As you know, the drivers of absolutely all hardware and virtual devices that are installed on Windows systems become obsolete over time. To keep the equipment in a state of operability and maximum efficient use, drivers must be updated in a timely manner. Let's see how you can automatically search for drivers using the system tools and third-party programs. There may be several options, which will be discussed later.
Driver Search Automatically: Windows Problems
Windows-systems have a huge plus, consisting in the fact that even at the installation stage they scan all installed equipment and install drivers for it independently and in automatic mode. But the main problem is the inability to automatically update drivers (sometimes update packages for the system itself may contain driver updates, but only in a selective manner).
One of the most common situations can be called a “gathering” of the driver, after which the device is inoperative. In the "Device Manager" the user sets the update of the management software, and Windows offers him to search in his own database.
All this is good, but the base is not as extensive as we would like, and the system ultimately installs, as it believes, the most suitable driver, which may not correspond to the selected type of equipment. As a result, the device did not work and does not work.
On the other hand, if the user has downloaded third-party driver packages to the hard drive or found the necessary software on the Internet, you can also use the driver search automatically performed on the local computer. If you do not like this option, you will have to specify the path to the driver or its installer manually.
But this is not the most important thing. The fact is that Windows does not know how to update control software. And installing updates for each device is a completely thankless task. Thus, it is better to turn to third-party utilities that perform such actions allow, and without user intervention.
Automatic search and installation of drivers: varieties of programs
All programs designed to work with drivers can be conditionally divided into two categories: clean search and installation packages and applications that perform not only search with installation, but also contain their own databases.
The first category may include, for example, a program for automatically searching for Driver Booster drivers, which is designed exclusively for finding and installing drivers via the Internet. In the second group, the absolute leader is the DriverPack Solution package, which has a built-in database that is much larger than the one offered by the operating system.
How to use the built-in driver packages?
As already clear, automatic driver search in Windows can be carried out mainly only at the stage of installation of the system itself. But after all, in the presence of non-standard equipment or devices from manufacturers unsupported by the system, control software that fully corresponds to them will not be installed. What to do in such a situation?
Here it is best to take advantage of all the benefits that DriverPack Solution provides users. Firstly, this program to automatically search for drivers will first scan all installed devices. Then she installs the necessary software from her arsenal. Provided that you have an Internet connection, if the driver is not found in your own database, the application will download it from there. In addition, it is especially worth noting that the program can also update drivers, and initially install the latest versions of them.
How to use automatic search and installation?
If you look at programs designed only to install the latest versions of drivers, then all user intervention in the process is limited only by agreement on the installation of the found updates.
For example, take the Driver Booster application. After starting, it independently determines all installed devices, even those for which drivers may not be installed. After that, the program turns to the official Internet resources of device manufacturers and driver developers, and then offers the user to integrate them into the system. Upon receipt of consent, the installation process is activated, and upon its completion, a complete reboot of the system will be required.
What to prefer?
Separately, it is worth noting that almost all software packages of this type search for drivers automatically, and most of these utilities are distributed free of charge. An important aspect is the use of exclusively official sources for downloading original versions of drivers, which completely eliminates the penetration of various viruses and malicious codes on computers. In addition, self-updating is also provided for in such applications.
But what to choose for use? By and large, if the user has a stable Internet connection, there is not much difference when choosing a program. But in its absence, the latest DriverPack Solution package can not do without. Windows loses this program, as they say, in all respects.