Helping Your Hardware
These days, computer users try to stay ahead by downloading and updating virus software to prevent attacks and slowdowns. While these updates and installs are important, the updates of the actual computer hardware are often overlooked or ignored. Hardware updates can improve functionality, add or improve features, or simply improve or allow compatibility with operating systems and associated updates. Nowadays it's easier to stay abreast of these updates.
Mac and Windows users can get automatic notifications and updates to the operating system; whether it's OS X, Windows XP, Windows 7, or Windows 8. Mac users also get notification and updates regarding hardware, but PC users do not as the hardware can come from a different manufacturer. PC owners can simply check the website of the hardware manufacturer to check for and download driver updates.
In software terms, a driver is a piece of software written to help the hardware it's designed for communicate with the motherboard and or Operating System.
Owners of older Hewlett-Packard computers can get updates from the HP website, fill in the required fields based on their model, then see a page of driver updates. Newer HP computers have a software tool that allows the user to download updates direct from the application rather than a web page. One downside to these updates is that the filenames are a bit cryptic, so it's best to create a new folder in the Downloads folder, rename it something appropriate to fit the file you're downloading, download the file, then move it inside your new folder. Let's take a look at a Dell Inspiron One 19 from the Dell website:
Mac and Windows users can get automatic notifications and updates to the operating system; whether it's OS X, Windows XP, Windows 7, or Windows 8. Mac users also get notification and updates regarding hardware, but PC users do not as the hardware can come from a different manufacturer. PC owners can simply check the website of the hardware manufacturer to check for and download driver updates.
In software terms, a driver is a piece of software written to help the hardware it's designed for communicate with the motherboard and or Operating System.
Owners of older Hewlett-Packard computers can get updates from the HP website, fill in the required fields based on their model, then see a page of driver updates. Newer HP computers have a software tool that allows the user to download updates direct from the application rather than a web page. One downside to these updates is that the filenames are a bit cryptic, so it's best to create a new folder in the Downloads folder, rename it something appropriate to fit the file you're downloading, download the file, then move it inside your new folder. Let's take a look at a Dell Inspiron One 19 from the Dell website:
Dell gives you the option to download a free application which will grab the information about your Dell computer, sort through Dell's database, and present you with the files you need. However, the files for this computer are listed below. If you have the same model and you're using Windows 7 64-bit, you would select this from the drop-down menu under Operating System (middle left in photo above). This has been already selected, and scrolling down displays the files available for updates:
Various headers are shown with a number in parenthesis indicating how many files are available for that category. The Application category applies to programs that come with that computer. BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System and refers to low-level instructions that interface between the hardware and devices. Taking a look at the Audio category reveals one item:
The Audio update file was last uploaded om 10/25/2009 and is an urgent update to the older Audio file. Dell allows you to download the file right away or save it to a download list to be transferred at a later time. Clicking the name of the file shows even more information:
As previously mention, the audio file name is cryptic (R235122.exe) and gives no indication that it's a fix for the audio on this particular machine. It does show the file as being 52 MB in size, however. You'll discover that all updates can vary in size.
My motherboard is manufactured by Gigabyte technologies (www.gigabyte.com) and is a model GA-Z68AP-D3. A quick search on their website reveals the product page:
My motherboard is manufactured by Gigabyte technologies (www.gigabyte.com) and is a model GA-Z68AP-D3. A quick search on their website reveals the product page:
I can scroll down a bit, click on the Support & Downloads header, select "Driver" for the download type, and Windows 7 64-bit for the Operating System:
While the DVD that came with my motherboard has these same drivers, this page shows the updates to those same drivers. By bookmarking this page I can stay up-to-date and have a handy reference for the files I may need in the future.
I can also select from any BIOS updates including Beta versions, download the owner's manual, or select any Gigabyte Utility updates (similar to the Dell Application Category mentioned earlier). My motherboard supports on-board video supplied by my CPU; an Intel i5-2400, which uses an Intel HD2500 graphics set. Since my Hackintosh doesn't support HD2500 graphics, I use an nVidia GTX650 video card:
Because I have a dual-boot system, I have to get two versions. On the OS X side, I have a panel in System Preferences (like The Windows Control Panel) where I can get notifications of any updates:
On the Windows side, I can go to nVidia's website and search for the latest drivers available for my video card:
The example above shows the latest official driver as noted by the nVidia logo to the right, but the newer, beta drivers are also available for my convenience. Alternatively, since my video card has an nVidia chipset but is manufactured by EVGA, I can pay a visit to the EVGA website for drivers:
Their site also has the same nVidia drivers listed, but also shows two application updates available; an overclocking utility to push my graphics card faster (Precision X), and a benchmark and testing utility (OC Scanner X). I can also choose to bookmark these pages in my browser for easier reference.
Updating some of the hardware helps bridge the gap for some folks, but what about users that have a third-party keyboard and mouse, joysticks, printers, scanners, or more? The same principal can be applied by going to the manufacturer's website and downloading the latest updates applicable to your operating system. Printers and scanners tend to have the largest file sizes, as they can include software updates of the graphic editing programs that came with the drivers. But some manufacturers give site visitors the option to download just the drivers for their hardware, or the complete updates to the drivers and software.
I personally use a Logitech Marathon Mouse, as its battery life is outstanding. A visit to the Logitech website shows no updates available for the "Marathon Mouse", but it does show updates for the M705 mouse, it's proper name. Getting to the right page requires three clicks just to get there from the Logitech main page. If I simply type "Logitech M705 updates" in my search bar and press Enter, the first search result is the same download page that took me three clicks to get to earlier. Once found, I can also add this page to my bookmarks in my web browser.
Helpful Hint: If your manufacturer's product page lists all the products instead of presenting a drop-down menu, you can type Command+F (Mac) or Control+F (Windows) in your web browser, type in your product number, and the browser will jump to the area of the text you're typing in (if that product is supported).
You can even take things a step further and document any internal parts you have. Items like CPUs don't receive any updates as they're the core component of any system, and items like DVD drives, hard drives, and solid state drives only have firmware which usually don't get updated, if at all. Nonetheless, getting the information on what devices you have, and bookmarking the websites of the manufacturer of those pieces can definitely help you later on. Once you've got your information assembled, you can even create a separate folder and keep these bookmarks organized.
Updating some of the hardware helps bridge the gap for some folks, but what about users that have a third-party keyboard and mouse, joysticks, printers, scanners, or more? The same principal can be applied by going to the manufacturer's website and downloading the latest updates applicable to your operating system. Printers and scanners tend to have the largest file sizes, as they can include software updates of the graphic editing programs that came with the drivers. But some manufacturers give site visitors the option to download just the drivers for their hardware, or the complete updates to the drivers and software.
I personally use a Logitech Marathon Mouse, as its battery life is outstanding. A visit to the Logitech website shows no updates available for the "Marathon Mouse", but it does show updates for the M705 mouse, it's proper name. Getting to the right page requires three clicks just to get there from the Logitech main page. If I simply type "Logitech M705 updates" in my search bar and press Enter, the first search result is the same download page that took me three clicks to get to earlier. Once found, I can also add this page to my bookmarks in my web browser.
Helpful Hint: If your manufacturer's product page lists all the products instead of presenting a drop-down menu, you can type Command+F (Mac) or Control+F (Windows) in your web browser, type in your product number, and the browser will jump to the area of the text you're typing in (if that product is supported).
You can even take things a step further and document any internal parts you have. Items like CPUs don't receive any updates as they're the core component of any system, and items like DVD drives, hard drives, and solid state drives only have firmware which usually don't get updated, if at all. Nonetheless, getting the information on what devices you have, and bookmarking the websites of the manufacturer of those pieces can definitely help you later on. Once you've got your information assembled, you can even create a separate folder and keep these bookmarks organized.