Closest thing is dell support centre, but you are best just going on the drivers and downloads page and looking for them, its only one page to go to afterall, system performance shouldn't be greatly effected by driver updates.

Thanks Nat.

Thats what I thought.

Russ

Hello Delta Dart,

 

Vista Home Premium does have an Update feature.

 

1.  Click Start (Pearl button)

2.  Type "Update" in Start Search

3.  Select "Windows Update"

4.  Change Settings

5.  Check for Updates

 

Change Settings:  Here you may choose to have Updates installed automatically or....

  

Some prefer not to have the Updates installed automatically.  They may choose to have Updates downloaded but not installed or only be notified of updates.  This is to ensure personal control over which updates are installed into their computer. 

 

Check for Updates:  You may wish to return here, check for and install available updates.

 

If you should need a particular driver that is not part of the updates and you can not find it under the mountain of information Dell provides:smileyhappy:, feel free to post an inquiry.  Someone will be happy to assist you.

 

Peace and grace unto you,

 

Nissi1

 

Near the top of this page, you will find information under New Users Start Here and Recent Changes to Drivers... that may be helpful.

 

 

Thanks NISS1

This is only for MS updates. I am aware of this. I always use the auto update selection for MS.

I was interested primarily in a DELL auto update.

Thanks for info anyway.

Russ

WOW!  And all that typing.:smileytongue:  I should have known that question was too easy!:smileyvery-happy:

 

 

You are certainly welcome.  I learned something. I did not know Dell once had an update.

 

Continued blessings,

 

Nissi1

Ok a few things, generally the original dell drivers don't have much difference then the newer ones, (sometimes they do).

 

Rarely but still happens the old driver is more reliable then the new one.

 

I wouldn't update the driver unless it says critical or important beside it.

 

Firmware and BIOs driver updates can cause faults if they go wrong, so be careful for them, I have bcompletely broke a faulty motherboard with a BIOs update before, as it crashed halfway through (note this dell was bought from eBay and was dodgy from the start). Had no service tag, probabally one that failed inspection. Also have updated the firmware on a cd/dvd drive before and lost the ability to read or write cds, still worked for dvds, apparently this was a common problem with this firmware update. Also found an older video driver in my inspiron 1300 to be more reliable then the newer one (new one gave me blue screens).

 

So watch for new drivers, but be especially careful for BIOs and firmware updates, if they go wrong then it can be bye bye computer or a costly repair. Note BIOs updates have worked for me on all other systems this one was just a heap of trash but more so after the failed BIOs update, it was bricked.

 

Personally I have all my drivers saved onto an external hard drive xp and vista. Sorted by system, inspiron 1300, inspiron 1501, inspiron 5150, inspiron 6400, Latitude C610.

 

I only update the drivers when I am reinstalling the operating system (which I do quite often). I save the new driver beside the old driver and if it turns out to be more reliable I delete the old driver, if not I leave a note in the file name. I generally do not bother updating firmware or BIOs unless iI am having a major problem.

 

Note not all updates are improvements, some would argue the old ones better for about anything. A great example for that is XP vs Vista. My machine runs >2 possibily >3 times as fast as it did when it had vista on it compared with xp. Note I have made alot of tweaks to xp. So I have 3 unused vista discs, or are using vista downgrade rights and alot of people have noticed how smoothly my machine runs at university, especially when my machine booted up in a mere fraction of the time of my friends running vista and they had similar hardware specifications, mine had more RAM, but he had the power cable plugged in and was turning on from standby. Mine did not have power cable and was powering up completely. Anyway he likes vista and did not want to compare my machine against his again. So long story short all updates are not always improvements, now someone else will probabally appear and go on about all the improvements of vista.

 

Updates are good to download but keep a back up of the original driver incase something goes wrong & be very vary with Firmware and BIOs updates especially if your components work.

 

Another thing is an idea on dell ideastorm to sort the drivers by date released on the driver and download page, so people can readily download and install the latest ones, without searching through the entire list on the drivers and download page. I also suggested they sort them by a recommended install order aswell. Please sign up for dell idea storm and reinforce the vote:

 

http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/10090291

 

Good morning Nantakuc4,

 

Thank you for that wealth of information.  This forum has become my computer school.:smileyhappy:  I now know what you were referring to when you wrote "update for Dell drivers."

 

I have used those drivers just as you mentioned:  updating the Bios and something else, I do not remember now.  I was fortunate, at the time I did not know what Bios meant; still do not know for sure.  I updated the Bios and nothing drastic happened, thankfully.

 

I started to update my cd/dvd firmware but I was not sure of the model and number.  When I found it, I decided to leave well enough alone since I did not know what I was doing?  Ignorance can be bliss.

 

I totally agree about the hazards of some updates, especially Microsoft updates.  I have a Dimension E521 w/Vista Home Premium, 3gb.  No biggie.  McAfee Security Suite came freely installed (18 mos. subscription).  Since this is my first computer, I did not have enough experience to determine if my computer was running slower than what is considered normal for my specs.

 

After the installation of SP1, I noticed an increase in speed and performance.  Two months later, after many updates, my computer was slower than pre SP1 installation.  I have used server different virus scanners to ensure my computer was not under attack.  Nothing.  I only allow urgent, important and recommended updates to be installed.  All of which are necessary(?).

 

The instructions I read for Dell Drivers  Here  does suggest an installation order.   However, as you wrote they are not listed by most recent dates, they are in alphabetical order.  When I happened to come across the driver page, not long after I received my computer, I searched the entire page to ensure I did not dollar drivers that were released a year before I received my computer.  Having the drivers listed as you suggested is certainly a good idea.  I will add my name to the vote.  

 

Thank you for all the information.  You unselfishly gave of time and experience to assist me and I am grateful.

 

I pray for continued blessings for you and your love ones,

 

Zandra

 

BIOs is the screen before vista loads up, the screen that says dell on it immediately when you power up. The screen where you can select boot options and such.

 

Generally BIOs updates are good but there are a small proportion that are unlucky. With an incorrect BIOs update can cause your computer to power on with a black screen and nothing else.

 

If your computer is slowing down a bit then I suggest you run a mcafee quickclean with shredder and a disc defragment as vista takes up alot of disc space with back ups and system restore checkpoints, if you clean out some of these system performance should increase.

 

Also run a msconfig and manage your start up programs by typing msconfig into the start menu in vista.

Good afternoon Natakuc4,

 

Thank you again for that information. 

 

I have done everything you suggested plus more.  McAfee's, Maintain Computer, is a sorry peace of software.  It leaves more than half of everything it is suppose to clean, behind.  However, I must admit McAfee has keep my computer safe from vicious malware; although it does not mind leaving a tracking cookie or two behind.:smileyvery-happy:

 

It was with the help of friends in this forum I learned to use CCleaner and SuperAntiSpywear.  They rid my computer of anything McAfee leaves behind and more.

 

I have disabled everything except that which is necessary in Msconfig.  Recently I requested and received a link to a site where I can learn something of all the running services in Vista.  I am hoping disabling some of the unnecessary services (or tweaking I have learned it is called) will enhance my computer's performance.

 

Again, thank you for all the information.  You have been very helpful.

 

Grace and Peace,

 

Zandra