One of the most important steps in maintaining a healthy and secure system is regularly checking for outdated hardware drivers. Outdated drivers can lead to a variety of issues, from decreased performance to crashing or even security vulnerabilities. Fortunately, there are several ways to check for outdated hardware drivers and keep them up-to-date.
The first step to take when checking for outdated hardware drivers is to look at the manufacturer’s website for any available updates. Many companies now post their drivers online and it is important to make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version. Depending on the type of device, there may be a range of versions available, so make sure to select the appropriate one.
If the manufacturer’s website is not available, you can use an automated driver updater tool. These programs can scan your system and identify any outdated or missing drivers and then provide links to download the new versions. These tools can be downloaded from the internet and some come with a range of other features such as diagnostics, driver back-ups, and more.
The Windows Device Manager is also a great tool for checking for outdated hardware drivers. This is a built-in utility in Windows that allows users to see the list of hardware attached to their PCs and the status of their drivers. It can be opened by going to the Start menu, typing “Device Manager” and pressing Enter. Once opened, it will show all devices connected to the system, with any outdated or missing drivers marked with an exclamation mark.
Finally, if you’re running Windows 10, you can also use its built-in driver update tool. This utility can also check for outdated drivers and automatically update them if a newer version is available. To use this feature, go to the Start menu, type “Check for Updates” and press Enter. If a newer version of any drivers is found, Windows will install them automatically.
By following these simple steps, you can easily check your system for outdated hardware drivers and ensure that everything is up-to-date. Regularly doing this can help maintain fast performance, lower the risk of security vulnerabilities, and ensure that your system runs optimally.