{"id":190,"date":"2009-04-24T01:12:39","date_gmt":"2009-04-23T20:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.devicedriverfinder.com\/blog\/?page_id=190"},"modified":"2019-11-29T21:59:33","modified_gmt":"2019-11-29T16:59:33","slug":"driverupdatetoolreview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devicedriverfinder.com\/blog\/driverupdatetoolreview","title":{"rendered":"DriverUpdateToolReview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Driver Update Program Review Page<\/h2>\n
Driver update programs can be a great help in finding and updating Windows drivers. If you are missing your hardware’s installation CD, or don’t want to search the internet for hours to find drivers for unrecognized devices, a driver update program is the solution. But there are many driver update programs, so comparing and reviewing driver update programs will help in selecting the right one.<\/div>\n
The results shown on the Driver Update Tool Review<\/strong> table below are based on test runs done on three different PCs. The test PC system specs are shown in the table below the review<\/a>.<\/div>\n

Frequently Asked Questions:<\/h2>\n

What is a device driver?<\/h3>\n
A device driver is a computer application that enables communication between your PC’s operating system and a hardware device. For example, if you need to print something, a printer driver is required to relay that Print command from your PC to your printer.<\/div>\n

What is a driver update tool?<\/h3>\n
A driver update tool or driver scanner tool is software program whose main purpose is to ensure that your PC has the latest device drivers. The driver update software will scan your computer, detect all hardware and then update the drivers for the detected hardware devices.<\/div>\n

What are the most important features I should look for in a driver update tool?<\/h3>\n
The first most important feature is the level of accuracy of its hardware detection technology<\/strong>. If the tool cannot scan your system’s hardware devices correctly, including the details of any existing drivers, then it will not pick up device drivers that need updating.<\/div>\n
The second most important feature is the completeness of its driver database<\/strong>. If the tool has a small database of drivers then update recommendations will not be complete, or even invalid, and you will end up updating only a handful of your devices. Equally important is the support for all Windows versions. If your Windows version is not supported or a limited number of drivers is available for it, the driver update tool will not be of much help.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Side-By-Side Comparison<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\"DriverFinder\"<\/a>
\nDriverFinder<\/td>\n		\"Driver<\/a>
\nDriver Detective<\/a><\/td>\n		\"DriverCure\"<\/a>
\nDriverCure<\/a><\/td>\n		\"Driver<\/a>
\nDriverScanner<\/td>\n		\"Driver<\/a>
\nDriver Agent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overall Rating<\/strong><\/td>\n98\/100<\/strong><\/td>\n95\/100<\/strong><\/td>\n93\/100<\/strong><\/td>\n89\/100<\/strong><\/td>\n81\/100<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Free Driver Scan<\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Feature Set<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ease of Use<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Effectiveness<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Program Mgnt.<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Feature Sets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Product<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverFinder<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Detective<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverCure<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverScanner<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Agent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scan Summary<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
System Information<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"1<\/sup><\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"2<\/sup><\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Backup and Restore<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"3<\/sup><\/td>\n\"\"3<\/sup><\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ignore Devices<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Show Driver Details<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OS supported<\/td>\nXP\/Vista\/W7\/W8<\/td>\nXP\/Vista\/W7\/W8<\/td>\nXP\/Vista\/W74<\/sup><\/td>\nXP\/Vista\/W7\/W8<\/td>\nXP\/Vista\/W7\/W8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OS architecture<\/td>\n32-bit & 64-bit<\/td>\n32-bit & 64-bit<\/td>\n32-bit & 64-bit<\/td>\n32-bit & 64-bit<\/td>\n32-bit & 64-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
Ease of Use<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Product<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverFinder<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Detective<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverCure<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverScanner<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Agent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Windows Familiar GUI<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Show Scan Progress<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
System Tray Icon<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Local Help File<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Online Support<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
Effectiveness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Product<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverFinder<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Detective<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverCure<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverScanner<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Agent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Devices Detected<\/td>\n96 \/ 133 \/ 136<\/td>\n49 \/ 74 \/ 91<\/td>\n83 \/ 88 \/ 95<\/td>\n?? \/ ?? \/ ??<\/td>\n46 \/ 69 \/ 73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Download Speed<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Individual Downloads<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Unplugged Devices Scan<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
False Positives<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Driver Updates Found<\/td>\n23 \/ 26 \/ 9<\/td>\n20 \/ 16 \/ 11<\/td>\n10 \/ 16 \/ 13<\/td>\n2 \/ 2 \/ 4<\/td>\n13 \/ 11 \/ 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Program Management<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Product<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverFinder<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Detective<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverCure<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverScanner<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Agent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Install and Uninstall<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Memory Usage (TSR)<\/td>\n4 MB<\/td>\n8 MB<\/td>\n10 MB<\/td>\n38 MB<\/td>\n5 MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Automated Update<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scheduled Scan<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/td>\n$29.95<\/td>\n$29.95<\/td>\n$29.97<\/td>\n$29.95<\/td>\n$29.95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PC license coverage<\/td>\n3 PCs<\/td>\n10 PC<\/td>\n1 PC<\/td>\n3 PCs<\/td>\n10 PCs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Software Trials<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Product<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverFinder<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Detective<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverCure<\/strong><\/td>\nDriverScanner<\/strong><\/td>\nDriver Agent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Download size<\/td>\n0.3 MB<\/td>\n1.9 MB5<\/sup><\/td>\n3.2 MB<\/td>\n5.3 MB<\/td>\n0.9 MB6<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Free Driver Scan<\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Website<\/td>\nwww.driverfinderpro.com<\/a><\/td>\nwww.drivershq.com<\/a><\/td>\nwww.drivercure.com<\/a><\/td>\nwww.uniblue.com<\/a><\/td>\nwww.driveragent.com<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
1<\/sup> Only in registered version
\n2<\/sup> Incomplete details
\n3<\/sup> Creates System Restore Points
\n4<\/sup> XP in 32-bit only
\n5<\/sup> Requires Microsoft .NET Framework
\n6<\/sup> Browser based ActiveX component<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What are the BENEFITS of running a driver scanner tool on my PC?<\/h2>\n
Hardware manufacturers release new drivers all the time, so installation CDs\/DVDs that came with your PC often do not contain the latest drivers. Manufacturer's update the drivers to ensure that their products provide you with the best functionality and performance, and without problems. At any given time, however, your system is using dozens of devices. As such, using a driver update program provides you the following benefits:<\/div>\n
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  • Saves you time<\/strong>. It can take several hours to track down each and every driver for every single piece of hardware connected to your PC. A driver update tool accomplishes this in minutes.<\/li>\n
  • Saves you money<\/strong>. There are driver sites out there from which you can get drivers on a “per download” basis. Since your system will probably require hundreds of downloads in its lifetime, you will end up spending hundreds of dollars. In contrast, the number of drivers you can download using a driver update program is limitless.<\/li>\n
  • Prevents you from incorrectly using the wrong driver<\/strong>. As Wikipedia notes, “Drivers are hardware-dependent and operating-system-specific.” This means that drivers (1) must be compatible to your PC's operating system, and (2) be suited to your hardware's brand and model. Driver update software already works on this basis so you're assured that driver update recommendations are suited to your system and hardware.<\/li>\n
  • No need to be tech-savvy<\/strong>. It takes a bit of PC knowledge to scan for drivers, download them, and install them properly. Driver update tools do all this for you.<\/li>\n
  • Ensures all your hardware devices are performing at peak performance levels<\/strong>. Missing out on the latest driver releases means your PC and hardware devices are being cheated from bug fixes, performance improvements, and potential new features from the manufacturer. Driver update tools ensure this doesn't happen to you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n