Free updates for Windows 8 Drivers

ding dong

New Member
Messages
77
Hi,

I have been on a search for free driver updates for my graphics hardware on my pc but here are the difficulties so far:

1. I cant even locate what needs to be updated - where do I find ALL of my graphics cards/hardware in one spot?
2. Everytime I think I have found a brilliant online tool to do the diagnosing and finding outdated drivers.....they then want to charge me money to do it. I am not a scrooge but I paid big money for the pc and so they should at least update my drivers for free.
3. I have Windows update turned on and so why doesnt it automatically update hardware all the time?

Help needed, thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 HP Envy

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Yeah, well I have a problem with my Windows Movie Maker and it has been suggested that I update the drivers.

You never used to get charged to update your pc - why are they charging us for it now?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 HP Envy

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
If you try this one, make sure you follow the Custom path or you'll get some AVG junk you don't want.

It also adds a SlimDriver Startup task to the scheduler.

Does seem to work though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Driver updates are free from the original equipment manufacturer, always have been. If it's a pre built OEM like a Dell or HP etc, go to their site and look up your specific model. They will have the applicable drivers listed for download. If it's a custom build then look up each component manufacturer. Start with the motherboard ASUS or Gigabyte etc, and move on. Video will be AMD or NVidia. It might take a while but its doable. A lot of those supposed free utilities will do the bait and switch, you need these but you'll have to pay to get them from us. I'm not saying they are all like that, but it seems most are. I prefer to go right to the source instead of though a middle man.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Driver updates are free from the original equipment manufacturer, always have been. If it's a pre built OEM like a Dell or HP etc, go to their site and look up your specific model. They will have the applicable drivers listed for download. If it's a custom build then look up each component manufacturer. Start with the motherboard ASUS or Gigabyte etc, and move on. Video will be AMD or NVidia. It might take a while but its doable. A lot of those supposed free utilities will do the bait and switch, you need these but you'll have to pay to get them from us. I'm not saying they are all like that, but it seems most are. I prefer to go right to the source instead of though a middle man.
That's a preferred mode but for experienced only. If someone has to ask about stuff like that, an automated way is much better.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
I agree. :thumb:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Even for us Pro's an automated method sure would be nice. I maintain desktops/laptops for my organization and it's a pain to go out to Dell, figure out what I have, versus what is available and then update. Most of the time, if it's not broke I don't fix it. But with fast OS releases, like Windows 8.0, then 8.1 and then 8.1 Update 1...keeping up with drivers becomes more of a necessity than ever before.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I only have 4 PC's total to worry about, 2 desktops and two laptops. The two desktops have almost identical ASUS motherboards and both run NVidia video cards. What works for one pretty well works for the other. Video and sound drivers are about all I've had to search for. The rest is covered with the Windows default drivers. ASUS doesn't list anything for them for Windows 8 anyway. My newer ASUS laptop though has everything I need for Windows 8/8.1 available. I haven't touched my wife's Acer yet, its still running the factory 8.0. If I had a load of PC's to manage I could see where having some automation would come in handy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Those are two different things, finding drivers and implementing their distribution. If you have to worry about many PCs at the same time it's more than likely networked so you can distribute and install them from one place. If they are same but not networked you can take drivers and install them on each separately but use same ones, you don't have to chase them separately. If they are mostly different than finding them and installing them is better to do from each one separately and that's when those auto installers can come handy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
I agree. :thumb:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Another thing about drivers. Let's say you get video card "X" and with it drivers v1.00 for windows 1.0. Couple of month later there is driver version 1.01 than later on v1.02 than 1.03 etc. By the time it rolls to v1.5 that same video card maker throws out card "XY" and drivers v2.0. Those drivers will also have drivers v1.5 for "X" because there's nothing else they can fix and improve on them but v2.0 covers "XY" too because both those cards are of same family and changes are not great. So, unless windows 2.0 shows up, there's really nothing to gain using driver v2.0 or any further ones for video card "X", v1.5 will be same unless something changes radically. after let's say drivers v 5.0 they may even drop "X" from them and support only newer cards.
So there's normally no use chasing newest drivers unless you know exactly what has changed and why.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Ok, got this far today,

system info.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 HP Envy
Driver updates are free from the original equipment manufacturer, always have been. If it's a pre built OEM like a Dell or HP etc, go to their site and look up your specific model. They will have the applicable drivers listed for download. If it's a custom build then look up each component manufacturer. Start with the motherboard ASUS or Gigabyte etc, and move on. Video will be AMD or NVidia. It might take a while but its doable. A lot of those supposed free utilities will do the bait and switch, you need these but you'll have to pay to get them from us. I'm not saying they are all like that, but it seems most are. I prefer to go right to the source instead of though a middle man.

Went to HP site and downloaded their driver manager and they wanted me to buy the updates????
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 HP Envy
Driver updates are free from the original equipment manufacturer, always have been. If it's a pre built OEM like a Dell or HP etc, go to their site and look up your specific model. They will have the applicable drivers listed for download. If it's a custom build then look up each component manufacturer. Start with the motherboard ASUS or Gigabyte etc, and move on. Video will be AMD or NVidia. It might take a while but its doable. A lot of those supposed free utilities will do the bait and switch, you need these but you'll have to pay to get them from us. I'm not saying they are all like that, but it seems most are. I prefer to go right to the source instead of though a middle man.

Went to HP site and downloaded their driver manager and they wanted me to buy the updates????

Are you sure that was the real HP site? There are a lot of fake sites that will show up in Google. Post a link please.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Another thing about drivers. Let's say you get video card "X" and with it drivers v1.00 for windows 1.0. Couple of month later there is driver version 1.01 than later on v1.02 than 1.03 etc. By the time it rolls to v1.5 that same video card maker throws out card "XY" and drivers v2.0. Those drivers will also have drivers v1.5 for "X" because there's nothing else they can fix and improve on them but v2.0 covers "XY" too because both those cards are of same family and changes are not great. So, unless windows 2.0 shows up, there's really nothing to gain using driver v2.0 or any further ones for video card "X", v1.5 will be same unless something changes radically. after let's say drivers v 5.0 they may even drop "X" from them and support only newer cards.
So there's normally no use chasing newest drivers unless you know exactly what has changed and why.

There are pluses and minuses to that. If you have say several NVidia cards, some new and some old, having one driver package that's works on all of them may be an advantage. It's a lot simpler than having 3 or 4 different drivers and keeping track of which one is for which card. I do see your point though, newer isn't always better. I could have sworn I posted this the other day but it must have been lost on the interwebs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Another thing about drivers. Let's say you get video card "X" and with it drivers v1.00 for windows 1.0. Couple of month later there is driver version 1.01 than later on v1.02 than 1.03 etc. By the time it rolls to v1.5 that same video card maker throws out card "XY" and drivers v2.0. Those drivers will also have drivers v1.5 for "X" because there's nothing else they can fix and improve on them but v2.0 covers "XY" too because both those cards are of same family and changes are not great. So, unless windows 2.0 shows up, there's really nothing to gain using driver v2.0 or any further ones for video card "X", v1.5 will be same unless something changes radically. after let's say drivers v 5.0 they may even drop "X" from them and support only newer cards.
So there's normally no use chasing newest drivers unless you know exactly what has changed and why.

There are pluses and minuses to that. If you have say several NVidia cards, some new and some old, having one driver package that's works on all of them may be an advantage. It's a lot simpler than having 3 or 4 different drivers and keeping track of which one is for which card. I do see your point though, newer isn't always better. I could have sworn I posted this the other day but it must have been lost on the interwebs.
I guess it's easier for them (manufacturers), ad drivers for new card, maybe drop support for some older ones, give it a new v-number and you can scratch your head what is what. I usually check .INF file (it's just plain text) and can see details. Checking their site may help too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
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