Driver Update Software Review

Simply put, PC driver update software can save you time and lower your irritation level. Even if you are experienced at finding and downloading drivers, the process can still be time consuming and frustrating. Often device names are represented differently. For example, when we looked for drivers on the Intel site, even with the device number, we had a hard time finding the drivers we needed. Driver updaters can find the right drivers for you and safely download them to your system, either automatically or when you request them.

On this review page, you'll find articles on driver update software as well as comprehensive reviews on PC driver update software like our top choices: Driver Reviver, Advanced Driver Updater and PC Driver Updater.

Why Should I Update my Drivers Using PC Driver Update Software:

Saves Time
Finding the right driver for your device can be extremely difficult, even on the manufacture's site. Sometimes you even have to find the device ID to attempt to find the right driver. When we searched for drivers by name on Google, it took us a while to find all of the drivers that we were looking for. PC driver updater software can download drivers for you so you don't have to do the searching.

Older Driver Support
Sometimes hardware companies decide to no longer support older devices, which may make it hard to download drivers for older devices or operating systems. Many driver update companies keep older driver versions in their library, and the software can automatically find the right one for your device and operating system.

To Migrate Drivers to a New PC
If you get a new computer or need to install a new operating system, PC driver update software can be used to save backup copies of your device drivers to a USB or disc. This is extremely helpful if you use peripheral devices such as printers, scanners or cameras. Driver update software can help you find the drivers you need to download Windows 7 drivers.

How Risky is it to Download Drivers From a Third-Party Provider?

Most people have become leery of downloading software and drivers from unknown sites – and for good reason. Driver downloads and scans initiated from unethical sites can install spyware, malware, viruses and undesired toolbars or toolbar add-ons. The best driver download software providers scan all driver files for viruses before they offer them to their customers and do not install third-party software without an obvious opt-in choice. The top driver services also encrypt data transfers both ways.

PC Driver Update Software: What to Look For

When looking for driver downloads online, you will find many sites offering free scans and safe, free downloads. However, not all of these sites are secure, and they may bundle other downloads with your devices or software such as toolbars and spyware. We looked for PC driver update software that can provide safe driver files that are up-to-date and appropriate for the Windows operating system you have.

These are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate driver update software:

Features
We looked for good basic features within the software such as backup tools for saving existing and new drivers. Additionally we looked for tools for creating driver backups for driver migration to a new PC and driver restoration tools. The best PC driver updater software also provides a scheduler that can perform routine scans. Another feature that we looked for was full disclosure in terms of driver versions. We found the most useful scans produce not just a list of outdated devices, but the date and version of the current driver and the new driver, so you can compare versions.

Scan Results
This area had to be tested extensively. Nearly all free scans will produce a list of outdated drivers, but we wanted to know if the drivers suggested for download were the right ones and the most current versions. So we compared our complete list of drivers and devices on our test system to the scan results and suggested drivers and ran scans on our system from the Microsoft, Nvidia and Intel websites for comparison. We also looked at other device provider sites such as Broadcom, Dell and Hitachi for their latest drivers for our devices. The software that rated best produced accurate results and the best drivers for our Windows 7 operating system.

Driver Support
The best PC driver update software can provide a voluminous and current driver library. Most can offer thousands (even millions) of driver downloads for Windows XP, Vista and 7 operating systems as well as for some peripheral devices like keyboards, monitors, web cameras and printers. For the purpose of this review we primarily looked at drivers for system devices, though it is helpful to have support for peripheral devices and software as well.

Security
Any site that offers a free scan of your system should be approached with caution. We not only performed scans and downloaded this software, but we also looked for unwanted third-party downloads and we went through the uninstall process. We also analyzed the driver update software providers' security and privacy policies and asked them what security protocols they have in place to ensure safe downloads and data transfers. The top providers scan all driver files for viruses and malware before they offer them to their customers and provide encrypted data transfers, both ways. They also only obtain their drivers from the original manufacture and not third-party sources.

Help & Support
Responsive, timely and a knowledgeable technical support staff shows that a software provider cares about their customers and their product. We looked for PC driver updater providers that respond quickly to email queries and post relevant, up-to-date information on their website. Other good support options include telephone and chat support as well as support forums and blogs.

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