interface:
Russian

Drivers for Windows 10 are essential programs. During the installation of the new Windows 10 operating system, many people had various questions and some difficulties. First of all, this concerned problems with the functioning of certain components. Also, another common complaint is that there are some options missing in the settings of this system. Such problems can be quickly resolved by installing the necessary drivers.

This is due to the fact that not all old personal computers and their equipment support the tenth version of the Windows system (64 bit). Because of this, new drivers did not change those that were installed previously. Manufacturers of such software took this into account and released new universal programs from Microsoft. However, they are not always suitable. In this case, you can use special software packages that should be installed correctly.

What are drivers for Windows 10?

A driver is a piece of software that prepares the entire computer and tells it how to handle a particular software or device. For example, a person purchased a new webcam for a personal computer. When he returns home and connects this device to the computer, the system will automatically detect the presence of a new device and begin installing it.

No problems arise in this case.

However, the selected equipment is not always suitable the first time. For example, if its manufacturer is less well-known, then sometimes some difficulties arise. In this case, the system tries to automatically find drivers for Win 10. If this fails, Windows will show you that you need to manually find such software, but first you will have to look for them yourself. As a rule, you can easily find the necessary programs on the websites of equipment manufacturers and developers.

In general, drivers are important software for the normal operation of all equipment. They are used:

  • sound, network and video cards;
  • keyboards, mice, etc.;
  • printers and scanners;
  • cameras;
  • file system support;
  • devices that are designed to store information.

This is only a small part of where drivers will be needed. They increase the performance of the entire Windows system and enable the operating system to work with other devices and software.

Many people think that they can download all the necessary drivers for the Windows 10 operating system. They can easily be found on other resources. Firstly, if you require universal programs from companies that develop operating systems, then you need to follow the link to the official Microsoft website.

After that, in the tabs you need to select a page with a list of drivers.

In addition, all the necessary programs can be found in the update section. Secondly, if you need to find programs for certain devices and equipment, you should go to the websites of the manufacturers of these devices. Further on these sites you should find sections with support, drivers, and more. After this, you need to select your equipment, find the model, version and select the Windows 10 operating system.

It is necessary to take into account that you can download programs that are required for the full operation of components only from the websites of the companies that are their developers. In this case, they will not provoke the appearance of viruses on the computer. In addition, they are designed specifically for Windows 10, so it is better not to look for other options.

In addition, you need to know which drivers are most likely to be needed for Windows 10 to work. They may not be required, however, in some cases problems arise, so it is better to know all the necessary drivers in advance. For example, you may need Microsoft.NetFamework 3.5 - 4.6, TXE, audio driver, programs for power management, for touchpad, for card reader, for USB, etc.

Most Popular Driver Packages

Nowadays, many driver packs have appeared to improve system performance. One of the most interesting is Driver Pack Solution 17.7.56 Final. It is considered the most famous package that contains only the latest developed versions of drivers, which are collected all together. Driver Pack Solution 17.7.56 Final will help you install all the necessary programs on your computer, not only automatically, but also manually. Driver Pack Solution 17.7.56 Final contains only the latest programs that are completely suitable for all devices, including those running on 64-bit Windows 10. Perfect not only for personal computers, but also for laptops, and any models. The installation will take no more than 5 minutes, so you no longer have to search for different drivers separately.

In addition, everything is done automatically.

Driver Scanner 2017 4.1.1.1 Final is another affordable option with new versions of programs that have been released by a famous software developer. The software that is collected in this package contains all the necessary programs that anyone may need. Such a package is truly a necessary tool for the full operation of the system. Driver Scanner 2017 4.1.1.1 Final will help you find and download all the necessary new versions. In addition, it will independently scan the entire system and find outdated programs.

NVIDIA GeForce 382.53 WHQL is another interesting driver package from a well-known development company. Here are the key points for optimizing system operation, thereby reducing boot and response times of the entire system. In addition, many games improve not only speed, but also performance. All drivers were released in early June 2017, so they are the latest. This package is suitable not only for Windows 10, but also for Windows 7 and 8.

NVIDIA GeForce 382.05 WHQL is another latest version.

All drivers date from the beginning of May, so they are also great for improving the performance of various systems.

Intel Chipset Device Software 10.1.2.84 WHQL is a version of the driver package that will please many personal computer users. In addition, you can also use Realtek High Definition Audio Driver R2.81 Final. This package is suitable for audio devices.

You can install drivers for the tenth version of the Windows system in two ways - manually and automatically in software. Both of these options are popular, but you need to keep in mind that they have certain features that should not be forgotten.

When installing software manually, you first need to download everything you need onto your own computer. After this you need to do the following:

  1. Right-click on the “Start” button. After that, select the item called “Task Manager”.
  2. After these steps, a new dialog box will open that contains a list. For example, in it you can select the item with the video adapter. After that, right-click on the “Driver Update” function.
  3. Then the installation wizard for such software will start running. After that, you can select the “Search this computer” option.
  4. Now all that remains is to wait for the system to independently find all the necessary programs and download them. There is also an option to independently register the address for this software.
  5. Then the programs will begin to install.

In addition, there is a second method - software. Its name is due to the fact that drivers for Windows in this case will be installed using specially developed programs.

Among them, the most popular are Driver Booster and Slim Drivers.

In addition, you can also use software such as Driver Pack Solution. In this case, the installation process will be slightly different. Here is the algorithm of actions:

  1. First you need to download the selected program.
  2. After this, you need to launch it and wait until it analyzes the functioning of the entire system and its individual components. Then the software will find drivers that are already outdated and therefore need to be updated. The program will also find those that are missing on the computer, but are required. After that, all that remains is to hit the “Install” button to start the process. By the way, you can independently choose which drivers need to be installed and which, in the user’s opinion, are not needed.
  3. When all programs are already installed, you need to restart your computer.

In addition, updating the software for components when using the Windows 10 system is also an important issue.

Before you begin this task, you should be aware that Microsoft has created several generic drivers.

Now you can proceed with the following steps:

  1. Click on the “Start” button with the right mouse button. From the selected list, you again need to select the “Device Manager” option. You need to select an element that has a yellow triangle. This indicates that the driver itself is either not installed or corrupted. Now right-click and select the “Driver Update” function from the pop-up list.
  2. In the new dialog box, you must select the “Automatic search” function. After this, the direct search for the necessary software on the network begins.
  3. After the software is downloaded to the computer, the utility will install it.
  4. In the end, all that remains is to restart the computer.

Conclusion

If Windows 10 is installed, you will also need to install drivers. They will help you cope with the problem of the lack of certain options in the settings or problems with the operation of components. Now the developers have released special programs for the tenth version of the Windows system with 64-bit performance.

This instruction tells you how to disable automatic updating of device drivers in Windows 10 in three ways - a simple setting in system properties, using the registry editor, and also using the local group policy editor (the latter option is only for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise). You will also find a video tutorial at the end.

According to observations, many problems with the operation of Windows 10, especially on laptops, are currently associated precisely with the fact that the OS automatically loads the “best” driver, which in its opinion can ultimately lead to unpleasant consequences, such as a black screen , incorrect operation of sleep and hibernation mode and the like.

You can disable automatic installation of drivers for individual devices in Windows 10 manually - using the Local Group Policy Editor (for Professional and Enterprise editions) or using the Registry Editor. This section shows the prohibition for a specific device by hardware ID.

To do this using the Local Group Policy Editor, you will need the following simple steps:


After these steps, the installation of new drivers for the selected device will be prohibited, either automatically by Windows 10 itself or manually by the user, until the changes are canceled in the local group policy editor.

If gpedit is not available in your edition of Windows 10, you can do the same using the Registry Editor. To begin, follow the first step from the previous method (find out and copy all equipment IDs).

Go to the registry editor (Win+R, enter regedit) and go to the section HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Policies\ Microsoft\ Windows\ DeviceInstall\ Restrictions\ DenyDeviceIDs(if there is no such section, create it).

After this, create string values, the name of which is numbers in order, starting from 1, and the value is the ID of the equipment for which you want to prohibit driver updates (see screenshot).

Disabling automatic driver downloads in system settings

The first way to disable driver updates is to use the Windows 10 device installation settings settings. There are two ways to get into these settings (both options require you to be an administrator on the computer).


In the installation options, you will see a single request: “Automatically download manufacturer apps and custom icons available for your devices?”

Select "No" and save the settings. In the future, you will not receive new drivers automatically from Windows 10 Update.

Video instruction

Video guide that clearly shows all three ways (including two that are described later in this article) to disable automatic driver updates in Windows 10.

Below are additional shutdown options if certain problems arise with those described above.

Using Registry Editor

The same can be done using the Windows 10 Registry Editor. To launch it, press the Windows + R keys on your computer keyboard and enter regedit in the “Run” window, then click OK.

In the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ DriverSearching(if section DriverSearching is missing in the specified location, then right-click on the partition CurrentVersion, and select Create - Section, then specify its name).

In chapter DriverSearching change (in the right side of the registry editor) the value of the variable SearchOrderConfig to 0 (zero) by double-clicking on it and entering a new value. If such a variable is missing, then in the right part of the registry editor, right-click - New - 32-bit DWORD Value. Give it a name SearchOrderConfig, and then set the value to zero.

After this, close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. If in the future you need to re-enable automatic driver updates, change the value of the same variable to 1.

Disabling driver updates from Update using the Local Group Policy Editor

And the last way to disable automatic search and installation of drivers in Windows 10, which is only suitable for the Professional and Enterprise versions of the system.


Done, drivers will no longer be updated or installed automatically.

The driver installer for Windows 10 pulls a lot from the Internet on its own, but there is one danger here - installing the wrong software, or getting a conflict. Murphy's Third Law states that if there is a bad update package available for download, it will be installed the moment someone needs the computer. The consequences of updating the driver for Windows 10 for the graphics card are especially sad. We are now talking about standard methods that perform automatic searches through the Device Manager. Installing drivers on Windows 10 is also possible using other methods.

With that said, the search program should not be launched on the eve of any important events. There is another case - you need to replace the motherboard. There is no way you can do this without an installation disk. Most of the users did not bother to download Windows 10 online and did not buy this product in the store. Of course, many switched to the package by upgrading from Windows 7. For this, there is a special program (update program) on the Microsoft server.

Building a new PC

The process usually looks like this. A new personal computer is assembled from components, and then the operating system is installed. Very rarely is it Windows 10, because the new product costs money, and many already have Windows 7. Without installing network drivers, it is impossible to download the update, and this cannot be done without a network driver. On the disk that came with the motherboard, the voiced component is usually located in the Ethernet folder.

There are two controversial points. On the one hand, a package installed under the seven may come into conflict, on the other hand, the drivers need to be installed immediately, since it is 10 versus 1 that they are for operating systems from the following list:

  • Windows 7 (x64 and x86).
  • Linux (rare, but occurs).
  • Vista (x64 and x86).

There are usually no drivers for the top ten, but the existing ones work well. It is still recommended to start by installing the previous version directly under Windows. By the way, Microsoft, if something happens, gives you the opportunity to roll back from Windows 10. It turns out to be a win-win option.

How to bet

Now we will look at where to find drivers on the media, and which ones are needed from an extensive list.

The best tactic for manual searching is to find certain folders and start installing. First of all, names such as:

  1. Chipset.
  2. Processor.
  3. Ethernet (Network).
  4. RealTek (Audio).

There are often no options for updating processor drivers. Please note that nothing is said about the video card. Its driver is installed last and is located on a separate disk. After the operations have been completed, for the most part, no other configuration is required. After upgrading to Windows 10, in 99% of cases everything works. Some people want to start updating right away. Here's how to do it the usual way.

Standard method for updating drivers under Windows 10

Here are the first things to look at:

  • Video adapters.
  • Monitors.
  • Processors.
  • System devices.

It must be said that in the Processors folder there will be one entry for each core; in System devices there is a dime a dozen equipment. To update the driver, you need to right-click on the desired line and select Update drivers, the scan will begin. For the most part, Windows 10 doesn't find anything, but in other cases the operation is successful.

Not everything always goes according to schedule, and then after a reboot the following messages appear on the screen.

In this case, it is possible to roll back the driver. And although this message seems more like an error in an installed application (programming package), it arose precisely after installing a new version of software for one of the components of the motherboard. To roll back the driver, right-click on the component, go to Properties and go to the appropriate tab.

The Roll Back Driver button will be active only if any operations have recently been performed with this component. Otherwise, the window element is pink, as in our screenshot. It is not always easy to roll back a driver. If fresh “firewood” for a video card fails, it will be impossible to log into the system even from safe mode. More precisely, it is not always possible to do this. Therefore, the standard Windows 10 way to update drivers is not very good. But third-party software often crashes. In our memory, the free installer overturned the system several times, and it was difficult to return it to its previous state.

Note! The easiest way to enter the Task Manager is to press the “Win” + X key combination and select the desired item from the list.

How to update without going through Windows?

The majority of the population does not need these difficulties, but if you really want to, use a search engine and go through the manufacturer’s website. It's difficult to say where Windows 10 gets its list of latest drivers, but often there are elements that are completely unsuitable for this operating system. To get started, you should find out exactly what kind of hardware is inside the system unit. AIDA is best suited for this. The problem is that the software is paid and does not work at full capacity during the trial period.

Command line

For most fans of UNIX systems, the command line is closer to their hearts. Use the following commands to find out the composition of your personal computer.

The motherboard code is obtained above, and full help on the command is obtained by typing /? after her name. It's even easier to run the dxdiag command. After this, a window will appear on the screen containing complete information about the composition of the system unit.

The screen tab contains information about the video adapter and so on. In addition, the name of the video adapter and partly the name of the processor can be obtained from the Task Manager.

Applications

It was already mentioned above that AIDA is not installed for more than 30 days. And during this period its functionality is limited. And I don’t want to get involved with various controversial actions. The free CPU-Z utility, which can be downloaded from CPUID.com, looks much more attractive.