Advice Request Your views on the best and worst driver download websites?

[conceptualclarity]

I know and advocate that the best option is to download from the manufacturer's website, but maybe that's not always possible. Here are some of what my searches found:

driverscape.com
driversupdatecenter.net
driverzone.com
binarydb.com
driverlookup.com
driverguide.com
download.cnet.com
softpedia.com
driverdr.com
driversdownloader.com

I have seen that some driver download websites are for real, and some are fake download websites in that they are only there to get you to try the shareware program they are offering, and you won't get any drivers without downloading the program.

 

[jackuars]

1. Windows Update
2. IOBit Driver Booster (only WHQL drivers)

 

[roger_m]

I prefer to use driver update software rather than downloading from websites, but I use driverscape.com occasionally. It does heavily promote DriverToolkit. But this is an excellent driver updater, which I've been using ever since it was released and as far as I can tell, has a much bigger database of drivers, than any other driver update software.

For driver update software, Wise Driver Care, DriverHub and DriverToolkit all work very well. DriverHub is free and there is a free version of Wise Driver Cub.

 

[Quassar]

Only drivers from producent sites ... but when you need fnid something old than i go for
Station-Drivers - News

 

[Moonhorse]

Windows updates itself
Software like browsers etc. will install new updates automatically i just check that automatic updates are enabled

Nvidia is only one i have to do manually from their official site, since i dont want to install bloat geforce experience

 

[likeastar20]

Snappy Driver Installer is the best

 

[roger_m]

Software like browsers etc. will install new updates automatically i just check that automatic updates are enabled

That's got nothing to do with driver updates.

 

[Moonhorse]

[QUOTE="Moonhorse, post: 758441, member: 72712Software like browsers etc. will install new updates automatically i just check that automatic updates are enabled

That's got nothing to do with driver updates.[/QUOTE]
Nvidia do tho, also realtek/ motherboard had rarely but i wouldnt mess up with driver installer just because of driver or two

 

[Ink]

Maybe for Windows XP users, but most people rely on their existing software to stay updated.

 

[conceptualclarity]

Windows updates itself

I have heard that Windows driver updating will sometimes give generic drivers, so I'm wary of it.

 

[roger_m]

I have heard that Windows driver updating will sometimes give generic drivers, so I'm wary of it.

Yes, often it will. Common examples are audio and storage controller drviers.

 

[roger_m]

VT for mal dll from driver site : VirusTotal
Found running on system injected. An emergency call today that one of our tier 2 guys found.

View attachment 196374

It's a possible false positive. Several of those scanners often flag clean files.

 

[TairikuOkami]

Microsoft Update Catalog - it lists updates, which are not available via Windows Update (they are for VIPs only :emoji_innocent, then drivers.softpedia.com
Sometimes driver updates fix security vulnerabilities/certificates/etc, so keeping them updated is as important as updating any other software.

Realtek WLAN Driver update for WPA2 issue on Dec. Refresh | HP® Customer Support

Intel fixes major security driver utility tool vulnerability so you don't have to | TheINQUIRER

I have heard that Windows driver updating will sometimes give generic drivers, so I'm wary of it.

Yes, Windows installs the latest stable tested driver, they do not bother updating it to avoid possible issues, if it works, it works, even if it is years old.

P.S.: I check for drivers via Driver Easy and if it founds anything, I will download it from those 2, since you have to know the driver version, like:

Download Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller LAN Driver 10.28.615.2018 for Windows 10 64 bit

Microsoft Update Catalog

 

[MoriartyOW]

nvidia website for graphic drivers, everything else with windows update.

 

[Dhruv2193]

Best is to install from official manufacturers' websites.

 

[TairikuOkami]

Best is to install from official manufacturers' websites.

Except they do not list the latest drivers, like Realtek audio, official webpage lists the one from July 2017, but the latest one is from August 2018.
They let the Microsoft to do the dirty work for them and once some driver is proven to be the least problematic, they link it on the official webpage.

 

[Quassar]

Becasue realtek do specifc version driver for specific montherboard which is included mostly by cd-room or some times in web if need some prio updates.. there is no reason to have it updates its like bios.. if all work better dont touch it....

 

[ForgottenSeer 69673]

VT for mal dll from driver site : VirusTotal
Found running on system injected. An emergency call today that one of our tier 2 guys found.

View attachment 196374

I just looked and now there are 17 engines detecting it.

 

[Peter Phillie]

For me, DriverGuide.com is one of the best driver updater sites. It is easy to use, scanning my computer took less than a minute, and the program displays results in an easy-to-read list. Also, updating driver updates is only an easy click to the Download button.

 

[ForgottenSeer 69673]

.

For me, DriverGuide.com is one of the best driver updater sites. It is easy to use, scanning my computer took less than a minute, and the program displays results in an easy-to-read list. Also, updating driver updates is only an easy click to the Download button.

I was using this back in the 90's in my heyday of computer building. Think 500 meg byte CPU's