Here, we’ll teach you to check if your computer’s hard drive is up to date. So, what is a driver? Simply put, this refers to a type of instructional software that helps computer hardware components to perform their intended functions. Each time you install an operating system update, you might end up assuming that all kinds of device drivers also have to be updated. However, these driver updates should only be installed when it’s necessary for your operating system (Whichever one it might be) to work properly.
So if your computer’s current driver is compatible with the latest system update, then this means you won’t have to make changes. However, if you still want to do this, then you can still install these updates manually, especially if the present drivers aren’t really compatible with the latest technology, such as video games or a brand new media player.
How to Perform a Windows Update
Before you can begin updating individual drivers, you first have to check for system updates. This guarantees that all of your devices are still working properly, after applying all of the right service packs and patches.
Check to see if you aren’t trying to run an old service pack with the help of a brand new device driver. In case you don’t have any new system updates that your computer can automatically install, then you can just open up the Windows menu, and then click “Windows Update”. Another great way to do this is to perform an update through System > Control Panel > Maintenance menus.
Figure Out If a Driver Update is Necessary for Your Computer
Keep in mind that just because a brand new variant of a driver exists, then this doesn’t mean you always have to update your computer. Instead, the performance of the corresponding hardware device will tell you if it needs an update or not. For instance, if you can’t use a newly launched application that interacts with the hardware component, or if your graphics tool doesn’t work right, then this likely means you need to update your device driver.
How to Update Drivers from the Windows Control Panel
- Open up the Control Panel, then go to Hardware And Sound;
- Then go to Device Drivers, and pick the devices that you think needs a driver update;
- Choose Action, then go to Update Driver Software; and
- The system will begin scanning your computer’s drivers. It’ll check to see if your drivers can be updated to a newer version. If your drivers are very old, then this means you have to do several updates to keep it up to date.
Checking for Updates at the Hardware Manufacturer’s Website
If your media, audio player, or graphics card requires an updated driver, then you need to go see the manufacturer’s website to check their support page. For example, NVidia contains a “Download Driver” section on their site, which provides you with an option to either choose your current device or let them pick a device for you before giving several options.
What Are the Types of Device Drivers That You Can Use for Your Computer?
When connecting a brand new component to your computer, a device driver can provide the necessary software for your computer’s operating system to recognize and communicate with the hardware device. With some devices, a wizard that can assist you in installing the necessary drivers for the hardware component will initialize as soon as you connect it to your computer, especially if it supports your operating system. Also, don’t forget that an update for your driver is usually found on the manufacturer’s official website.
Updating Drivers in Microsoft Windows 10
Windows Update can conveniently allow you to perform checks and updates for the hardware device drivers of your Microsoft Windows 10 PC. These include devices like monitors, network adapters, printers, and video cards, among many others. You might already have installed a recent driver, thanks to some automatic updates, but if you prefer to do it manually or reinstall a driver, then here’s how to do it:
Updating the Device Driver
- In the search box found on the taskbar, type “device manager,” then click the result that reads “Device Manager”;
- Pick a category, so you can look at the names of these devices. After selecting the right hardware component, right-click on the device that you want to update;
- Click “Search automatically for updated driver software”;
- Click on Update Driver; and
- If Windows doesn’t find a new driver, then you can go look for one on the device manufacturer’s official website – They always have a set of instructions there.
Reinstalling a Device Driver for Windows 10
- On the taskbar’s search box, type “device manager,” then click on the result that reads “Device Manager”;
- Right-click on the name of the device that you want to remove, then select “Uninstall”;
- Restart your computer; and
- Windows will then attempt to reinstall your new driver.
Updating Drivers on Mac OSX
Just like Windows, Apple’s operating system (Mac OSX) is also responsible for handling the driver and system updates for your computer. If you want to check for any available update for your machine, then this is how to do it:
- Click on the Apple logo, which is normally found on the upper-left corner of your screen;
- Choose “Software Update”;
- All currently available updates for your computer will start appearing (in list form), and you can start downloading them manually or let the computer do it for you. After this, your software will be up to date; and
- It is highly recommended that your Mac computer should be updated as much as possible.
Reinstalling Drivers on Mac OSX
Using the Mac OSX Recovery option allows you to reinstall Mac OSX in your external or internal drive easily. This will also automatically install all required up-to-date hardware drivers. Doing this doesn’t necessarily erase all of the files on your computer. You can choose to keep your files. Or, you can also opt to start fresh and remove all your confidential files.
The recovery option can also help you replace your current Mac OSX system with a cleaner, up-to-date version. However, if you suspect that there’s something wrong during startup, then you can use a built-in feature called Disk Utility to repair and scan your system drive from the recovery screen. This is a much better, more convenient alternative to reinstalling and erasing the entire operating system.
