Without a doubt Driver Detective is one of the industry’s leading driver software download and update tool online at the moment. One of the key features that sets Driver Detective apart from the rest is it’s proprietary “machine intelligence and auto select IQ” otherwise known (by me) as system information identification intelligence scan.

The first time you launch Driver Detective after installation, you will see a message that reads like this “Driver Detective has identified your machine as a Dell Inspiron 1545” (see pic). This is the result of driver detective’s machine intelligence and auto select feature.

If you are manually trying to locate and download a set of drivers for your specific machine from a manufacturer’s website such as Dell, Toshiba, Compaq etc, you are usually required to enter some details about your pc. This information is what is used to recommend the correct drivers for your system. If you enter the wrong information, you risk downloading the wrong driver for your system’s devices which can cause instability issues. This is where driver detective’s machine intelligence and auto select feature comes handy. Once launched driver detective instantly recognizes your pc make, model and important information that are required to recommend only the drivers specific to your machine, eliminating errors and the headaches that come with it.

Whether you are trying to locate a missing device driver or simply want to update a driver already installed on your system, driver detective will help you accomplish the task with less effort.

With driver detective, there are essentially 3 steps involved in locating, downloading and installing the correct up to date device driver for your system. The 3 step process starts with a scan.  During the scanning process driver detective identifies all your system’s installed devices and collects information about its associated drivers. The tool then connects to pc driver headquarters database of over 11 million device associated drivers. A scan summary shows you details of missing drivers, out of date drivers including direct driver download links.

The second step involves reviewing the driver details result to choose which device drivers that you would like to download and install. Right beside any reported missing or out of date driver is a direct download link. Clicking on the link initiates the driver download. Your downloaded drivers are stored in a folder specified by you.

The third step is the installation process, which is pretty easy. Your downloaded drivers comes in either self extracting, self-installing, or in a compressed format. Driver detective uses the file extracting utility that comes with your system to extract the compressed file. Once extracted, you simply click on history on driver detective’s interface where you can select the driver and commence installation.

If your system is custom built, driver detective’s machine intelligence may not be able to detect a make and model like in branded computers. If this is the case in the tools section you can select Use Driver Detective Universal Match Intelligence.

Try Driver Detective Today!

Dell support website: The first obvious place to go for all dell drivers downloads for your pc is the dell’s support website. To use dell’s support website you need to have some important information about your model and configuration of pc to enable the site recommend the correct drivers for your system.

You can access all the information you need on your system by clicking on start – all programs – accessories – system tools – system information.

Armed with this information simply navigate to dell’s support homepage and choose one of 3 options:

1. Enter a service tag for your system or have dell automatically recognise your pc’s service tag by scanning your pc.
2. Choose your model of pc from a list containing several models.
3. Log in and choose from your list (already registered)

Follow the on screen instructions and the site will recommend the latest drivers along with download instructions.

Visit Dell Support Website Here

Automatic Driver Download and Update Tools

Another way to download up to date dell drivers for your pc is to use an automatic driver download and update tool. One of my favourites is Driver Detective. This kind of tool not only helps you download the most recent drivers for your dell computer or any pc whether branded or not, it will also help you keep your drivers up to date once installed.

A key feature of Driver Detective is its ability to instantly recognise your pc make model and configuration.

A driver download and update tool such as Driver Detective works by first scanning your pc to identify your pc and installed devices. Once you pc and installed devices are identified, driver detective then connects to an online database containing millions of device associated drivers – this database includes regularly updated manufacturer specific drivers (Dell, Toshiba, Compaq etc). The results page displays links to directly download, in this case, all the Dell drivers you are looking for.

You can Try Driver Detective Free Here

USB devices are what are referred to as ‘Plug and Play’. This means that you need to do very little in order to set them up. In most cases all you have to do is plug the device into a spare USB socket. Your operating system will them detect the device and install any necessary drivers. However, you may encounter problems if your operating system is unable to identify the device, or find a suitable driver.

Your PC Cannot Find The Device Driver For Your USB Device

In the majority of cases your operating system will already have a suitable driver installed (it may even be able to download the appropriate driver automatically from the Internet). However, if your computer is unable to find a suitable driver then you will have to manually install the driver provided by the device manufacturer.

If your device came with a setup disc then you can install the drivers from the disc. If your device did not come with a disc then you may need to explore other ways of downloading the usb driver including  visiting the device manufacturer’s website. Most have a technical support section where you can download drivers. If you are unable to find a suitable driver, you should contact the manufacturer.

The USB Device Installed On Your PC Is Not Recognized

Sometimes your computer may struggle to correctly identify a specific hardware device. If your USB device is not recognized automatically then you will have to install the necessary drivers manually. Your device may have been supplied with a setup disc containing a driver. If you do not have a disc you should visit the device manufacturer’s website. You should be able to find a suitable driver to download from the support section. If you cannot find a driver you should contact the device manufacturer.

There’s A Problem With The USB Device Installed On Your PC

First of all unplug the device and test it on another computer to see if you still encounter the same problem – this ensures that the problem lies with the device and not with your computer itself. If the device is at fault, contact the manufacturer. You can also test whether a device is functioning properly from within Windows.

Click Start button and choose Control Panel

Click System and Maintenance and then choose Device Manager

(You can also access Device Manager by right clicking on the My Computer icon on your desktop and choose Properties, then Hardware, then Device Manager)

Expand the type of device you are having problems with and double click the device name to open the Properties window. In the General tab there is a Device Status box which will mention any problems with the device or device driver.

Defective USB Device Driver

Sometimes a manufacturer can release a faulty driver without realising. If your device was working perfectly, but has encountered problems after you upgraded your driver then the problem is with the new driver. If you have a faulty driver you can rollback your computer to use a previous version of the driver, or manually install an older version of the driver.

To check if a driver is faulty follow the steps described above in order to check the Device Status box, found within the General tab of the device Properties box within Device Manager.

Defective USB Port

If you plug your device into a defective USB port then it will not work. Try connecting the device to a different USB port (most computers have several USB ports.) If you are using a secondary USB hub you should unplug the device from the hub and connect it directly to the computer.

Click Here to Fix all your Usb Drivers

Update all your device drivers now!

If a hardware device that is connected to your pc starts to behave funny it is often because of an issue with its driver. Fixing the most common driver related problems is much easier than most people think, and can turn a seemingly faulty or malfunctioning device into a device that works properly almost instantly. Here are some of the most common driver related complaints, along with some tips on how to cure these problems yourself.

My Newly Installed Device Is not Working as it Should?

Before you install a new device, you need to check its installation instructions to be sure it will work on you version of windows. Incompatibility issues can cause your newly installed device not to work at all on your pc. If it is compatible then the problem is most likely caused by not having the correct driver installed.

Another reason why your newly installed device may not be working properly is that the device driver may need to be updated.

You can check for new or updated drivers through the Windows Update feature found within the Control Panel. Alternatively you can use a device driver update program to locate the most recent up-to-date driver software for the device.

After installing an up-to-date device driver for your hardware be sure to restart your computer as this is often required to complete the installation of new software.

My Previously Working Device Suddenly Stops Working?

This is a common problem and is usually caused by out dated drivers or conflicting software. Try updating the driver, either through the manufacturer’s website, a driver resource website, or with a driver updater program. If you are using a Windows operating system you can also use the Windows Update service to check for updates.

The device installation disc can also be used to update the driver. It could be that new software or hardware is causing a conflict with your device, so try uninstalling any new hardware or software to see if this resolves the issue.

How can I Get Regular Updates for my Installed Hardware Drivers

Regularly updating your hardware device drivers can enhance your user experience. However before installing a driver update it is advisable to read the “read me” file to check if the update is of any benefit to you.

To receive regular updates for your hardware devices, you need to set windows update to automatically download and notify you of such updates.

If you have installed an automatic driver update program such as Driver Detective, you can set the tool to check for latest driver updates and automatically install them for you.

Where To Locate Drivers:

1: Device Installation Disk – whenever you buy a new piece of hardware the chances are that it will be supplied with a disk containing the appropriate drivers. The disk will contain details such as the version of the driver and will allow you to re-install the drivers or repair previous driver installations that have become broken or faulty.

2: Device Manufacturer’s Website – the majority of manufacturers have their own website where you can download the latest drivers for your specific device.

3: PC Manufacturer’s Website – if you have a branded computer, such as Dell, Lenevo or Acer for example, then the manufacturer’s website can also provide you with the latest drivers. This is a good place to source your drivers because computers made by specific manufacturers may require specialized versions of drivers in order to work correctly. By visiting your PC manufacturer’s website you can ensure that you are installing the correct drivers for your specific system.

4: Search Engine Results Page – search engines are a great resource when looking for drivers. Simply enter the make and model name of your device and the search engine will return a list of sites that allow you to download the driver.

5: Driver Resource Websites – these are sites that maintain large databases containing hundreds of thousands of device drivers. Simply enter the make and model of your hardware device and the site will search its database for the latest driver.

6: Windows Device Manager – the Windows operating system has a built in feature that allows you to check that your drivers are working correctly, and to also update drivers if required. To access this feature:

Click Start button and choose Control Panel

Click System and Maintenance and then choose Device Manager

(You can also right click the My Computer icon on your desktop and choose Properties, then Hardware, then Device Manager.)

Double click the hardware device and choose the Driver tab.

7: Driver Download And Update Programs – these programs make it easy to keep your drivers up to date. Once installed the program will scan your computer identifying all of your hardware devices and drivers. The software then lets you know if any drivers are outdated or broken. With a single click of your mouse you can then update and repair out of date and broken drivers. The software automatically locates the latest driver for each of your devices. This is especially helpful if you want to update several drivers at the same time.

Conclusion

By knowing where to locate the drivers needed by each of your hardware devices you will be able to ensure that your drivers are kept up to date, which in turn will help you to get the very best performance out of your hardware.

The term to “rollback a driver” refers to the process of reverting to the last working version of a device driver. This is often the last version of a device driver just before you performed an update that consequently messed up the proper functioning of your pc device.

There are several ways you can rollback your device driver:

Windows driver rollback feature: Each time you update or replace a device driver with new one, windows saves a copy of the last version for you. The windows driver roll back feature will enable you revert to this saved version if the new version is giving you problems.

How To Rollback A Driver in Windows XP and Vista

Click Start button and choose Control Panel

Click System and Maintenance and then choose Device Manager

(You can also access Device Manager by right clicking on the My Computer icon on your desktop and choose Properties, then Hardware, then Device Manager)

In the Device Manager window, select the piece of hardware that has the driver you want to rollback and double click the name to open up the Properties box.

Click the Driver tab

If a previous version of the driver is installed on your system the Roll Back Driver button will be available. Click it to restore the older version of the driver.

If this button is unavailable or rolling back the driver didn’t solve your problem you should visit the manufacturer’s website to see if another version of the driver is available.

Manually Install An Old Driver

You can manually ‘roll back’ a driver by simply installing an older version of a driver. There are lots of websites online that contain databases of older versions of drivers and software, so if you are having trouble with a new driver try downloading a previous version and installing it. To do this, search for the appropriate driver, and click the download link. Save the driver file to your computer and then follow the installation instructions.

Driver Updater Programs

If you use a driver updater program it may have a built in feature that allows you to restore your drivers to a previous version.

If your driver updater software offers this feature it should just be a matter of choosing the particular hardware device in question and clicking a button to roll back to a previous version of a driver. If you are unsure of how to do this then check the manual or online help system for your particular program.

Conclusion

Keeping your drivers up to date is important in order to make sure your devices are using the very latest software. However, sometimes updating a driver can cause conflicts within your system. In this case you may need to rollback to a previous version of a driver. If you have restored a previous version of a driver and are still experiencing problems them you should contact the device manufacturer as the fault could be with the actual hardware itself and not the driver software.

Driver update software is essentially a tool that takes the hassle out of keeping all your pc devices updated.

Over the years there has been ongoing debate at several forums as to whether you really need one. While those in favour of having driver update software such as Drivercure argue that the benefit is in the automation, opponents believe that they are not explicitly important giving alternative methods of locating and downloading driver updates.

Whether you really need one or not depend on your preferences and this article is meant to help you decide.

One thing both sides agree on is that you need to keep your system and device drivers up-to-date at all times to ensure that your pc runs smoothly and efficiently.

Your windows installation comes with hundreds if not thousands of device related drivers. When you plug a device for the first time your windows installation will immediately recognize it and then install an appropriate driver for it. This is what is also called plug ‘n play. If your windows installation does not have the driver for your new device in-built, you will need to either search the web or go to the device manufacturer’s website to download the correct driver.

The problem with the drivers that your windows system installs when you plug your new device is that it is basic and in most cases not the up-to-date drivers for the your system devices at the time of installation. This does not mean that your devices will not work, but certain features may be lacking and you may not be aware of this until you have use for them. There is also the issue of security. These are some of the reasons why you need to regularly update your device drivers.

Also, once in while one or more installed devices on your computer starts to under-perform, which may indicate the need for a driver update. Each device manufacturer frequently releases driver updates to fix reported glitches and enhance existing features. Keeping tab of what updates you need and then downloading and installing these updates can be quite a chore.

To get up-to-date drivers for your devices there a number of options:

1. Device manufacturer’s website: The first and obvious source for your drivers updates is the individual manufacturers website.
2. Driver resource website: These websites maintain a database of most up-to-date drivers for several devices.
3. Search engines: Type in the device driver name you want and sift through the search engine results to find the site that has what you want.
4. Driver update software: Simply perform a scan with the tool and it will collect details of all your device drivers, then check through it’s database of up-to-date drivers and come back with recommended driver updates for download.

Each of these methods will help you get the correct updated driver for your devices, but what makes the fourth option attractive to many is the automation. While other methods takes time and in some instances leave you frustrated, using driver update software can make the life much easier for you.

Quite simply, a driver is a small encoded file stored in the operating system of a personal computer. It governs any hardware devices, like modems, video cards, scanners and printers. As its name suggests, a driver drives the device, or makes it work. Your computer’s operating system uses drivers to communicate with any physical hardware attached to it.

All Microsoft Windows operating systems have a library of built-in drivers; often the system will automatically select and install the appropriate driver when a new device is added. Sometimes, though, the system will not acknowledge a new device. If that happens it’s simply a case of installing the driver manually from either a floppy disk or CD. If you don’t have a driver disk, all is not lost; you can download current drivers from the Internet.

In some cases it’s preferable to use the device manufacturer’s driver rather than the built-in Microsoft Windows version. The former are often more up-to-date, which can mean better functionality.

You may sometimes need to update a driver if a device is not working properly. Bugs in the existing driver often cause unreliable performance and glitchiness. In order to update a driver, you’ll need to download the latest version from the device manufacturer’s website. The majority of companies feature a support or customer care section on their websites. This is where driver files are usually located. To find the correct driver, all you need is the make and model of your device. This is usually clearly visible on the object itself. In the case of interior hardware like modems or video cards you will need to take a different route: Click the Start button; go to Programs, Accessories, then System Tools. In System Information a list of devices and their names will appear. If you click the plus (+) sign next to Components and then Display you will be able to see which make of device is in use.

Armed with the device name and number, you will be better equipped to find the correct driver for your hardware on the maker’s website. When you find the correct driver file on the maker’s website, click on it. You’ll be given two options. A message in your web browser will ask if you want to ‘run’ or ‘download’ the file. Always opt to download it. Then select which folder on your computer you want to save it to. For ease of use and visibility, may people opt to save downloads to the desktop. You can always move the file later on, once the driver has been successfully installed.

Installation is usually very simple, a couple of clicks and its done. Often you will be asked to restart your computer in order for the changes to take place. With the correct drivers all your hardware should run smoothly.

Device or hardware drivers might be described as technological go-betweens. They’re simple software programs whose job it is to ensure that any hardware you install on your computer is recognised by your operating system. Without a driver your printer wouldn’t print, your scanner wouldn’t know which way was up and your sound card would be struck dumb and silenced forever. Even keyboards and mice require drivers to interact efficiently with your system and function properly. Microsoft Windows operating systems include a wide range of default drivers so that most commonly used hardware installed will be acknowledged. When you set up new hardware you may need to load the driver as well if Microsoft Windows doesn’t already have it stored. This can either be done by using the disc provided with the device, or you can download the appropriate driver from the manufacturer’s website free of charge.

So what exactly is a hardware or device driver? A hardware driver is basically a little piece of computer code in a file package. And while it is a relatively small bit of software it carries out an important task. It tells the computer’s operating system how to use a given device or piece of hardware.

Every now and then, a piece of hardware that has been performing well for years might need a driver update. Bugs in driver software can cause glitches, but most device and hardware manufacturers are quick to rectify these situations and release new and improved versions of the software frequently. Computer viruses or software hiccups can also corrupt hardware drivers. Again, manufacturers generally make updated drivers available at no cost on their websites so it’s easy to troubleshoot driver-related problems.

Common components that need drivers to function are keyboards and mice, as mentioned above, controller devices, graphics cards and audio hardware. Ethernet devices, ports, card readers and disc drives also require individual drivers. In the case of laptops, the manufacturer usually installs drivers when the system is built. If the hard disk of a laptop is ever wiped or requires reformatting, the drivers will need to be reinstalled. This is not necessarily the case with all desktop computers.

On occasion device drivers can conflict with other computer components. In most instances uploading and installing the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website will solve the problem.

All drivers for the hardware on a computer can be accessed via the Device Manager that features in all versions of Microsoft Windows. To check the status of or find details about a particular driver go to Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager.