Download driver detection software. Drivers for computer. Driver search program – DriverMax

In contact with

Classmates

Driver update programs do exactly what you might think - they help update some or all of the computer device drivers installed in Windows.

These programs make it easy to keep all drivers installed on your computer up to date. Using them, you don't have to do much work with Device Manager and find on your own the necessary drivers from various manufacturers of equipment installed on your computer.

Important: You are not obligated to use free driver update programs, much less pay for them! These programs are provided for your convenience only. You can install the drivers yourself manually; in fact, this is not such a difficult process.

Driver Booster is the best free driver updater. It is compatible with all versions of Windows and makes updating drivers easy.

Driver Booster can be configured to automatically search for outdated drivers on a schedule. When updates are found, you can easily download them directly from the program, without needing to go to the Internet browser.

Before installing the driver, the program will show the new driver version and compare it with the installed one; this is very useful information.

One of the important features is the ability to create a restore point before installing drivers, this is necessary in case something goes wrong during or after installation.

There is also an option in the settings to install drivers in the background, which hides information about the installation process and other messages. This is very convenient, because... you won't have to click accept to install each driver.

Peculiarities:

• Driver Booster works on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP.
• There is a Russian language.
• The free version does not include automatic updates or driver backups for safe recovery.

Free Driver Scout

Free Driver Scout is an amazing driver update tool because it actually updates drivers completely automatically.

This means that the program automatically scans for all necessary updates, automatically downloads and installs them without requiring any action from you, which is not the case with other programs on this list.

Certain device drivers may be excluded from scanning and will not require future updates.

Another interesting feature of Free Driver Scout is the ability to backup and restore drivers. The program allows you to backup some or all drivers installed on your computer, and then, if necessary, easily restore them.

Free Driver Scout also includes a very useful tool called OS Migration Tool. It is necessary if you are going to install another Windows operating system on your computer. The tool will find device drivers for the new OS and save them in a specific location, for example, on a flash drive. Then, when you install another Windows operating system, using the OS Migration Tool you can restore the previously saved drivers for that operating system. This way you no longer need to worry about finding new drivers!

Note: Although Free Driver Scout is a great program, it did not find several outdated drivers that Driver Booster was able to find.

Free Driver Scout is compatible with Windows 8, 7, Vista and XP. It was also tested on Windows 10, where the program also works without problems.

DriverPack Solution

DriverPack Solution has one major difference from most of the other programs on this list - it has a simple user interface. There are only a few buttons and there aren't many additional tabs/sections.

The program supports bulk download and automatic installation of drivers, so you do not need to click on the installation buttons for each of them.

When you first launch DriverPack Solution, you can choose either fully automatic download and installation of drivers, or manually, selecting only the necessary drivers from those offered for update.

The program also allows you to find out basic system information about your computer.

DriverPack Solution supports Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Snappy Driver Installer is another free tool for updating drivers on your computer, a bit like DriverPack Solution.

With this program you can download several drivers for different types of devices at once. Once they are downloaded, Snappy Driver Installer will provide access to install updates with or without an Internet connection.

The program is very easy to use, you don't even need to install it. This means that you can use, for example, an external hard drive to carry and install drivers on any computer.

It is also worth noting that Snapper Driver Installer has no ads, the program does not limit download speed and can install as many drivers as you need without any restrictions.

The program works with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.

SlimDrivers is a free program that allows you to update outdated drivers, create backup copies of already installed drivers and, if necessary, remove them.

You can create a check schedule, following which SlimDrivers will automatically monitor updates for drivers installed in the system, as a result of which you will always be aware of which ones need updating.

When SlimDrivers finds an update for a driver, the program displays the release date of the currently installed driver on the system next to the new version. This helps increase confidence that the update is correct and not a software glitch.

When testing SlimDrivers, it was revealed that the program found a couple of drivers, updates for which were not found by other programs from the list in this article.

Note: During the installation of SlimDrivers, the program will ask you to install a toolbar from a third-party developer, but this step is easy to skip.

SlimDrivers works on Windows 8, 7, Vista and XP. Windows 10 is not officially supported, but in practice it runs without problems on this version of the system.

Driver Talent (formerly known as DriveTheLife) is a very easy-to-use driver updater that allows you to download drivers automatically, so you don't have to search the Internet for official download links for each driver.

This program can not only update outdated or missing drivers, but also fix corrupted ones and backup all drivers installed on the system.

The size of the driver, as well as its release date and version number, are displayed before downloading so you can be sure you're getting exactly what you need.

An alternative version of the program is available that includes network drivers and works offline, which is ideal if you need to install drivers but don't have the required network driver installed.

There is a Russian version of the program.

Driver Talent can be installed on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Device Doctor is an easy-to-use driver update program. You can download both the regular version of the program and the portable version, which does not need to be installed and can be easily transferred to external media.

Device Doctor allows you to schedule a driver check for new versions, and if any are found, it offers links to official sites for downloading them manually.

Since driver updates will need to be downloaded outside of Device Doctor, you will also need an archive unpacking program such as WinRAR.

Device Doctor officially works with Windows 7, Vista and XP, but the program has also been tested on Windows 10.

DriverMax is a free program for Windows that allows you to update outdated drivers installed on your computer. Unfortunately, the free version has some limitations.

In addition to updating outdated drivers, DriverMax can backup some or all of the drivers installed on the system, restore drivers from backups, roll back drivers, and identify unknown hardware.

In testing, DriverMax found significantly more outdated drivers than any other program on this list.

Note: The free version of DriverMax allows you to download only 2 drivers per day and 10 drivers per month. Also, only one driver can be downloaded at a time.

The program has a Russian-language interface.

DriverMax finds drivers for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

DriversCloud (formerly known as Ma-Config) is a free web service that allows you to find detailed information about your computer's hardware and software, as well as a list of out-of-date drivers.

The service works after installing a program that allows the browser to collect information about your computer.

In the service you can find such categories as: analysis of “blue screens of death”, “My drivers”, “Autostart”, “Network configuration”, etc.

If it is necessary to update the driver, the service will show complete information about the new driver in comparison with the currently installed one: version, manufacturer, date and hardware ID.

The DriversCloud service runs on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and Windows 2000 operating systems.

DriverIdentifier is a very simple but useful free driver updater.

You can scan for driver relevance even if you do not have an Internet connection, which is especially important if the network card driver is not installed. Once the scan is complete, DriverIdentifier will save the list of drivers in an HTML file.

All you need to do is open the file on a computer that has an Internet connection and click on the “Update” link next to the drivers that need updating.

A portable version of DriverIdentifier is also available.

Note: To download driver updates, you must create a free DriverIdentifier account.

DriverIdentifier is compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP.

Driver Easy is another program that allows you to search for outdated drivers in Windows operating systems. The program is free for both personal and commercial use.

The system scan scheduler in Driver Easy helps you find outdated drivers and prompts you to download updates for them. Scanning can be scheduled daily, weekly, or monthly while the computer is in standby mode or every time you log on to Windows.

Driver Easy allows you to download driver updates from within the program without having to go to your browser.

The program also has additional functionality, such as: viewing information about hardware and scanning drivers without an Internet connection.

Note: in the free version of Driver Easy, the speed at which updates are downloaded is quite severely reduced compared to other programs on this list.

Driver Easy can work with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP.

In contact with

Drivers on a computer ensure stable operation of certain devices and/or programs.

To maintain such normal functioning, they need to be updated regularly, which is quite time-consuming and difficult to do manually.

Therefore, there is a need to find a high-quality and functional program for timely driver updates.

Features of choice

When determining which program will best suit the needs of a particular user, Several indicators need to be taken into account:

• Ease of use of the program, its interface and settings;
• Possible settable update frequency, search for fresh drivers;
• Ability to work automatically in the background without user intervention;
• The load placed on the hardware resources of the device - so that one program does not slow down the operation of the entire computer;
• Efficiency of searching for drivers, and, consequently, the operation of the entire program.

Taking into account all these factors, the user will be able to choose the most suitable option for himself.

Criterias of choice

To make it as simple and quick as possible to evaluate the functional features of the programs listed in the list, their technical characteristics are included in the table below.

The programs in the table and text below are listed in order of decreasing popularity among users, convenience and feasibility of application.

Intel Driver Update Utility Installer

Official software from the Intel developer searches and downloads any drivers for installed and network devices.

It works in the background, but the search is initiated by the user. After the search is complete, a list of drivers appears from which you can select the ones you need.

• Official developer;
• Effective full search for basic drivers;
• Different types of updates.

Negative:

• Search only for network drivers, without taking into account the laptop’s features;
• The launch is initiated by the user - there is no automatic search;
• The installation of downloaded drivers must also be initiated manually.

Igor: “I'm a big fan of developer software because I think there are fewer glitches and errors. And this one didn’t disappoint me.”

AMD Driver Autodetect

This program is designed to automatically search for updates for AMD video cards.

When running, the program constantly checks the developer’s website for the availability of latest drivers.

If drivers are detected, the program sends a notification to the user. The user can initiate the download if desired.

• Automatic operating mode;
• Narrow specialization, which means accuracy of the content found;
• Constant updating of the video card status.

Negative:

• Capable of updating only video cards and only AMD;
• Not suitable for AMD FirePro card type;
• Does not download drivers independently without user intervention.

Olga: “I use a fairly powerful video card and am completely satisfied with it. However, it is possible to keep it in working order only thanks to this program - searching for drivers manually is quite difficult.”

NVIDIA Update

The program is designed to search, download and update drivers for NVIDIA video cards of any model.

The features of the program are almost completely similar to the previous version.

At a given frequency, the launched program searches for new drivers for the video card on the official website and other sources, and if it finds them, it notifies the user about it.

The user can then initiate or reject the download.

• The most suitable official drivers;
• Work in the background;
• Automatic search.

Negative:

• Narrow specialization of drivers;
• The need for user participation in the update process;
• The program interface is not very convenient and familiar.

Kirill: “If you use an NVIDIA video card, you can’t live without this program.”

DriverPack Solution

DriverPack Solution is an archive program that contains many drivers and updates and is constantly expanding the database when Internet access is available.

Suitable for many devices and operating systems, making it indispensable for computer professionals.

Works both online and offline.

When working online, it downloads new drivers for devices that need it (analyzes the system).

In offline mode, it detects the necessary drivers and installs them automatically from its own archive.

• Offline mode of operation;
• Having your own archive;
• Optimized for any system, the ability to independently analyze the system.

Negative:

• Sometimes the database contains outdated software solutions;
• All processes are initialized by the user - there are no background or automatic ones;
• Large weight of the utility.

Julia: “I fix computers at home, and quite often I need to update drivers. So far this program has not failed.”

Driver Genius

This is a universal driver management tool that searches, downloads, and installs drivers after the user initiates these processes.

In addition to downloading, it allows you to archive drivers, rollback to older versions, etc.

Unlike other programs on the list, it is optimized not only for searching and downloading, but also for driver management.

Creates archives, restore points, etc.

• Ability to create driver restore points;
• Archiving downloaded materials;
• Works with all types of devices and cards.

Negative:

• No automatic launch of processes - everything must be initiated by the user;
• Quite a significant load on hardware resources during operation;
• Large weight of program archives.

Ivan: “The program is not bad, but it loads the computer a lot. On my budget Lenovo I had to look for simpler alternatives.”

Snappy Driver Installer

The program is from one of the developers of DriverPack Solution, therefore it has a lot in common with this software. Available in Lite and Full versions.

The lite version only has a module for searching and downloading drivers that automatically recognizes devices.

The full version also forms its own driver database and is able to work online.

• The ability to choose the optimal version for yourself - the light version takes up minimal space, but works online, the full version weighs a lot, but can work without Internet access;
• Completely free;
• A good driver search algorithm based on the “do no harm” principle.

Negative:

• No automatic or background modes;
• All processes are initialized by the user;
• Not always high-quality search and analysis of the system.

Andrey: “It’s a fairly convenient program, but I only use the Lite version. Full loads the processor a lot when running.”

Driver Booster

The program is easy to use and has a Russian-language interface.

It has only one function– scanning the system for out-of-date drivers, notifying the user about this, searching and downloading, and then installing new, up-to-date drivers.

A distinctive feature is the presence of changes in standard drivers, which, according to the developer, increases the performance of games and reduces the load on the processor.

The program is launched by the user upon request; by clicking on the Start button, the user begins scanning.

After its completion, the program offers a list of found optimized drivers for installation.

The user selects the required ones and starts the installation.

Positive:

• Availability of a free version of the program;
• The ability to optimize drivers, increasing the performance of games;
• Low load on the computer's hardware resources when operating in active mode.

Negative:

• Full functionality is available only in the paid Pro version (license costs 400 rubles per year);
• Reduced functionality - no databases, driver archives, restore points, etc. are created;
• Greater user involvement in all processes performed by the program.

Eugene: “It’s a fairly functional program, but I still don’t understand what additional functions the paid version provides. The free basic version is quite enough for the average computer user.”

Conclusion

Choosing the most suitable program for downloading and installing drivers depends on what requirements are placed on it.

For a user who forgets to check the status of drivers on their own, versions that can work automatically or in the background are suitable.

If the user wants to understand what is being installed on his PC or is looking for specific drivers, a program that provides a list of found software is suitable for him.

Software from Intel comes first because, since the program is official, it has the least number of malfunctions and glitches.

However, it only downloads standard drivers.

Programs that can create archives are most convenient for developers.

In this case, it is desirable that the program be able to work offline.

If your computer often crashes and produces various errors, choose software that creates a restore point before installing each new driver.

For many users, installing and updating drivers is a rather tedious and complicated task. A manual search often leads enthusiasts to third-party sites, where instead of the treasured software, viruses are caught, third-party spyware applications and other unnecessary programs are installed. Updated drivers optimize the operation of the entire system, so there’s no need to shelve the update!

Universal driver update programs

To make life easier for both your personal computer and yourself, just download a program that will independently find and update the required driver on your PC. Such applications can be either universal for any component or intended for a specific hardware manufacturer.

One of the best programs to update your device drivers. The application is easy to use, so even an inexperienced user will understand the friendly interface. The Driver Pack is distributed free of charge, and you can download the program from the official website of the developer, which describes in detail the intricacies of the search system and describes the basics of use. The program works with any components and finds the latest drivers in a huge database. In addition, the Pack also includes additional programs that will allow you to get rid of viruses and advertising banners. If you are only interested in auto-updating drivers, then specify this option during installation.

DriverPack Solution independently identifies the equipment, establishes a correspondence between the found devices and the drivers that are in the database

• convenient interface, ease of use;
• quick search for drivers and updating them;
• two options for downloading the program: online and offline; The online mode works directly with the developer’s servers, and the offline mode downloads an 11 GB image for further use of all popular drivers.

• installs additional software that is not always needed.

One of the most popular applications for downloading drivers and optimizing the system. Driver Booster is distributed in two versions: the free one allows you to quickly search for drivers and update them in one click, and the paid one opens up new options for program settings and unlimited download speed. If you prefer high-speed downloads and want to automatically receive the latest updates, then pay attention to the paid version of the program. It is distributed by subscription and costs 590 rubles per year. However, the Free version is inferior only in speed and additional game optimization features. Otherwise, the program always looks for excellent drivers that download quickly and install just as quickly.

There is an extensive driver database that is stored online

• high speed even on weak computers;
• the ability to configure an update queue and set priorities;
• low consumption of PC resources when running in the background.

• technical support only in the paid version;
• lack of auto-update of the application in the free application.

The free DriverHub utility will appeal to lovers of minimalism and simplicity. This program does not have a wide range of settings and does its job quickly and silently. Automatic driver updates take place in two steps: downloading and installation. The user can give the right to operate the program independently or is free to choose a driver from those offered for download by the application.

It is possible to roll back the driver to its original state using the restore function

• ease of use, user-friendly interface;
• ability to store download history and updates;
• daily database update;
• convenient rollback system, creation of recovery checkpoints.

• small number of settings;
• offer to install third-party programs.

The program is for those who are used to controlling everything on their own. Even if you are an inexperienced user, you can always easily monitor the progress of updates by making adjustments to the program. The free version allows you to manually update drivers, while paid versions can work automatically. Foreign development has two paid subscriptions. Basic costs $20 and works for a year with an updated cloud database. This version also supports customization and one-click auto-update. The same features are available with a 10-year LifeTime subscription for $60. Users can install the paid program on five computers at the same time and not worry about driver updates.

SlimDrivers also allows you to make backups for system recovery

• the ability to manually control each update element;
• The free version is not spammed with advertising.

• expensive paid versions;
• complex fine-tuning, which is unlikely to be understood by an inexperienced user.

The domestic development of Carambis Driver Updater is distributed free of charge, but allows you to use the main functions by subscription. The application quickly finds and updates drivers, saving your download history. The program is characterized by high speed and low requirements for computer hardware. You can get the full functionality of the application for 250 rubles per month.

An important advantage is full technical support by e-mail and telephone

• the license applies to 2 or more personal computers;
• technical support around the clock;

• Only the paid version works.

An English-language utility that quickly and without unnecessary settings identifies your hardware. The user is presented with the opportunity to make backup files, a user-friendly interface and two versions of work: free and pro. Free is distributed free of charge and provides access to manual driver updates. In the Pro version, which costs around $11 per year, updates occur automatically based on user-specified settings. The application is convenient and very friendly to beginners.

The program collects detailed information about system drivers and generates a detailed report in TXT or HTM formats

• simple interface and ease of use;
• fast driver loading speed;
• automatic file backup.

• expensive paid version;
• lack of Russian language.

Driver Magician was once a free app, but now users can only get a 13-day trial period, after which they must purchase the program for $30 for permanent use. The application does not support the Russian language, but it is quite easy to understand due to the small number of tabs and functions. Driver Magician just needs to specify the operating system so that it can begin selecting and installing the necessary drivers. You can choose from a file backup function in case something goes wrong.

The program can save and then restore other files, except drivers: folders, registry, Favorites, My Documents

• simple but old-fashioned interface;
• full functionality in trial version;
• automatic search for drivers for unknown devices.

• lack of Russian language;
• unhurried speed of work.

Programs from component manufacturers

The programs will allow you to automatically update drivers for free. In addition, there is technical support that will answer your questions almost any time of the day.

Intel Driver Update is designed to install and update drivers for Intel devices involved in your personal computer. Suitable for branded processors, network devices, ports, drives and other components. The hardware on a personal computer is recognized automatically, and the search for the necessary software is carried out in a matter of seconds. The main thing is that the application is free, and the support service is ready to answer any request, even at night.

The application installs on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

• official program from Intel;
• quick installation of drivers;
• a large database of alternative drivers for various operating systems.

• Intel support only.

A similar program to Intel Driver Update, but for AMD devices. Supports all known components, except the FirePro series. It is worth installing for those who are the proud owner of a video card from this manufacturer. The application will monitor all updates in real time and inform the user about new updates. AMD Driver Autodetect will automatically detect your video card, identify it and find the optimal solution for the device. All you have to do is click the “Install” button for the update to take effect.

This utility does not work with Linux systems, Apple Boot Camp and AMD FirePro video cards

• ease of use and minimalistic interface;
• fast download and installation speed of drivers;
• Auto-detection of video card.

• a small number of opportunities;
• AMD support only;
• lack of FirePro support.

NVIDIA Update Experience

NVIDIA Update Experience allows you to automatically download updates for your graphics card from Nvidia. The program not only offers support for the latest software, but also allows you to optimize games on the fly. In addition, when you launch any application, Experience will offer a number of interesting functions, including the ability to take screenshots and display FPS on the screen. As for downloading drivers, the program works perfectly and always notifies you when a new version is available.

Depending on the hardware configuration, the program optimizes the graphics settings of games

• stylish interface and fast speed;
• automatic driver installation;
• ShadowPlay screen recording function without loss of frames per second;
• support for optimization of popular games.

• Works only with Nvidia cards.

Table: comparison of program capabilities

Many of the programs presented in the list will simplify the search and installation of drivers with just one click. You just have to take a closer look at the applications and choose what seems most convenient and suitable in terms of functions.

After reinstalling the operating system or replacing computer hardware, drivers must be reinstalled. Users need to determine the device model and download the software from the manufacturer's official website.When you need to install new drivers for a network card, processor, video card and other components of a PC or laptop, manually searching and installing drivers can take several hours. You can automate the process of installing drivers on Windows using special programs -.

The best programs for installing drivers on Windows

The main advantages of programs for automatic driver update:

1. Full automation of the software search and installation process. You don't need to search for the exact processor or video card model to download the driver. This is a big plus for inexperienced PC users.
2. Save time. The work of searching and installing software is completed in 3-4 clicks.
3. Support for all component manufacturers.
4. The ability to create backups to restore previous versions of equipment software.

DriverHub

DriverHub is a free software for scanning your system for driver updates. The application is available for Windows 7, 8 and 10. The program is not supported on Windows XP.

The DriverHub interface has been translated into Russian. This significantly simplifies the process of navigating and working with the application.

The utility's database contains more than a million drivers for video cards, motherboards, processors, etc. The application software is downloaded from the official websites of manufacturers. Thanks to this, users can be calm about the security of the system.

Key features of DriverHub:

1. Searching and installing drivers is the main function of the program. This tool allows you to update drivers and find missing hardware software. The search takes no more than 2 minutes.

2. View your download history. In this section you can view the driver download history for a particular device: version release date and developer. Also in this section you can open the folder where the installed driver is located.

3. Rollback to the previous version of drivers.

4. Operating system management. From the DriverHub interface you can launch Windows management tools: Control Panel, Task Manager, Console, Network Management, etc.

The DriverHub program can be downloaded on the official website of the developers ru.drvhub.net or on the website https://www.softsalad.ru/.

DriverMax

DriverMax is a convenient utility for automatically installing driver updates. The program supports more than 2 million devices from popular manufacturers. Distributed free of charge for the Windows operating system (XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10). The interface is completely translated into Russian.

Key features of the DriverMax program:

1. Checking and installing driver updates. The process takes 2-3 minutes.

2. Backup. This tool allows you to create a Windows restore point or backups for specific drivers. Thanks to this, you can restore the operating system with all installed drivers in case of failures.

3. View information about your computer. On the main screen in the utility interface, information about the system is available: Windows version, processor, amount of RAM and hard drive size.

Driver Talent

Driver Talent is a simple utility for automating driver updates on Windows. You can download and install the program absolutely free. The application interface is designed in a minimalist style and supports the Russian language.

Driver Talent program features:

1. System scan. You can start scanning on the main interface screen. Upon completion of the driver search process (2-3 minutes), the utility will offer to download and install the detected updates.

2. Backups. A tool designed to create backups for individual drivers.

3. Preloading. The function allows you to preload drivers for your computer or import/export to another device. In this case, the automatic installation of the software does not start.

Device Doctor

Device Doctor is an application for updating device drivers on Windows 7, 8.1, 10 and XP. The program is distributed free of charge. The main drawback of the utility is the lack of Russian language.

Drivers for more than 13 million devices are available in the Device Doctor database. The total size of all drivers is more than 3 terabytes. The database is replenished every week.

Device Doctor features:

1. Scan the system and then install driver updates.

2. Creating backup copies of individual versions of installed drivers.

3. View the software download history for the equipment.

Install optional products - DriverDoc (Solvusoft) | | | |

This page provides information about installing the latest Windows XP driver downloads using the Windows XP Driver Update Tool.

Windows XP drivers are small programs that enable your Windows XP hardware to communicate with your operating system software. Keeping Windows XP software up to date prevents crashes and maximizes hardware and system performance. Using outdated or corrupt Windows XP drivers can cause system errors, crashes, and hardware or computer failure. Moreover, installing the wrong Windows XP drivers can make these problems worse.

Advice: If you are not sure how to update Windows XP device drivers manually, we recommend downloading the Windows XP Driver Utility. This tool will automatically download and update the correct versions of Windows XP drivers, preventing you from installing the wrong Windows XP drivers.

About the author: Jay Geater is President and Chief Executive Officer of Solvusoft Corporation, a global software company focused on innovative service offerings. He has a lifelong passion for computers and loves everything related to computers, software and new technology.