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[left-of-center2012]

This message was self-deleted by its author (left-of-center2012) on Sun Nov 1, 2020, 07:35 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[DonaldsRump]

1. Check iObit's driver updater called Driver Booster 8

I've been using its sister product Advanced Systemcare for years. I've used Driver Booster on occasion.

Be forewarned about one thing if you you're not computer savvy: iObit's products, while very good, cross-refer to each other all the time, asking you to download them. I'm not the world's greatest computer scientist, and indeed have no training whatsoever about computers. However, I know enough to turn off those things that I can see

It's highly rated, but, as with all share/freeware, check it out carefully: https://www.iobit.com/en/driver-booster.php

[left-of-center2012]

2. Thanks

One thing I read online is that the computer I have is about 6 years old and the drivers only last about a year
I don't know if that's correct but it was very cheap when I bought it about a year ago at Walmart.

It's still working okay but is getting slower.
I use a variety of software to clean out all the junk, spyware, etc.

I use it mostly for surfing the net, paying my bills, and email.

[DonaldsRump]

5. Much to the bane of my family, I never get rid of computers

I still have PCs from the early part of the 2010s, and they work fine. I'm not a gamer, and I pretty much do the same things you do. The point is that if I trash a computer installing updates, I have other devices to go to, and, in a perverse way, I enjoy fixing computers that are "broken", either because of software or hardware failures.

The other posters suggest downloading straight from hp's website, and that is clearly the safest way to do it. I personally find the manufacturer sites to be fairly limited in updates, so using a trustworthy 3rd party like iObit gives me a wider range of updates. However, I've bricked computers before when things go wrong with updates (computer loses power when updating and, on limited occasions, a conflict with an update and "something else".) And many of these updates are so esoteric, you won't notice any difference in performance. It just makes me feel better that I have the latest "stuff" for my decade old equipment!

Unless you're willing to take a chance and also have back up devices, what the other posters suggest is safer.

Since you maintain your own computer, that really helps. PCs develop large amounts of junk that really slow them down. Every month or so, I run Advanced Systemcare and ccleaner, and my devices tend to stay fast that way.

[csziggy]

3. For a laptop, I'd go to the manufacturer for driver updates

HP is pretty good about that. You will need your serial number which should be on the bottom of the case.

Then go to: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/laptops

Download the newest drivers and follow their instructions.

[left-of-center2012]

6. That works ! n/t

[canetoad]

4. If you are on Win 10

And allowing the OS to update, let Windows update your drivers. Just follow the update directions.

Beware of online driver update services; they sometimes come with unwanted payloads.

Keep your driver updates to the minimum available.