Many driver download sources exist, but they’re not all created equal. Knowing the best place to download drivers could save you a lot of time and frustration. Below is a list of driver download sources in order of preference. Try to use the first source listed and then work your way down: For example, if you purchased a complete computer system, the driver download should come from your computer manufacturer’s website. If you purchased a hardware component individually, the driver download should come from the hardware component manufacturer’s website. Some driver manufacturers include little tools you can install to scan your computer for outdated drivers. This is useful if you’re not sure what needs to be updated or don’t know how to identify the driver you need; the program will tell you exactly what’s needed, and will probably also do the whole download and install process for you. If you know you need a video card driver update, for example, but aren’t sure what your video card is called or what driver version you have now, the utility can find that information for you. A few driver updater tools will install the driver automatically, too, and even fewer will automate all of this: they’ll check the computer for outdated drivers on a schedule, download the drivers, and install them for you. Some driver updater utilities get their driver downloads directly from the manufacturer during the installation process, but others query their own database of drivers instead. Because of this, it’s important to avoid fake driver updater programs that contain malware. Stick to the ones we’ve included in our list. One of our favorites is Driver Booster. This should not be your first, and certainly not your only, source for driver downloads. Driver availability is slim, and the drivers are often not the most updated versions. If for some reason you can’t get what you need direct from the manufacturer, then give Windows Update a try. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to download the driver if it’s unavailable from the manufacturer, but it’s possible. At the very least, the driver will be certified and approved by Microsoft. A programmer may develop a driver specifically designed to help his or her software work with a particular piece of hardware. You won’t often find these kinds of drivers freely available for download. Other times, a programmer may improve upon existing drivers for a popular hardware device. You may sometimes find a driver of this type available for download. While these drivers are usually safe and well tested, we still recommend that you use the original hardware manufacturer.
