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January 27th, 2010 19:00
Updating System Drivers Using DriverMax or Similar Program
While fighting insomnia late one night, I downloaded DriverMax and ran a driver update check just to see what it would show. If all is running well, how necessary is it to update the following drivers: SB Live! Soundcard; Intel 82801 PCI Bridge; Intel 82801BA LPC Interface Controller; Intel 82850/82860 Processor to AGP Controller; Intel 82801BA/BAM SMBus Controller; Intel 82850 Processor to I/O Controller; Intel 82801BA Ultra ATA Storage Controller and several USB controllers? All my other device drivers are up to date. I am concerned that by installing these updates I may be violating the age old axion, "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it." Moreover, given the age of my system, 8 years old, many of these drivers are no longer available for downloading from Intel or Creative Labs and such, but the DriverMax site happens to have the most recent versions of those it shows out of date.
The only cost to me would be if I didn't want to be limited to downloading only 2 drivers a day and then it would be $10 for 30 days or $29 for a full year. I am also bothered by the fact that DriverMax must have its "Driver Detector" start up with Windows and remain running; it has no option for a manual start up.
I would appreciate any and all learned advice regarding this.
Gerry
leastmanjr
23 Posts
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January 27th, 2010 20:00
First of all, I am a strong believer that if it isn't broke, don't fix it however there are some things that can damage your computer if they are not update. Those things are bios updates and system software. Those updates you should only get from Dell. I have played around with one of those driver programs before and found that the sofeware didn't really give an accurrate reading. The program often showed a driver was out of date when I had the latest release. I would check the dell site and see what the latest driver versions are for your computer. You can check what version you have installed by checking the device manager for the driver versions.
I would not use any software that checks drivers when you can check them more accurately yourself.
Dr_Zoidberg57
5 Posts
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January 27th, 2010 21:00
Thanks for the advice. This was the direction I was leaning before being tempted by the "dark side".
Alexandra_P
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2.6K Posts
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January 28th, 2010 17:00
Just to add a bit to Leastman's excellent reply...
The majority of the updates listed are related to chipset drivers (USB controllers, Processor to AGP, etc.), which usually only need to be re-installed after wiping and reinstalling the OS. Don't know how DriverMax is comparing versions, but given how Intel tends to roll new chipsets into the same cumulative download package, I'd be wary that it really was any different than what you already had. More on chipset drivers here.
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/
As for the sound card - Dell for a while used only custom OEM versions. Drivermax may have found a driver somewhere, but Dell and Creative being who they are the retail versions of the drivers don't always work correctly with custom OEM version and vice versa - unless I was sure of the source and the contents I'd be wary of that one too.
I generally stick to the program between my ears - "magic fix-it" programs might be well-intentioned, but I really don't think they're as helpful as advertised.