Download suitable drivers. Free programs for searching and installing drivers

On PC or laptop. The article discussed mainly manual installation methods, since everyone should know this. Including inexperienced users (everyone was once a beginner).

However, it is not at all necessary to install them manually. After all, today there are special programs for installing and updating drivers that will do everything for you. A couple of mouse clicks, 15-30 minutes of time - and everything will be configured on your computer or laptop: Internet, sound, video card.

Programs for automatically updating drivers are suitable for all computers and laptops - Acer, Asus, Samsung, Lenovo, HP, etc. There are no exceptions here. They also work on all operating systems – Windows XP, 7, 8, 10.

But there is one caveat: over time, online installers are gradually updated. And perhaps new versions will not support Windows 7 or XP. Therefore, before installing the driver manager, read the system requirements (in particular, the “Supported operating systems” section).

The first excellent program (in Russian) is. There are several versions of this utility, including a free one. Its capabilities are more than enough for ordinary users.

Advantages of the Driver Booster program:

quick scanning of a PC (or laptop);
displaying device update priority (shows which ones you want to update immediately);
installation is carried out in the background: press one button and you can go about your business.

This free driver manager also automatically creates a system restore point. And if any failure occurs, you can easily roll back to the previous working version.

Another free driver search program is . Considered one of the best. Users are offered 2 installers to choose from – online and offline. And you can choose any one (based on the situation).

For example, if you need a free program to install drivers without the Internet, then you need to download an offline installer. It is an ISO file over 11GB in size (can be opened via Daemon Tools). This may be quite a lot, but you will have a program with all the drivers in your hands. And it will last for at least a year. You just need to write it to a flash drive and you can use it if necessary.

If you don’t want to download such a large file, and you have internet on your laptop, then you can use the online installer. It weighs about 300 KB.

Using this utility is quite simple. Launch Driver Pack Solution (any version), wait for it to scan the system and issue a report. Uncheck unnecessary items and click “Update”. In 15-20 minutes everything will be ready.

Driver Pack Solution also installs additional software: browsers, archivers, etc. If this is unnecessary, do not forget to uncheck the appropriate boxes.

Try it. However, this utility also works on Windows 7, 8 and 10.

One of its main advantages is that it is able to find drivers for unknown devices that Windows cannot recognize. This option has helped out PC and laptop owners more than once.

Its other advantages:

quick scan – about 2 minutes;
automatic search and update of drivers;
simple interface in Russian;
The installer takes up only 21 MB.

3DP Net

Another program is 3DP Net. Recommended for use if there are problems with network controllers. That is, if after reinstalling the OS they are detected as an unknown device, try this installer.

3DP Net takes up very little space, so you can download it from your phone. Yes, and this program functions to install drivers without the Internet. And most importantly: it supports many network cards. Even if you have a rare model installed, the utility will still install a universal driver, and the Internet will appear.

The main feature: it can make backups, i.e. save all previously installed Windows drivers.

This feature is very useful when reinstalling the operating system. You save your drivers using Driver Checker, install a new Windows, and then restore all data from this program. And you don’t even have to look for anything.

Main advantage: it scans the system very quickly. Literally in 10-20 seconds! The only negative is that this driver manager is in English (although it is quite easy to use).

After scanning Windows, this utility displays a visual report of exactly what needs to be updated. Driver installation is performed one by one.

There are 2 versions of the installer - Free and PRO. The free program has enough capabilities, so you can install it if necessary.

Best suited for those who do not trust various installers and want to control the entire process themselves. It copes with this task perfectly.

The utility will scan the system and then give you links from where you can download the drivers yourself. As a result, you won’t have to look for them on the manufacturer’s website: you just need to click “Download” and install.

By the way, if you need a program to update video card drivers, it is best to use a native utility. For Nvidia models this is GeForce Experience (installed automatically when installing a new driver), and for Radeon models it is AMD Gaming Evolved. In this case, it is recommended to update the drivers for the video card through them (without using third-party installers).

To maintain normal operation of your computer, you need to update drivers from time to time, but searching for and installing them manually is tedious and time-consuming. And why? After all, this work is easy to automate. Today we will look at the ten best programs for updating drivers on PCs and laptops of any brands and models.

Intel Driver Update Utility Installer is a proprietary utility for searching and updating drivers for any Intel product (processors, system logic, network devices, drives, server components, etc.). Compatible with Windows XP, 7, and newer editions of this system.

The utility automatically recognizes the PC hardware on which it is installed. Checking for new driver versions on the Intel website is done by clicking the “Search” button, downloading and installing at the user’s discretion.

In addition, the Intel Driver Update Utility Installer allows you to find and download drivers for any other Intel devices you choose from the list (“Search manually” option).

The developers warn that the application installs only standard drivers that do not take into account the characteristics of a particular brand of computer. Therefore, before you launch it, you should visit the website of the manufacturer of your PC or laptop and check if there is anything suitable there.

AMD Driver Autodetect

AMD Driver Autodetect is a similar proprietary tool from AMD. Designed to keep drivers for video cards of this brand up to date (except AMD FirePro).

After installation, the utility will monitor the relevance of video drivers and ensure they are updated in a timely manner. It automatically detects the model of the video card installed on the PC, as well as the bit depth and version of the operating system. Once launched, it checks to see if there is a new driver on the AMD website. If there is one, it reports it and offers to download it. To begin the installation, the user just needs to confirm his consent by clicking on the “Install” button.

AMD Driver Autodetect is also available exclusively in Windows version.

NVIDIA Update

NVIDIA Update is a proprietary Windows utility for installing drivers on NVIDIA devices. Like AMD Driver Autodetect, it independently recognizes hardware models and checks for the availability of the latest driver on the manufacturer's website. The decision about installation remains with the user.

DriverPack Solution

DriverPack Solution is a lifesaver for service engineers, system administrators and those who earn extra money by providing installation services for Windows and programs. The application is a huge collection of drivers for devices of various brands and models, as well as a module for installing them.

DriverPack Solution is released in two versions - online and offline.

The online distribution is intended for use on a PC that has an Internet connection. Its difference is its small file size (285 Kb). After launch, the program scans Windows for installed drivers and the relevance of their versions, after which it connects to the database (on its own server) and performs automatic updates.
The offline distribution (size 10.2 Gb) is intended for installing drivers on a machine not connected to the Internet. In addition to the installer, it includes a database of 960,000 drivers for Windows 7, XP, Vista, 8 (8.1) and 10, both 32 bit and 64 bit. After launch, the scanning module recognizes device types and installs drivers from its own offline database.

The online version of DriverPack Solution is convenient for regular home use. In addition to monitoring the relevance of drivers, it gives the user the opportunity to automatically install and update individual applications, remove software junk, view a list of equipment, information about the operating system and computer security.

The offline version is an emergency solution. Its task is to select not the best, but simply the appropriate driver to start the device. And in the future update it via the Internet.

DriverPack Solution and the proprietary utilities listed above are completely free.

Driver Genius

Driver Genius is a universal driver management tool. The latest edition of the program is the sixteenth, optimized for Windows 8 and 10, but can also run on older systems.

In addition to updating the versions of installed drivers, Driver Genius can:

Create backup copies of drivers and save them in the form of archives - regular and self-extracting, as well as in the form of an installer program (exe). To restore from a backup, you do not need to use Driver Genius.
Remove unused and faulty drivers.
Display information about computer hardware.

The backup function is a real treasure for those who often reinstall Windows. However, the program itself is by no means a gift: the cost of one license is $29.95. You can use it for free for only 30 days.

Snappy Driver Installer

Snappy Driver Installer is an application created by one of the developers of DriverPack Solution and has a lot in common with the latter. Also available in two versions: SDI Lite and SDI Full.

The SDI Lite option is a module for recognizing devices and searching for suitable drivers on the Internet. Its size is 3.6 Mb. It does not have its own base.
The SDI Full option is an installation module plus a base (31.6 Gb). Designed to install drivers regardless of Internet access.

Features of Snappy Driver Installer:

Works without installation (portable version only, can be run from a flash drive or DVD).
Completely free - no premium features or ads.
With an improved selection algorithm, which is based on the “do no harm” principle.
Features high scanning speed.
Before installing the driver, it creates a system restore point.
Allows you to change design themes according to the user's choice.
Multilingual (there is a version in Russian, Ukrainian and other national languages).
Adapted for Windows 10.

Driver Booster

iObit Driver Booster is an application loved by fans of computer games. It is produced in editions Free - free, and Pro - paid. The cost of subscription to the latter is 590 rubles per year.

Driver Booster has one single function - scanning the system for outdated drivers and installing updates in one click. And not simple updates, but (according to the developers) tuned to improve the performance of games.

is a free and very simple utility for installing and updating PC drivers based on Windows 7, 8 and 10. Its database includes only original, signed drivers from the official websites of equipment manufacturers.

The application is designed for users with no experience. Russian language support, a minimum of settings and one-button control virtually eliminate the possibility of something being confused or broken. And if the new driver turns out to be unsuitable, DriverHub will remove it from the system and replace the old one.

All DriverHub features:

Search for missing ones, update outdated drivers and additional software. Automatic installation.
Simple and expert operating mode. In expert mode, the user can select a driver from several available ones; in simple mode, the program itself selects the optimal version.
Daily update of the driver database.
Storing download history.
Restore - rollback drivers to previous versions.
Displays basic information about your computer.
Launch Windows system utilities from its interface.

DriverMax Free

DriverMax is a free, simple, English-language utility whose main purpose is to update drivers. Unlike other free applications, it has another useful option - creating a system rollback point and a backup of installed drivers of the user's choice. As well as restoring from a backup.

After installation, DriverMax persistently reminds you that it would be a good idea to register on the site and buy a paid license with advanced functions, one of which is fully automatic operation. Annual use starts at $10.39.

Driver Magician

Driver Magician is the last hero of today's review. In the recent past, I had 2 versions, one of which was free. Nowadays there is only a paid one with a 13-day trial period. The license cost is $29.95.

There is no Russian language in Driver Magician, but it is not difficult to use. The range of features is approximately the same as in Driver Genius:

Scan and update.
Creating backup copies of drivers with the ability to restore both with and without using the program (the backup is saved as a zip archive or an installer application).
Uninstalling the driver.
Backup and restore of individual user folders - Internet Explorer Favorites, Desktop and Documents, as well as the system registry (in one file).
Identification of devices unknown to the system.

During the trial period, the program is fully functional. Compatible with any version of Windows.

That's probably all. Choose what you like best and use it.

Installing and keeping drivers for your computer up to date guarantees the proper operation of all devices installed on your PC. Finding and installing drivers on your computer takes time. To spend less time on drivers, use the free program to search, update and install drivers Driver Booster free. With this utility, you can update and install drivers with a mouse click; you do not need to open system properties and spend a long time surfing websites to find the required driver. The program itself will find missing and outdated drivers, search for them on the Internet and install the drivers itself. The user will only need to click the mouse to confirm actions on the drivers.

Automatically find, download and install drivers

After launching the Driver Booster program, it immediately begins scanning all the equipment installed on the computer, displays a list of drivers installed on the system, and marks the necessary and recommended drivers for installation or updating. The user can only select the driver needed for installation in the list and click the mouse button, allowing the program to independently download and install it automatically. Driver Booster has a program autostart function simultaneously with loading the operating system, thanks to which the utility will periodically check the drivers already installed on the computer for new versions and warn the user about the need to update them. If for some reason individual drivers do not need to be updated, right-click on it in the list of devices and select “Ignore” in the context menu - the program will no longer check for new versions for this driver until the user removes the device from the list ignored devices in Driver Booster settings. There, in the settings, you can select the program skin, interface language, application autostart option, modes for checking driver updates, a folder for saving drivers downloaded from the cloud, and select options for connecting Driver Booster to the Internet.

Screenshots of the Driver Booster program

Apparently, it's no secret that hardware installed in a computer system and some virtual devices will not work without special software called drivers. But Windows does not always install exactly what is needed for a particular device, but automatically installs the software that, from its point of view, is the most suitable, and after that the equipment does not work correctly (or even does not work at all). We will talk further about how and where to download drivers for certain components of a computer system.

Updating Drivers on Windows

The simplest thing you can do to install a driver or update it is to use the “Device Manager”, in which you can update the software through RMB on the selected device or through the properties section on the driver tab.

Actually, the user does not need to think about where to download drivers. The system will select a driver from its own database or try to find its updated version on the Internet (most often on the Microsoft website, since some drivers are installed even during the installation of critical update packages for the system itself). But this is not a solution, since the driver found may not match the hardware or be only partially compatible with it. Therefore, other methods will have to be used.

Where can I download drivers for Windows?

So, where can you find the right driver? The answer to this question, I think, is obvious: on the equipment manufacturer’s Internet resource. Today, almost all equipment manufacturers and developers of control software for it post drivers for free download on their official websites. The user only needs to know the device model and download the most suitable driver for it (preferably the latest version).

In the case of laptops, the situation is much simpler. Again, the user does not need to think about where to download drivers. Just go to the manufacturer’s website, select your model and download the full package, which is designed for a specific laptop model. In exactly the same way, you can download a driver for only one non-working device. In addition, some manufacturers post automated online testing systems on their resources that allow you not only to monitor the computer configuration, but also provide recommendations for installing software in the test results, providing direct download links.

Where can I download drivers for specific non-working devices?

But what should owners of hand-built desktop computers do when it is not possible to find out the model of a specific component installed on the motherboard, or if the equipment is displayed as an unknown device in the corresponding manager? Where can I download drivers?

The situation looks hopeless. But there is a solution. And, unfortunately, not all users know about it. Despite the fact that the device does not seem to be recognized in the manager, in fact it is not. In any case, you can find out the type of equipment by special identifiers VEN and DEV. VEN is short for Vendor, DEV is short for Device. Such identifiers are standard and are part of a unified global information system. Thus, you can find the necessary control software using them.

You can find out the identifiers themselves on the information tab in the properties of the selected device in the manager, where you can select the display of equipment IDs from the drop-down list.

But where can I download drivers based on these criteria? The Internet is now full of specialized sites with huge databases of drivers, in which searches are carried out using just such identifiers. It is enough to copy the longest line with the specified identifiers in the dispatcher’s information list (it is the one that fully corresponds to the selected device) and paste it into the search field of the Internet resource, then download the required driver and install it yourself.

Automation of downloading and installation of control software

So, we figured out where to download drivers. Finally, let’s look at how to simplify the task of finding the most current versions of such software and integrating it into the operating system as much as possible.

To do this, you can use applications like Driver Booster. All user participation comes down to only starting the process of scanning devices, and then agreeing to the installation of updates, upon completion of which a system reboot is required.