Hardware Drivers: How to Backup and Keep them Up-to-date

On 04 Feb 2009

Using software, mainly drivers, to get hardware to function properly is a fact of life, it is like Windows and the BSOD (blue screen of death), like Firefox and safety. The problem is that if you are running your machine on Windows, the operating system does not have a centralized repository for all the various drivers. No matter, there are other software applications that will back up your drivers and even check for regular updates. Since we are on the topic of keeping software up-to-date, I found it fitting to present some programs that will help with other software applications you have installed on your machine, apart from the drivers.

Imagine this scenario if you will. You have to perform a fresh OS install, and since you are installing Windows not Linux, there is no central driver repository. When the installation process is complete and before you can install any of your favorite software, you first have to install the drivers for the motherboard, graphics card, TV tuner, and any other hardware that needs a driver. The problem is that you cannot locate the CD/DVD/USB you put the drivers on, nor can you locate the drivers online. If you have thought ahead and backed up your original drivers, this would never have happened – hence the need for Double Driver.

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Now a person that understands the need to backup info would never have misplaced the data storage device mentioned above (CD, DVD, USB, etc), or would have conveniently placed the info in the Cloud. Double Driver eliminates this from the equation by allowing you to view all the drivers you have installed on your machine, back them up, restore them, and even save and print driver lists. And it does all this free-of-charge.

Moving on, it must be said that he vast majority of computer users rarely if ever bother with updating their drivers which is a shame because an update brings significant changes in terms of stability, performance and new features. With 3D Chip, which comes free-of-charge and needs no installation, you can seamlessly access the web page of the hardware manufacturer and download the latest driver.

Keeping other software applications up-to-date is even simpler, especially if they are fitted with an “Automatically check for updates” feature. If they are not, simply use SUMo (Software Updates Monitor) which will scan your installed software and display a list of detected programs which will later be compared to an Internet database. All you have to do is click “Check” and SUMo will inform you whether your software is up-to-date or whether there are updates available for download.

Alternatively you might want to use Ketarin to perform a similar task. I say similar because Keratin is different: it allows you to set up a list of software applications that you want to make sure will stay up-to-date. Keratin will automatically check the list for updates.

If you would like to get Double Driver, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get 3D Chip, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get SUMo, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get Ketarin, a download location is available here.

I use this occasion to ask all you readers a question: What software do you immediately install after a fresh OS install?

Tags: Double Driver, 3D Chip, SUMo, Ketarin

About the author: George Norman

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